Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-27

been the intent of the trainers
OF the Constitution that. In ths
emergency named the Nice-Presidens
should become President, would not tha
language naturally been. then "the Vice.
President should become Presidency
Because a wrong becomes hoayy with
age is no reason why such wront should
not be corrected. II was some two hum
dred years after the death OF the greas
oliver Cromwell before his true oharac-
ter became known. even 10 his own c0un-
trymen. / cannot with tho lights he
lore me- bring myself 20 tho conclusion
that the trainers of thu Constitution so
framed 1t as 10 put into the power %
cranks, assassns. and crazy men 70 dis
place the President and put m some ons
else. mink Of an erratic man like
Booth, putting out such a President "a
Abraham Lincoln. and putting IA his placa
such a creature as Andrew Johnson.
Think Of that splendid specimen OF man
hood and talents. Garfield. being put OUT
Of the presidency by the poor, crazy tel
low that killed him, and his putting Mr..
Arthur In tho presidential chair. The
wonder Is. that after the killing or MIR.
Lincoln and Mr.. Garfield something was
not done 20 prevent "cranks" putting ous
Presidents elected b. thu peopla and
putting In their places men who, II they
had been candidates for tho preshiancy,
would have On my bolieD been badly
beaten. The Office OF President II ono
Of the highest in the world, and as our
government is one for and by tho people,
It is the one Office above al othors thaa
they should ILL., and they only. Such a
high Office as the presidency. and a salary
now Of $4,000 year, may In tho course
of time cause some bad, ambitious nan
al ID a,I ~. Hat H..
putting himself into the presidency. It
such Il thing should happen, perhaps tho
people Will wake up aud take proper
steps TO prevent amy man becoming presl-
dent except by an election.
I'm quoting tho clause in the Conzitlt.
ton commencing, I'm case 0f the re-
moyal OF the President nom ofire or of
his death, &C." which clause WIS a pare
of the Constitution proposed In the Com
venton OF 1871. and Afterwards ratified
by tho suites, "l@K" wrote as folffgss
d. "Now. here are separate and disuncs
CONFERENCE.-The th3 death. etn, OF
tho President only and secondly, fhs
death, etc, OF both the President and
Nice-President.
In the first case the Office OF tho Prest-
dent. not merely the duties and po~raA.
doyolyes on the Yico-President.
In the other case there IS 10 ba a
person acting as President designated
by Congress. In the latter case Congress
rs 20 appoint by law soubs officer 20 act
as President until tho disability on tho
President and Vice-President be removed
or President shall be elected"
II your readers viii carefully read tho
twelfth amendment OF the Constitution,
or rather that part Of II which | haya
quoted, 1 think thcy will begin 20 SEQ
that Lexis" construction OF the COnsfitu-
ton, as stated by himself. is not tha
right one. His idea Is ds ] correctly
understand HIND, an acting President"
would Doe tho product OF Congress I q
think he scouts tho idea OF a Vice-Presi-
dent (and one who becomes 30 by con-
stitutional authority. should simply hava
the powers and duties 10 doyOlyo on him.
When the twelfth amendment was pro-
posed. and afterwards ratified by tha
States, very many men we're living VIVA
had a hand I'm making the Constitution
OF 49, Among them was Mr.. Madison
(whO has been called tho father OF tho
and consequently such men
knew what was the real intent OF the
Of 1877, and fully expressed
such meaning IN the twelfth amendment
Of tho Constitution. To my mind there
Is no doubt that tho language Of such
amendment knocks a big hole in 'Lex'3''
Of the Constitution. and puts
him IN corner l think. which Il VIII
require a good deal OF ingenuity 20 gee
him out. His acting President would
not be brought into existence. except bv
the death. &c. OF both tho President and
Vice-President. and yet. even such an act
Ing President would have had the power
TO have done an tho things that lex"
says SIR. Tyler did. Very respectfully.
ROBERT A. MARTIN.