Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-11-21
Presidential Succession.
{ Albert W. Paine. in Boston Advertise

/ Albert W. Paine, in Boston Advertiser.
A few weeks ago attention was called, by .
letter published in your columns. to the de-
feet at present existing in the U. s. constitu-
ton. in not providing for the contingency Of
! the death Of the president elect, after the
vote of the electors and before his inaugurs-
ton. The suggestions c n aimed in the let
/ ter were very generally noticed with favor
! by the press in different parts Of the country
/ and the matter will probably meet the atten-
ton Of Congress, as the defect can only be
supplied by a constitutional anne ndment.
| How the defect shall be supplied 10 q mat
ter of importance and at the same time one
requiring study and ref ection When the
presidept-elect dies IL such case, leaving =
vice pre- side Mt elect alive. there would seem
to be no doubt AZ To the person who should
succeed to the office The person thus elect
ed as vice president should b. president.
Blu, in the cor t,ugency that no person had
been chosen as vice president by the electors
or the person chosen had alsJ diei before in
sugurstiou or become Otherwise unable to
perform the duties, v no then shall be presi
dent and inaugurated ss suchg To meet this
contingency it is suggested that the vacancy
shall be supplied in the same way ~ is now
provided in case no choice is made by the
electors, hNHiefy, tnat tue house OF REPRE-
o. natives shall choose the president.
But right here srises another question.
which house Of representatives? that whose
term il just expiring that which commences
with the new presidential term: For many
reasons it would seem more appropriate that
the congress whose members were elected st
the same time with the new president. should
be the one to choose his successor, though at
first glance there would seem to be objections
on account of time. But a moment
reflection leaves no doubt on the subject.
The death may occur at any time even
within the day or hour Of the anticipated in
PRODUCTION of the candidate into office. In
such case the new congress il the only one
that could exercise the duty, and it is very
clear that provision should be made to meet
every contingency. Provision should be
made for the old preside Mt TO hold over until
his successor is qualified, and that the ballot
for the new president should not be limited
to the candidates voted for by the elector,
The following form of amendment to Art
XII of the amendments to the L. =. constitu
ton is suggested to meet the want
II The person chosen by the electors As
president shall die before his Inauguration. or
if he shall decline. or. in the opini of the
supreme court, become permanently unable
TO discharge the powers and dut1ee OF the
office, then the person chosen by the electors
rs vice president. if any. shall be president,
the same ~ il provided in case of the death
removal, or disability of the president.
And if both persons so chosen by the ele, =
tors As president and viee-president, restec
lively shall die, decline or become a. afore :
said unable to perform the duties of the
office. before Inauguration. or if, in such
case. no person is chosen by the electors as
vic president. then the house Of repres antA-
tives, whose terms of Office commence with
the new administration. shall chooss pfesi-
dent in the same manner ~ is now provided
for the choice of president, in case no
choice is made by the electors And in
case the person choseu as vice president
BY The electors shall die before Inauguration.
or decline or become As aforesaid incapable
of dischsrgiug the duties Of his ofi,e. vice.
president shall be chosen BY the senate,
! forming q art OF the new congress, in the
zane manner ss is now provided in case no
choice is made by the electors, except that
in ah cases aforesaid the ballot shall moi,
necessarily be lin ted to the persons voter
for by them And in either Of said cases the
former president and vice president respec-
lively shall continue in office until the sue
cessor is appointed AMI qualified.