The Rhode Island American, And General Advertiser

From the Baltimore Federal Gazette

This Constitution of the United States provides that "In case of removal of the President from office, or of his death, resignation or inability, to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President--and the Congress may by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected."--Art. II. Sec. 1. Cl. 6.

The Congress have by law provided: that in case of removal, death, &c. of both the President and Vice-President, the President of the Senate pro tempore, or if there be no President pro tem. of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall act as President of the United States. A President pro-tem. of the Senate can only be chosen in the absence of the Vice-President of the United States; it has therefore been customary for the Vice-President to withdraw from the Senate a few days before the end of each session, to give them an opportunity of appointing a President pro tem. as being an officer contemplated by law, on a probable event, to fill the highest station in our government.

Our very prudent and accommodating Vice President, Mr. Gerry, has thought proper in his wisdom, or his obstinacy, to prevent the appointment of such an officer by keeping his seat until the last moment of the session. We shall be glad to hear from some of his eulogizers, a good reason for such conduct.