Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-11-29
The Succession.


We alluded on Friday morning TO
bill 10 regulate the succession to the
Office Of President Of the United States,
which (bill) had been passed by the
Senate, but never by the House Of Re-
representatives.. The bill as it was re-
ported back to the Senate by the proper
committee reads as follows. The first
section embodied the main provisions OF
the bill as it passed the Senate. The
remaining sections were added in the
House. We now quote
AN ACT TO PROVIDE FOR THE PER-
FoRMANCE OF THE DUTIES OF
THE OFFICE or PRESIDENT IN
CASE OF THE REMOVAL, DEATH,
RESIGNATION, OR INABILITY
BOTH OF THE PRESIDENT AND
NONRESIDENT.
Be IL enacted by the Senate aud House
Of Representatives Of the United States
of America in Congress assembled,
That in case Of removal, death. resigna-
ton. or inability Of both the President
and Vice-President Of the United States,
the Secretary Of State, or if there be
none, or in case OF his removal, death,
resignation, or inability, then the
Secretary Of the Treasury, or if there
be none, or in case Of his removal,
death, resignation, or inability, then
the Secretary Of War, or if there be
none, or in case Of his removal, death.
resignation, or inability, then the At
torney-General, or if there be none,
or in case of his removal, death, resigna-
ton, or inability, then the Postmaster
General, or if there be none, or
in case Of his removal, death, resigna-
ton, or inability, then the Secretary OF
the Navy, or if there be none, or in case
of his removal, death, resignation, or
inability, then the Secretary OF the In
terror, shall act as President until the
disability of the President or Vice.
President is removed or President
shall be elected, such officer being ELI
gible to the office of President under
the Constitution, and not under articles
of impeachment by the House Of Repre-
sentatives Of the United States at the
time the powers and duties of the office
shall devolye upon him.
Section 2. That tie preceding sec
ton shall only be held to describe and
apply to those officers who shall have
been appointed by the advice and con-
sent Of the Senate to the offices therein
named.
Section 3. That said Acting President
of the United States shall continue i'll
the performance of the duties thus de-
volved upon him until the expiration of
the term for which the President and
Vice President last in Office were elect
ed provided. that the duration of said
unexpired term shall not exceed the
space of twelve calendar months; but
if said mexpired term shall exceed the
space of twelve calendar months. then
and in that case the Acting President
shall forthwith cause notification OF a
vacancy in the offices Of President and
| yice-President of the United States to
be made to the Executive Of every State,
and shall also cause the same to be pub
lished in at least four Of the newspapers
printed in each State. The notification
shall specify that electors of President
and Vice-President shall be appointed or
chosen in the several States to fill the
said unexpired term; and the time for
the appointment or choosing of such
electors shall be a day not more than
sixty days after the date Of said notiii'
cation and if there shall be the space
of more than sixty days yet to ensue
between the appointment or choosing Of
electors and the first Wednesday o.
December next ensuing, then and in
that case it shall be the duty of the
Acting President to issue a proclama-
ton converting Congress to meet II
extraordinary session, giving twenty
DAYS notice of the time Of meeting; ant
the Congress shall proceed, according
TO law, to ascertain the persons elected
President and Vice President to fill thu
said unexpired term.
Section 4. That electors appointed o.
chosen upon the notification prescribed
by the preceding section shall meet anC
give their votes upon the first Wednes
day of the month next after such ap
pointment. ,-
Section 5. That sections LAG, l47
I4S. and 149 of the Revised Statutes
arc hereby repealed.