Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-08-29
PRESIDENT For A DAY.
Unique Distinction Of a Man Now
Almost Forgotten.


Almost Forgotten.
Grover Cleveland to-day is known az
the twenty third President of the Uni
ted States. lie was In his first term
the twenty-first President, SO 1t would
seem that the chair OF the chief execu-
tive has been occupied by only twenty
two men. This Is what general history
says.
There have been twenty.three men in
the office of President, and one of them
wore the honor for only one day. Ills
name is completely forgotten now.
March 4. 1870, came on Sunday, a day
that the constitution does not recognize
as legal In the transaction Of such off,
cial business MS administering the oath
Of office. On that day mt noon. Presi-
dent Folks term of Office ended, and
President-elect Zachary Taylor could
not take his place, or mt least did not
think he could. The prospect Of the
country being without an official head
for the twenty.four hours or there be-
Ing doubt nbout who would be the head,
created discussion In Congress and In
the press.
When Gen. Taylor arrived in Wash
ington few days before his Inaugural.
ton. he was besought to take the oath
Of Office on Sunday 30 rs to prevent con-
fusion and what some persons believed
to be danger. II was In the hot days
Of the Free SOilers' and Barn Storm.
ers" and the storm of slavery was brew.
Ing. During Saturday and Saturday
night there were half dozen fights I'D
Congress. The capitol was camp Of
violence. but Gen. Taylor held out that
lie would not become President on Sun.
day.
David II. Atchison. Of Missouri. was
president pro tempOre of the Senate,
and II was held by Congress TINT the
functions Of President must devOlve
upon him from Sunday noon til Mon
day noon, and for these twenty.four
hours he has had the distinction Of be.
ing President Of the United States. hav-
ing all the functions and powers Of that
Office. The oath Of the office was nOt
administered TO him, for the same rea.
son that It was not Immediately al
ministered TO- Gen. Taylor; but he. be.
ing virtually Vice President, II was not
considered necessary.
That President Atchison considered
himself President there can be no
doubt. for on Monday morning, when
he Senate reassembled. he sent to the
White House for the seal Of the great
Office. and signed one or two official
papers rs President. These were some
small nets in connection with the in
auguration that had been neglected by
President Polk.
But there was much fun and good
nntured badinnge INDUCED In among
Atchison's friends and himself during
his short presidential term. He was n
Democrat. while the Presldcnt.elect
was Wing. A majority Of the Senate
was Democratic. and his friends jok-
ingly proposed to him to usurp the office
by calling the army to his back AMI
preventing "Old Ironsidcs" from be-
Ing sworn In. II any such thing had
been seriously contemplated Gen. Tay-
lOr was too much the idol Of the army
to let II be successful.
Han Gen. Taylor been an unpopular
man and had Atchison had the chnrac-
ter and ambition Of a dictator. with u
friendly army. Congress and timid ST.
preme Court. President Atchison's
name would probably not have been no
soon forgotten and the constitutional
day Of inaugurating the President Of
the United States would have been
changed SO that. 1t would never again
fall on Sunday.
According to IN almanac maker OF
the time, the next Inauguration to full
on Sunday will be March 1, 1921. ana
just century from the date Of Presi-
dent Atchison's term Of office there
will be another Sunday March 4, and
following this will be March 1, 1877.
Grover Cleveland was last inaugurated
on Saturday. The century gains u
whole day from the leap year scraps
left over This day Ia added to the Inst
year, 1000. II this calculntln In correct
the constitutional day Of Inauguration
IL not changed. the twentieth century
may have three zone day only" Presl-
s1anta vnvlr Drnso