Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1886-01-29
The Presidential Succession BilI,

CrNTnnIA, Jan. %, 1856
Ed. SrANrARp:
The bill which recently passed tho
Senate relative To Presidential sue
cession is in my opinion clearly un-
constitutional, inasmuch as il leaves
the successor. If other ,hnu the Nico
President, TO serve tho unoxpitod
balauce Of tho term irrespective Of
the rights of the States and people.
1t Is natural To infer that II slight
infractions of the fundamental law
of the land bo permitted. more ok.
tensive usurpa,lons may follow. and
sooner or later lead to disruption
and anarchy. This is no idle nsser-
ton but an absolute possibility; it
is the duty Of every citizen To bo
Jealous OF his own aud his neighbour n
rights and zcalously maintain them.
Every Senator. Representative. and
all other officials Of the Federal Gov
ernment have taken an oath to sup.
port and carry out the letter and
~ irit of our constitution without
implication; therein Turks danger.
II ia any respect IT shall he found
inadequate to meet the true interests
of the people, method IN provided
by which II may bc amended, but no
violation. however slight. should be
tolerated.
THIS bill ropeals law passed
nearly century ago, 1902 Accord.
ing to the statute. the succession was
to be only temporary until such time
as tho people could fill the vacancy
by all election. said statute being
drafted from the Constitution whiah
says Art. III. Sec. 6-ln case Of
the removal Of tho President from
office, or of bis death, resignation.
or inability TO discharge the powers
and duties oi the sad Office. the
same shall devolve on tho Vice Pres.
iden,; and tho Congress may by law
provide for the case of removal,
death, resignation or inability. both
Of tho President and Vice President,
declaring what officer shall then ac,
us President. and such officer shall
act accordingly. until tho disability
30 removed or "A President shall be
elected"
1t proposes an extremely radical
change and involves a very serious
point, giving Congress tho right 10
deprive the States and people Of the
privilege of electing President un.
der its provisions. The President
is the executive officer OF the States
through the Senate, and Of the peo-
pie through the House Of Represen.
tatives, co.ordinately higher than
either. 1t simply nulifes the power
Of the people TO choose their own
President. Article y says: "Thc
powers not delegated to tho United
States by the Constitution. nor pro.
hibited by it to tho States. are re-
served to tho States respectively, or
to the people"
No doubts exist as 10 the consti
tu.ional power Of Congress To dssig.
nate what officer shall act as Pres.
dent" in case OF " disability OF death
OF both tho President and Vice Pres
ident," and such officer shall acf ac.
cordingly until the disability shall
be removed or u President shall Ice
elected" Now my impress ON is.
that this clearly defines the cons,iiu.
tional necessity Of olesIing u Prepi.
dent for tho unexpl,ed term. In
carefully examining tho proceedings
OF the convention Of 1857, which
framed the Federal compact. ] am
unaLle To find anything that eau bv
construed as cOnterriug upon Con
gress tue right To assume any ptlyi-
.eges or usurp tho pterogat,yes II
the people III tins respect ia any
manner. The intention is manifcstly y
evident throughout that "such OIL
Ger should act only temporarily. oi
until the people shall elect. The
election OF u President for iull
term every four years. a prsyiousl y
specified III the constitution, aud
does not tho words, or "a President
shall be elected, mean Just what 3,
says, aud establish the limitation of
the time which the de.ignaiod officer
shall act a. pros,dcnty tho words
are superiluous II an election To iill
the unoxrlreI term was not intended
trust the House will modify the
bill in this connection befoie pass
ing it, Tho principle Of Preslden
tial electors holding their Office for q