Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-08
MARCH THE FOURTH.

The local headed March the Fourth :
our issue of that date contains some errors.
The 4th of March by that designation
was never fixed upon as Inauguration day.
On Monday the l4th day of May, 1857,
the Convention to form q Constitution for
the United States of AmeriC3, was organ
lied at Philadelphia, with George Wash
ington as its President The Convention
continued in session until Sept II of the
same year, on which day the President of
the Convention CommqDicatDi to the
President of the Congress II the Confede-
ration, the Constitution adopted by
the Convention. Sept. 2S, 1857
the Congress by resolution, submitted the
constitution to the several State Legisla-
lures, which respectively provided for the
election of delegates to State Conventions.
to consider of the ratification of the Con-
stitution of the United States. The Pbila-
delphis Convention having provided that,
when nine States shall have ratified the
Constitution, Senators ard Representa-
tives, and also President sud q Vice
President shall be elected, and the Gov
eminent of the United States organized
under the Constitution, without designat
ing any time when such government
should be organized, for the very good
reason that it was MT known that ning
States would ever ratIfy the Cnastitution,
or, in the event they did, it WIS not
known when that would be done. Con
sequently, that duty deYOlYeJ upon tie
old Congress of the confederation, when
sufficient number of States may have
ratified the Constitution, to authorize the
organization of the government under II.
On the 26ih of July, 1888, eleven States
CaIl except North Carolina and Rhode
Island) had ratified the Constitution. On
Saturday, the 18th of September, 1888,
the Congress of the Confederation
Resolved, "That the first Wedneg-
day in January next, Q7S9) be
the day for appointing electors in the
several States, which, before The said day
shall have ratified the said C0nstitu-
ton; that the first Wednesday in February
next, 1889, be the day for electors to as
semble in their respective States, and vote
for President, and that the first We'd
nesdsy in March next, 1889, be the time
and the present sea: of Congress (New
York; the place for commencing the pro
ceedings under the said constitution. -
Thus it appears the days of the week
were designated for the elections and
commencement of the government under
the constitution, rather than days of tie
month. Fad sufficient number of
States ratified the Constitution IN the
latter part of 1857, aud the early po', OF
l7SS, it is likely that the government
would have been organized in 1888, and
in that event the Presidential term Of four
years, commencing in gear ending with
one of the figures 2, 4, 6 s, 0, would, in
all time, have terminated and commenced
in q year ending with one Of those figures.
But as the first Wednesday in March,
1889, was the time the government COM
menced, and that day 10 that year hsp-
pening to be the 4th Of March, the Presi-
dental term of four years has ever since
commenced on the 4th of March of the
years ending with one of the odd figures
l, 8, 5, Tor 9; without, it is believed,
any regard whatever 70 Sunday or any
other day of the week.
The 4th Of March, 1919, came on Sun
day and on that day James K. Folks
Presidential term expired aud Gen.
Zachsriah Taylor's commenced. Gen.
Taylor was not iuauguratei on Sunday
the 4th, but Monday the 9Th day of
March, 1S49. ....