The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-11-16

eff Tilden is elected to be the next
President of the United States, III bet
800 that he is not sworn in. on the 4th
of March" This was the remark drop
ped by Republican in discussing Prcsi-
DENTAL probabilities with Democrat,
whereat the latter replied, "Great God,
does your party mean revolution in addi-
ton to its other usurpations of law?'
"Oh, no not at all. Tilden, if elected,
will not be inaugurated President on the
18th of March, and for the very good rea-
son that it falls on Sunday" Such is
the fact 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 following,
when either Governor Hayes or Gov
Goveror Tilden can take the oath,
the acting Vice president, Senator T. w.
Ferry, of Michigan, will be the Presi-
dent of the United States. That the next
President will not be sworn in on Sunday
has already been settled by historical pre-
ccdent. The Constitution provides that
the President and Vice-President of the
United States shall hold their offices du-
ring the term of four years, but no pro-
vision was made by the trainers of that
instrument when the four years term
should commence. By act of Congress,
passed September 13, 17SS-the Constitu-
ton at that time having been ratified by
a sufficient number of States-the time
set tor the Inauguration Of the first Presi-
dent of the United States, and the COM
mencement of the working of the new
Constitution, was the first Wednesday in
March, 1889, that being the 5th 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 crroneously
stated that the Constitution went into ef-
feet 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 l, 1892, provided that
the term of four years for which Presi-
dent and Vice President shall be elected,
shall, in all cases, commence the 4th day
Of March next succeeding the day on
which the votes of the electors shall have
been given. The 4th of March, 1893, on
which by law the second term Of Presi-
dent Washington commenced, fell on
Sunday. There is no record stating ex-
actly the day on which Washington 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 Presidential year
falling on Sunday was in 1921, when
President Monroe commenced his second
term. The inauguration was on Monday,
the 9Th. The National LntelHgencer of
March 6, describes the scene, and said
the oath of Office was administered by
Chief Justice Marshall. The proceedings
took place in the House Of Representa-
tives. The third occurrence of this kind
was in 1s49, when President 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 bearing on the subject, but the pro-
ceedings follow the general rule that for
legal purposes Sunday is a dies non, and
Saturday, the Sd of March, therefore only
ends when Monday begins. This rule is
followed in Congressional proceedings
where it has happened that Saturdays
sitting has been prolonged until Monday,
the records showing no evidences of part
of the proceedings having taken place on
Sunday. Every seventh Presidential
term the 4th Of March, on which the
term should commence, falls upon Sun
day. Unless there should be change in
the duration of the term the coin
cidence will not occur again until the
year 1906 Washington Star.