Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-08
THE vICE-PREsIDEYT.
Justice Clark Discusses the Question
of What to Do With Him.


Hon. Walter Clark in the Green Bae)
In the beginning it was contemplated
by our Constitution-makers that while
the successful candidate should be
President, his chief rival should be the
Vice-President. Accordingly, when John
Adams became President Thomas Jeffer-
son was chosen Vice-President. At the
next election. when Thomas Jefferson
was chosen, Aaron Burr, who was not
In contemplation at the polls for the chief
place, Jeopardized the choice OF Jeffer-
son, and danger Of the repetition Of
this state Of things caused a constitu-
tional amendment to avert II. Under the
practical workings Of the Constitution
we have the present anomalous condition,
that the vice-presidency is an Office with
out power and almost without duties, and
consequently almost without importance
Ills sole duty, that of presiding over a
Senate in which he has no voice, and
save in case Of tie. no vote, can be.
and often for long period is, discharged
by some senator who is elected as Presi-
dent pro TEN. The Vice-President is not
vested with the power of appointing the
committees, since, unlike the Speaker of
the House Of Represe he is not
chosen by the body over which he pre-
sides. and not infrequently is of a diff
fernt political party from the majority
of the Senate.
Thus being without power and practi-
cally without duties, the vice-presidency
offers few inducements to an able, ambi-
tious man, and the nomination has been
often refused. This has in very many
instances, though not always, thrown
the nomination as a compliment 10 some
man who would not by the. nominating
convention be considered for mt
for the presidency. Yet the Vice-Presi-
dent has the terrible Potentially OF sue
cee1ing to the presidency In the event
of vacancy. This condition has brought
about some most inconvenient results. In
1910 John Tyler was nominated TO con-
ciiate the minority Of the Wing party. who
differed widely on some material points
from the great bulk of the party. The
death OF President Harrison, after a short
month in office. robbed the Wings Of the
fruits OF their victory and brought catas-
trophe upon them in a revolution in the
policy OF the administration. In 1sis.
after the nomination OF General
Taylor, Mr.. Webster declined the vice.
presidency as beneath him, and thus lost
his last chance OF filling his lifelong
ambition, for a few months later Mr..
Fillmore became President-a most excel
lent man, but one who would have never
been thought OF for the first place. Had
President Lincoln died during his first
term. 1t may be seriously doubted II Mr..
Hamlin would have been satisfactory to
his party or the country, and 1t IL very
certain that Andrew Johnson was not.
II Is not necessary to prolong this re-
view. While there have been few Vice
Presidents who were possible nominees
for the presidency, the rule has been
otherwise. As out Of nineteen Presidents
so far elected, four have fallen In office,
the ratio OF succession for the vice-presl-
dency has been more than one in five.
in fact, over q per cent This opens up
a serious danger. and some plan should
be devised TO make the vice-presidency
more attractive to men of the first or
der, by adding TO its dignity and powers.
Among the plans discussed that or
giving the vice-President a voice and
vote in the Senate would require con-
stitutional amendment. Nor can It be