It was the
deliberate opinion of Senator Hoar, who knew Garfield intimately,
that "next to the assassination of Lincoln, his death was the
greatest national misfortune ever caused to this country by the
loss of a single life."
The lingering illness of President Garfield raised a serious
question about presidential authority which is still unsettled.
For over two months before he died he was unable to attend to any
duties of office. The Constitution provides that "in case of the
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."
What is the practical significance of the term "inability"? If it
should be accepted in its ordinary meaning, a prostrating illness
would be regarded as sufficient reason for allowing the
Vice-President to assume presidential responsibility. Though
there was much quiet discussion of the problem, no attempt was
made to press a decision. After Garfield died, President Arthur,
on succeeding to the office, took up the matter in his first
annual message, putting a number of queries as to the actual
significance of the language of the Constitution--queries which
have yet to be answered. The rights and duties of the
Vice-President in this particular are dangerously vague. The
situation is complicated by a peculiarity of the electoral
system.
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