The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-11


messed this occurrence since have had a
place in this body. The Government Of
the United States. and particularly the
Senate. losses one of It's great balancing
and determining powers on the death OF
the Vice President. There Is no opportu-
nifty to substitute him in his power TO give
casting vote on matters Of legislation
or in combinations to office. II sometimes
happens-yes, very often happens in cir
cumstances Of political cxigency-that the
vote of the Vice President of the United
4 states is necessary to determine questions
IN which the people OF the present age and
of coming generations are profoundly in
torcsted.
In this respect his office is higher in its
Importance than that Of the President of
| the United States, and is nearer to the peo-
pie; as the legislative power in which the
Vice President may participate is higher
than the veto power of the President
In his person the people at large have
| theIr only direct representative in the law
making power Of Congress. and it is
grand thought that their viii, expressed in
the vote of the Vice President decides all
| questions when the Senate is equally di-
! vided.
We have lost that power out OF the Sen
ate, and while we can supply, and do sup
ply from our own body. a presiding officer
who is worthy of the situation in eve.y
| possible respect. We cannot confer upon the
| presiding officer the power to cast n vote
in case Of an equal division of the Senate.
| So that in his death under the circum-
stances the Government is bereaved and the
| Senate has lost an immense force. II may
| turn out not TO be unfortunate. At the
| same time 1t is the striking out of wheel
or power in the Government of the United
Sattes which we cannot supply. and in that
| respect | look upon the death Of our Vice
President as great public calamity"
senator Chandler.
After the veteran statesman from Ala
bama had concluded Senator Chandler adj
dressed the Senate. His speech, in part.
follows:
Mr.. President. in paying my tribute of
respect and affection to the memory of
our late Vice President. am naturally
reminded OF his relations. and those OF
Mrs Hobart. to the State of New Hamp- |
shire AS Merrimack county during the |
closing years of the last century was the !
pioneer region of the Granite State, where |
Daniel Webster first saw the light Of day,
with the smoke from no hearthstone ris-
ing over the frozen hills between the
rude chimney of his fathers home and the
settlements on the rivers OF Canada So
during the earlier years OF the present
century Coos county was the frontier sec
ton, close up TO the Canadian border
narrowed almost TO point by the eager
pressure of the Green Mountain boys OF
Vermont on the west and the sturdy wood
men of Maine on the east. In this county
of Coos. in It's primitive days. strong and
God-fearing men and women pierced the
damp wilderness, conquered the frosts and
snow drifts. titled the rough and rocky
land. and went on amid such surroundings
to cultivate and develop the noblest aspi-
rations for themselves and their descend
ants for their State and their country
The Vice President was a man OF rare
gifts OF person, mind, and manners; never
acting with bosterous force in affairs nor
with fierce energy In oratory. but pos
sessed OF the highest native intelligence,
assisted by the most ample culture and
marvelously blessed with the most potent
ability to meet the strongest men of the
country in business negotiations in legal
contests, and In political management
and to control and influence their actions ,
according to his plans and desires He was
fortunate in his preparatory education. and
also in his college course. which ended at ! ,
an early age and gave him opportunity |
like his father and his wife's father. to ,
fasten his hold upon what he had learned ,
iLl W pltpdit ~ Ludht use VL IL Win |
and power. through that best of
discipline, which has helped to form the ,
characters aud give success to the careers :
Of so many of Americas public meu-a
period OF patient service as school
teacher
senator Lodges Expression. d
Mr.. Lodge was the next member OF the !
Senate to speak. He said:
Mr.. President, the death OF Mr.. Hobart c
was both a loss to the country and deep q
personal sorrow to his friends. OF whom no
man ever had more. OF the qualities OF :
mind and heart which make it possible to n
say this without going beyond the limits OF d
simple truth. there is much to be said. But d
there was one conspicuous public service a
rendered by Mr. Hobart which ! think has {
not been understood, and certainly has not o
been adequately appreciated He restored Il
the Vice Presidency to its proper position. t
md lifted ii up before the people to the dig {
nity and importance which IL merits The h
iecline OF the Vice Presidency in political @
weight and popular estimation has been an
unfortunate development OF the last fifty d
years. In our regard for that office and in p
,ur treatment OF it We have departed utter t
" from the wise conception of the founders n
IF our Government. The trainers OF The O
lent should be in all respects. in ability. in a
reputation, in weight Of character. and in =
ais standing before the people on plane q
II absolute equality with the President =,
We have but 20 turn to the original clause =
II the Constitution. amended so long ago u
hat it is vel! nigh forgotten. and there n
ind the proof OF this statement
According 10 that conception the Vice !,
President placed equal level in choice !
in I. "A ma puly tn /
o TIM Presidency in case Of death or dis II
hility. but was marked out by his position :,
IS the natural successor when the four q
n tn. eight years term of his associate had u
xpircd In this way Adams succeeded ,,
and Jefferson Adams. Then. :,
gain after a long interval Van Buren, =.
rent from the Vice Presidency to the white
Iousc Since that time the conception Of
he trainers has faded and grown dim. The
ice Presidency has been treated TOO often =
u party conventions either rs convenient
nd honorable shelf upon which an emil II
ent man might quietly close his career. or In
= a consolation prize to be awarded to 8,
he faction in the party which had failed n
0 win the highest place In the first case. "
he country ran the risk Of having a Vice M
resident incapable from age or perhaps | ri
her causes of carrying the responsibilities | nj
I the Presidency If they were forced upon Il,
i'm: and in the second, they had a Vice n,
resident who lived in strained and dis | -
ant relations with the White House. and al
suddenly called to occupy 1t. brought a n
hange Of men and Of measures when the | "a
eople had voted for policies and executors III
( policies who should be continuous in m
ction for four years. "
so far has this misconceptiOn and this | hi
ais. treatment Of the Vice Presidency gau, a,
!