urse, that a similar contingency may again arise
unless the wisdom of Congress shall provide against its recurrence.

The Senate at its last session, after full consideration, passed an act
relating to this subject, which will now, I trust, commend itself to the
approval of both Houses of Congress.

The clause of the Constitution upon which must depend any law regulating
the Presidential succession presents also for solution other questions
of paramount importance.

These questions relate to the proper interpretation of the phrase
"inability to discharge the powers and duties of said office," our
organic law providing that when the President shall suffer from such
inability the Presidential office shall devolve upon the Vice-President,
who must himself under like circumstances give place to such officer as
Congress may by law appoint to act as President.

I need not here set forth the numerous and interesting inquiries which
are suggested by these words of the Constitution. They were fully stated
in my first communication to Congress and have since been the subject of
frequent deliberations in that body.

It is greatly to be hoped that these momentous questions will find
speedy solution, lest emergencies may arise when longer delay will be
impossible and any determination, albeit the wisest, may furnish cause
for anxiety and alarm.

For the reasons fully stated in my last annual message I repeat my
recommendation that Congress propose an amendment to that provision of
the Constitution which prescribes the formalities for the enactment of
laws, whereby, in respect to bills for the appropriation of public
moneys, the Executive may be enabled, while giving his approval to
particular items, to interpose his veto as to such others as do not
commend themselves to his judgment.

The fourteenth amendment of the Constitution confers the rights of
citizenship upon all persons born or naturalized in the United States
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof. It was the special purpose of
this amendment to insure to members of the colored race the full
enjoyment of civil and political rights. Certain statutory provisions
intended to secure the enforcement of those rights have been recently
declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

Any legislation whereby Congress may lawfully supplement the guaranties
which the Constitution affords for the equal enjoyment by all the
citizens of the United States of every right, privi