Evening star., 1876-10-23
why TiideD, ff Tlected. VIII Not be
lAauguTated On tho 4th OF March.

"If Tilden 10 elected to be the next Presi
dent of the United States, I'll bet 500 that
he is not sworn In on the 4th OF March,"
This was the remark dropped By q repub-
licen in discussing the Presidential proba-
biIittes with democrat, wnereat the latter
replied, "Great God, does your party mean
revolution in addition to Its other usurpa-
tons of Iaw?" ooh, no; not at all. Ttldeu,
II elected. will not be iDaugurated President
on the 4lh OF March, aud for the very good
reason that IL falls on Sunday"
Such is the fact The official ter N OF Gen.
Grant as President expires at twelve O'CLOCK
loon on Sunday, the 4th OF March, and from
that lime until the day following, when
either Governor Hayes or Governor TiIden
can take the oath, the acting Vice President,
Senator I. W. Ferry, of Michigan, Will be
the President Of The United States.
That the next President Will not be sworn
In on Sunday has already been settled By
historical precedent The Constitution pro-
vioes that the President and Vice President
OF the UBtted States shall hold their off ces
during the term OF four years, bat no pro-
vision was made by the trainers of that
Instrument when the four years term should
commence. By act or Congress-, passed
September 15, 1TSS-the Constitution at that
time having been ratified by a sufficient num-
Der OF states-the time set for the inaugura~
ton OF the first President OF the United
States and the commencement OF the work
ing OF the new Constitution was the first
Wednesday In March, 1888, that being the
5tb of March. In fact, however, the inaugu-
ration of President Washington did not take
place until Wednesday, April 80, eight weeks
after the designated time. In more than one
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 Wash
ington the day for commencing the term OF
office was changed. The act OF March l.
1922, provided that the term Of four years for
which q President and Vice President shall
6e elected, shall in all cases commence the
4th day OF March next succeeding the day
on which the votes OF the electors shall have
which by law the second term of President
Washington commenced, fell on q Sunday.
There is DO record stating exactly the day
on on which washington took the oath of Of
from the course Of after proceedings in sim.
liar cases, there Is little dOubt bis second In
auguration was on Monday, March 8.
The next occurrence OF the 4th of March In
residential year falling on Sunday was
in 1921. when President Monroe commenced
bis second term. The inauguration was Oh
Monday, the 5th. The National Irteligeace2
of March describes the scene. and said the
oath was administered by Chief Justice
Marshall. The proceedings took place IL
the House OF Representatives..
The third occurrence OF this kind was in
1919, when President Tyler was inaugur ated.
In this instance, also, the ceremonies took
place on Monday, the 5th OF March.
Next year the President-elect will, there
fore, be inaugurated on Mon1ay, the 5th OF
March, instead OF Sunday, the 4th. There is
10 special law bearing on the subject, but
the proceedings follow the general rule that
for legal purposes Sunday Is q dies non, and
saturday, the Sd of March, therefore only
ends when Monday, the 5th OF March. be.
gins. This rule is followed in Congressional
proceedings, where 1t has happened that
Saturdays sitting has been prolonged until
Monday, the records showing no evidence OF
part OF the proceedings having taken place
on Sunday.
Every seventh Presidential term the ith OF
March, on which the term should COM
mencc, falls upon Sunday. Unless there
term the coincidence will not again occur
until The year 1905