The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-08

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bellum issues and for the placement Of sectiol
, Allines: MY countrymen. we do not now din
: In our judgment concerning the controversial
D Of past generations. and fifty years hence oil
children will not be divided In their opinior
concerning our controversies. They will sure.
bless their fathers and their fathers God thi
the Union was preserved. that slavery wa
overthrown and that both races were mad
equal before the law. We may hasten or "
may retard. but we cannot prevent the final rec
onciliation. Is 1t not possible for us now |
make a truce with time by anticipating and &C
ceptinR its inevitable verdict?"
We pass to the 200 pages In which the Stat
papers OF Garfeld's successor are recorded
Chester Alan Arthur was born in Fairfield
Franklin county, VT. Oct. 8. 1880. He was tn
eldest son OF the Rev. William Arthur. a Bap
tIst minister. who had been born in Ireland
but had emigratod to the United States
Chester received his preliminary education a
Union Village, in Greenwich, and at Schenec.
tady. N. Y, and In 1916 entered the sophomore
class Of Union College. He was one OF six in o
class OF 100 who were elected members Of the
Phi Beta Aapl2 Society. the condition Of ad.
mission at Union. as at Harvard, being high
scholarship. After his graduation in 1913 he
attended n law school at Ballston Spa.
N. ". and subsequently pursued his legal
studies at Lansingburg In tho same State. He
was principal OF an academy NJ North POwnal.
Bennington county. Vt. in 1851. Two years
later he entered the law Office Of Erastus d.
Culver in New York city as n student, and was
admitted to the bar within twelve months. He
was a delegate to the first Republican State
Convention ut saratoga, and took an active
part In the Fremont campaign OF 1856. On
Jan. 1. 1881. he was appointed on Gov. Edwin
D. Morgan's staff as EnGineer-ln-Ch Chief. with
the rank OF Brigadier-G General. and when the
civil war began In the ensuing April he became
Acting Quartermaster-General and "a such
began the work OF forwarding the States
quota OF troops. On Feb. 10. 1852. he
was appointed Inspector General. but on July
10 he resumed his former most Of Quartermas-
General. He retired from the latter office on
Dec. 81. 1862. when Gov. Morgan was sue
ceeded by Horatio Seymour. Between 1862
and 1872 Chester A. Arthur was engaged In
the practice OF law. but he continued to take
an energetic part In politics. He became Chair
man o: the Executive Committee OF the Re-
publican State Committee In 1851.
On Nov. 20. 1871. he was appointed Collec-
tor OF the Port OF New York by President
Grant: was reappointed on Dec. II. 1875.
and retained the office until July IL.
1878. when he was suspended by President
Hayee On retiring from the office Of Collector,
he resumed the practice OF his profession. In
1890 he was a delegate to the Republican Ma
tional Convention at Chicago. where he advo-
Gated the nomination OF Gen. Grant for a third
term. After Gen. Garfield had been selected
for the Presidency. 1t was deemed expedient by
the convention to nominate for Vice President
some supporter of President Grant AMI a resi-
dent OF New York State. The New York dele
CATION having Indicated their preference for
Gen. Arthur. he was nominated on the first
ballot. He was elected Vice. President on Nov.
2. 1880. and presided over the excit-
ing session Of the Senate which began
on Marci 4. 1881. That body being
equally divided. he was frequently called
upon to exercise the right OF casting the con-
trolling vote. On Sept. 10 Of the year last
named. the day Of Mr.. Gar1eld's death. he
the oath as President In the city OF New
York. before Judge John r. Brady. and on the
22d had the oath administered again in the
Nice-President's room in the Capitol at Wash
ingt N by Chief Justice Waite. In the Repub-
lican National Convention which met at Chi |
cago on June 3. 1884. President Arthur re-
on the first ballot 27S votes. but tho
ballot resulted In the nomination OF
James G. Blaine. Mr.. Arthur died suddenly at
residence in New York city on Nov. 1S. 1885, !
and was buried at Albany.
1t will be remem hered that during the inter-
val Of about two months and a half from July
2. 1881, when President Garfield was shnt. to
Sept. IL. when he died. the functions OF Chief
Magistrate. notwithstanding MIR. Garfeld's !
inability to discharge them. were not
to devolve upon the vice-P President. !
but practically were assumed by James G.. I
Secretary Of State. The situation thus
raised certain constitutional questions, /,
which In conceivable contingencies might be-
'ome Of vital moment to the country. They
we're thus formulated, by Mr.. Arthur in his
lrst animal message. dated Dec. 9. 1891:
Questions which concern the very existence
the Government and the liberties of the
were suggested by the prolonged i'll
OF the late President and his conse-
luent incapacity to perform the functions OF his
'fflce. 1t Is provided by the second article OF
he Constitution. In tho fifth clause Of its first
ection. that in case OF the removal OF the
resident from office. or Of his death, resigna-
ion or inability to discharge the powers and
|uties of the said office. the same shall deyolye
N the Vice President What is the intend