Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-23
wyDNyspAY.DECEMBER %, 1885.
Succession Questions.

succession Questions.
We stated the other day that Rich
mond lawyer had asked whether there
would be new Secretary Of State ap-
poin,ed if the Secretary Of State should
succeed to the Office Of President OF the
United States. This question was on
the 18th, by senator, put to MI
HoAR, the author Of the bill, and he
replied in the negative. Mr.. HoAR said
very positively that there could not be
another Secretary Of State appointed by
the Secretary Of State who was Acting
President. L" lie remains Secretary oil
State. 1t Is on him er o6fcio and as
Secretary of State that the duties OF the
presidency continue to rest all through
the term. BY the way, let us say that
under the bill the Secretary of State
will serve out the full term. There
will be no special election for new
President of the United States.
1t was on this point-that in case the
President and Vice President both died,
or resigned, or were removed, no presi-
dental election ought to be held before
the regular time for holding such cleo
tions-that Mr.. EvARTs made last
week his already famous speech setting
forth that the trainers of the Constitu-
ton contemplated an accommodated
periodicity," &C., &c. He carried his
point, as we have said, but as the CON-
mittee had reported in favor Of the
change proposed, he was not entitled
to the credit of proposing the "periodi-
city" feature.
Mr.. HoAR has made some interest
ing statements in advocating his bill.
For example, that six Secretaries OF
State have actually become Presidents,
though Of course not appointed with
reference to any succession; that for
thirty-six years out Of the ninety-six
this Government has been in operation,
the Office Of President has been held by
men who had once been Secretaries Of
State that the Office Of Secretary Of
State had been filled by JEFFERSON,
MADISON, MONROE, ADAMS, VAN
buren,, BUCHANAN, TIMOTHY PICK
ERING, JOHN MARSHALL, HENRY
CLAY, EDWARD LIVINGSTON, DAN
TEL WEBSTER, HUGH S. LEGARE,
CALHOUN, JOHN NJ. CLAYTON, Ed
WARD EVERETT, WILLIAM l.. MAR
CY, LEWIS CAss, WILLIAM II. SEW
ARD, FISH, EvARTs. BLAINE, and
BAYARD; and that the list Of Secre-
taries Of the Treasury, while not so
impressive, emphasizes the same point.
Four out OF seventeen Presidents and
five out of nineteen Vice-Presidents
have died in Office. Two Presidents
died at the hands Of assassins.
From Mr.. HoAR's speech it appears
that in his opinion as the law now
stands, if the President pro tenn. OF the
Senate, OF Speaker Of the House OF Re-
representatives., should succeed to the
Office of President Of the United States
he would have to continue TO perform
the duties of Speaker of the House o
Representatives or President pro TEN
Of the Senate.
MIR. HoAR says that the Vice-Presi
dent. when he takes the Office, "be
comes President" And the Constitu
ton itself provides that whatever tn
reason--whether because the Presiden
dies, or because he resigns, or becaus
he is removed yice-President be
comes President, If he takes the oiiic
at all.
There are, said Mr.. HoAR, many ex
celient constitutional lawyers who ar
Of opinion, for very grave reasons II
deed, that it is not within the constitr
tional power Of Congress to provide 70
an election in the Interim, and that il wa
intended by the Constitution that II
officer on whom this function is d.
volved by law should serve cut the o.
tire term.
Mr.. HoAR, after saying that he d
not WA to shine in borrowed plum
at ALL" added that he got the idea
his bill from his brother, who was A
torney- General under General GRAN
Our Virginia readers have good reas
for remembering him, his decisions
Virginia matters having proved Of
sssiuabls benefit TO ths people Of &
State.
Senator MAxEy, Of T,xas, argu
that q neither the President pro TEN.
the Senate nor the Speaker Of the Hol
ofRspressntativss was an officer Of ,
United States, neither could under [
v Constitution ill the Office of Act
President Of the United States.
dAxEy again mentioned the fact Il
mir. MADISON was In favor Of maxi
the Secretary Of State the Acting Pre-
dent in the event one vas needed.
Mr.. MORGAN, Of Alabama, q 4
lawyer, made IN excellent speech
favor Of the HoAR bill. He raiss
before Mr. EvARTs did, the "psrio'
city" point. Mr.. MoRoAN said st
Office, with its term" is dsvolved
the Constitution upon the vice-Pre
dent in the contingency mentioned
that instrument.
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