The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1876-11-16
FOURTH OF MARCH.
THE REASON WHY GOVERNOR TILDEN
CANNOT BE INAUGuRATED oN THAT
DAY.

"If Tildcn 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 nddi-
tion to its other usurpations of law ?"
ooh, no not at all. 1ilden. if elected,
will not be inaugurated President on the
4th Of March, fnd for the very good rea-
son that il .alls on Sunday" Such is
the fact. The official term of General
Grant ss President expires at IL o'clock
noon on Sunday, the 4th of March, and
from that time until :lie day following,
when either Governor Hayes or Coy
Goveror Tiiden can take the oath,
the acting Vice President, Senator T. ".
Ferry, of Michigan, will be the Prasi-
dent of the United States. That the next
President will not be sworn in on Sunday
has already been settled by historical pre-.
ccdcnt. 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 wade by the trainers of that
instrument when the four years term
should commence. BY act Of Congress-
passed September Is, l7SS-thc Constitu-
ton at that time having been ratified by
a sufficient number Of States-thc time
set Tor the Inauguration Of the first Prcsi-
dent of the United States, and the COM
mcncement 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 enormously
stated that the Constitution went into cf-
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 tho day for COM
mencing the term of Office was changed.
The act of March /, 1892, provided that
the term of four years for which P-csi-
dent anG Vicc-President shall be elected,
| shall, in all cases, commence the itn 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 tie second term of Prcsi-
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
i tor NI4 \
the 5th. The National Inteiliyenccr o.
March 6, describes the scene, and sale
the oath of Office was administered b,
Chief Justice Marshall. The proceeding.
took place in the House of Representa-
tivcs. The third occurrence of this kline
was in 1S49, when Prr,idcnt Tyler wa.
inauguratcd. In this instance, also, thu
ceremonies took place on Monday, the
9th of March. Next year the President
elect will, therefore, be inaugurated or
Monday the 9th of March, instead o
Sunday, the 4th. There is no spccia
law bearing on the subject, but the pro
ceedings follow the general rule that fo;
legal purposes Sunday is dies non, anc
Saturday, the Sd of March, therefore onl,
ends when Monday begins. This rule i.
followed in Congressional proceeding.
where it has happened that Saturday.
sitting hes been prolonged until Monday
the records showing no evidences of par
of the proceedings having taken place or
Sunday. Every seventh Presidential
term the 4th of March, on which the
term should commence, falls upon Sun.
day. Unless there should he change il
the duration of the term the coin
cldence will not occur again until th,
year 1905 Washington SIar.