American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1876-11-11
The Next President to be Inau-
gurated March 3.

The official term of General Grant as
President expires at II O'Clock noon on
Sunday, the 4th of March, and from
that time until the day the President
elect can take the oath, the acting Vice
President, Senator T. w. Ferry, OF
Michigan, will be the President OF the
United States. That the next President
will not be sworn in on Sunday has al
ready been settled by historical prece-
dent. The Constitution provides that
the President and President of the
United States shall hold their offices
during the term of four years, but no
provision was made by the trainers of
that instrument when the four years
term should commence. By act of
Congress, passed September Is, 1888
the Constitution at that time having
been ratified by sufficient number of
States-the time set for the inaugura-
ton of the first President of the United
States, and the commencement of the
working of the new Constitution, was
the first Wednesday in March, 1889,
that being the 9Th of March. In fact,
however, the Inauguration of President
Washington did not take place until
Wednesday, April 80, eight weeks
after the designated time.
In more than one history
it has been enormously stated that
the Constitution went into effect and
the Inauguration took place on the 4th
of March, that being neither the day
appointed, nor the actual day of either
event. Before the second term of
President Washington the day for COM
mencing the term of Office was changed.
The act of March 1, 1892, provided that
the term of four years for which Pres
ident and Vice President shall be elect
ed, shall, in all cases, commence the
4th of March next succeeding the day
on which the votes of the electors shall
have been given. The 4th of March,
1898, on which by law the second term
of President Washington commenced,
fell on Sunday. There is no record
stating exactly the day on which Wash
ington took the oath of office, but from
his known character, and from the
course of after proceedings in similar
cases, there is little doubt his second
Inauguration was on Monday, March 5.
The next occurrence of the 4th of
March in a Presidential year falling on
Sunday was in 1921, when President
Monroe commenced his second term.
The Inauguration was on Monday, the
9Th. The National Istelligencer of
March describes the scene,
and said the oath of office was admins
tered by Chief Justice Marshall. The
proceedings took place in the House of
Representatives. The third occurrence
of this kind was in 1849, when Presi-
dent Tyler was inaugurated. In this
instance, also, the ceremonies took
place on Monday, the 9Th of March.
Next year the President-elect will,
therefore, be inaugurated on Monday,
the 9Th of March, instead of Sunday,
the 4th. There is no special law bear
ing on the subject, but the proceedings
follow the general rule that for legal
purposes Sunday is a dies non, and Sat-
urday, the Sd of March, therefore, only
ends when Monday begins. This rule
is followed in Congressional proceed
ings where it has happened that Satur-
days sitting has been prolonged until
Monday, the records showing no evil
dences of part of the proceedings hav-
ing taken place on Sunday. Every
seventh Presidential term the 4th of
March, on which the term should COM
mence, falls upon Sunday. Unless
there should be change in the dura-
ton of the term the coincidence will
not occur again until the year 1905
Washington Star.