The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1875-11-28
oEX.OrFIcIO VICE PRESIDENTS"

hN-OAEs'hW WIN NA''s 1880
That on the death Of Mr.. Wilson Mr..
Ferry becomes eroNcio Vice Presl-
dent, Is nm error There Is no such
thing as an acting Vice President The
Vice President never acts. He simply
waits, ready to take the place OF
the President In case Of the death,
removal or disability OF the latter, and
while he Is waiting, he presides over
the Senate, by way Of having some
thing to do, Whenever he absent
or sick the Senate elects temporary
presidents who goes back to his desk,
however, when the Vice Presidant re-
turns. Before the adjournment Of the
Senate, Mr.. Wilson having left WASH
ington, the Senate elected Mr.. Ferry,
OF Michigan, President pro tenpore,
and he is now, by law, tho next In sue
cession to the President until the SEN
ate shall reassemble In December. Mr..
Ferry was born at Mackinaw, Mich
igan, June |, 1927, and Is thus in his
40th year. His father, Rev. William
Ferry, went out from Massachusetts us
a missionary 20 the Indians, and was
among the early settlers OF Michigan.
He subsequently, engaged IN the lum-
her trade, his sons, as they grew up,
becoming partners in the business,
His son, Senator Thomas Ferry,
entered early into political life and
was elected TO tho Legislature by the
Wings in 1850. On tho disintegration
Of that party, he became affiliated with
the Republican organizations, aud by
II was sent to the State Senate in 1857
for two years. For eight years there
after he served az an active member Of
the Republican State Committee, and
In 1860 was n member and one oil
the vice Presidents Of the national
convention at Chicago which nominal
ed Abraham Lincoln for the Presi-
dency. In 1864 Mr.. Ferry was elected
u Representative from Michigan to the
Thirty-ninth Congress, being success
sively reelected In 1868, 1858 and 1870.
In January, 1871, Mr. Ferry was nom
mated by the Republican Legislature
caucus rs United Safes Senator to sue
coed the late John Nj. Howard, and
was elected for tho term beginning In
March, 1871 and ending in 1877. In the
Senate he took an unusually high place
at the outset, and now holds the chair
manship ON the Committee on Rules
the third place on the Committee OF
Finances and the second place on thai
on Postollices. But the most import
ant preferment he received was the
election to the position of President
pyo tenn of the Senate at the close o.
the special session of that body held il
March last. 1t is very unusual for /
Senator toreceive such distinction be-
fore the close Of histerm, but Mr.. FerrS
has the reputation of being an accom-
plished parliamentarian, and is fully
qualified for the task of presiding owe
the Senate, which now falls to his lot
He ia, moreover, q man of consider
able ability, aud an effective speaker
and thus far has enjoyed u high repu
tation for integrity of charaotorl Nh,
Senate may or may not again elect Mr.
Ferry president pro tempore, bu
whomever it may elect at its approach
ing session will be president of thu
Senate simply, and the Office of Vic'
President will remain vacant unit
filed by the electors chosen at the
general election in 1876. Should the
President die, the President of the Sen
ate would become "acting President ;
only until an election could be held to
fill the vacancy.