Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-03-28
THURSDAY. ...... MARCH %. 1889.
Who Is Governor?

Tho Portsmouth, Epterprise-Tirnes, re-
ferring 10 Governor LEES visit 10 Cuba. asks
who Is Governor OF Virginia, and adds:
at would lie well for the Legislature at
its session next winter to provide by law for
filing the Office when the Governor Is out OF
the State. As the matter now stands, should
there sny occasion arise which requires the
personal attention Of the Governor 1t would
have TO be postponed until bis return from
Cuba"
Governor LEE can furnish precedents
without number. The Queen OF England
has repeatedly visited the continent OF
Europe. The present Emperor OF Germany
intends soon to visit England.
Hisa little singular that neither in the
Constitution OF Virginia nor in her statutes
IL provision made for the absence OF the
Governor from the State. The Constitution
provides that be "shall reside at the seat OF
government; but that language does not
mean that be csnnot visit any other portion
OF the State; and II It does not have that
meaning 1t cannot well be construed As for
bidding him 10 leave the Commonwealth
during bis term OF service. lie has as much
it must be remembered that q visit to New
York is Just the same as visit 10 Cuba. 20
far 80 the question now under consideration
is concerned.
The Constitution provides for every emer-
gency except the one Of which we are speak
ing. 1t says that "ln case OF the removal OF
the Governor from Office" (by the LegIsls-
ture,) cor OF his death, failure TO qualify, re-
signation. removal from the State, or Inabil-
fly 10 discharge the powers and duties oil the
Office" the Lieutenant Governor shall be-
come Governor. And it empower the Le-
g1shture 70 provide for the case under consid.
erstion when 1t says:
"rhe General Assem- bly, shall provide by
law for the discharge OF the executive func-
tons In other necessary cases."
We saw Governor BEAVER, OF Pennsylva-
mia. here IN Richmond last year. During
the war between the States a convention OF
Governors OF States was held-perhaps more
than one. We can think OF no good reason
why the Governor OF Virginia should not
be allowed to pass beyond her borders. II
the Governor ought not TO leave the State on
a visit the mayor Of city should not leave
his city on visit.
Nevertheless, the suggestion OF the Times
Enterprise is good one. The Sussex riot
emphasizes the necessity that exists for q
chbf executive 10 be always ready to exer-
else the functions Of that high and indis-
pensabls office. In England "The King
never dies" That isto say, the laws allow
no inteuegnum when the King dies. his
successor becomes King at once. "The
King il deadi Long live the King! Is
not an uugneaoipg formula. II Queen VIC
ToRIA were TO die to.day Prince ALBERT
would at ones-sueceed to the title to the
Crown; audtf'b he also were to die bis eldest
son would Immediately succeed to the title.
We speak nowadays Of the demise OF
King; but originally the word applied only
10 the demise Of the Crown. BLACKSTONE
says:
$50 tsnder 10 the isw OF supposlng even
possibility Of his (the King's] death that
his natural dissolution is generally called his
demise densissio regis vel coronCe an
expression which signifies merely transfer
of property"