Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-03-25
THE REASON FOR MARCH 4
That Date Fixed for Inauguration by
m early Act of Congress-Timc
Fixed by the Co%nstitutiOn

Very few people are aware why we
set apart March 4th as the beginning OF
the term OF a new president" said a
student of the Constitution to a Wash
lngton star reporter in a discussion OF
tho proposed new date for Inaugural
ton. ''To find out how this date came
to he Inauguration day we must go back
TO the time of the Continental Congress.
by n resolution that Congress, Feb. q,
1881, directed u convention to assemble
at Philadelphia, Pa. May "A, 1857, to
arrange a form OF government of more
stable character than the one then in
use. scptembcr Il, 49,, this convention
reported back to the Congress-, sitting
the people Of tho United States Where
upon,' says the Journal Of Congress.
Sept. r., 17SS. Congress on the 2sth OF
the same September. did resolve unani-
n.ously. "That the said report. with the
resolutions and letter accompanying the
same. be Transmitted to the several
Legislatures IN order to he submitted
to n convention OF delegates. chosen in
each state by the people thereof. in on
formity of the resolves Of the conven-
ton made and provided in that case
And whereas the Constitution go report
Cd by the convention, and by Congress
transmitted to the several Legislatures.
has been ratified in the manner therein
declared to be sufficient for the estab-
lisEment of tho game. and such rat
incations. duly authenticated, have been
received by Congress and are fled in the
Office of the secretary. therefore,
e Resolved. That the first Wednesday
in January next he the day for appoint
| ina electors in the scveral states which
before the said day shall have ratified
tIe said Constitution; that the first We'd
tesday in February next be the day for
the electors to assemble in their respec-
tive States and vote for a president. and
that the first Wednesday In March next
he the time and tho present seat of Con-
srcss the place for commencing proceed
ings undcr the said Constitution
"Article : OF the Constitution Of the
tinted States provides; The ratification
Of the conventions of nine States shall
be sufficient for the establishment CT
the Constitution between the States SO
ratifying the same
Nine States ratified as follows: Della
ware. Dec. :. 1851: Pennsylvania. Dec.
L, 1857; New Jersey. Dec. is, 1857: Georg-
ia. Jan. ., 1888; Connecticut. Jan. Q, 17sS;
Massachusetts, Feb. G. 17SS; Maryland.
April 2S. 17Ss; South Carolina. May q.
l7sS; New Hampshire. June 81, 17sS.
THE first Wednesday in March nexr'
fell upon the fourth. Congress took tbs
as a precedent and used that date for
the commencement of each new admin
lee, w., .hn .ngt f'anprnG- ,t,Io- tEn
constitutional form Of government as
scmbled at New York. y. Y. March l..
1889. IS arranged by the resolution CT
Sept. -, 1853, hut a quorum of both
houses was not present until April 6.
when the electoral vote was counted
and Washington was declared to be
elected president and Adams vice-presl-
dent.
News travelled very slowly in those
days. and as there were many details to
he arranged to carry out the first inau-
eu~al Washington was not inducted mo
ofce until April 20. 1850. at New York.
The act Of March I, 1852. fixed the COM
mencement of the presidential term as
follows: Tho term of four years, for
Which a president ana vice-presideNt
shall he elected. shall. in all cases, COM
menoe on the fourth dav of March next
succeeding TIE day on WNloh 'he votes
cf the electors have been given '9ec-
tion - r.. 81
THE Constitution article H., section
u says: The executive power shall he
vested in u President Of the United States
of America. He shall hold hl1 office our
ing tho term Of four years etc. II was
impossible for the trainers Of the Consti-
tuition to fix a day for tic commence
ment Of the presidential term OF Office;
no power to arrange any matters regard
ing the starting OF the new form of gov
eminent was given TO the constitutional
convention. II was merely instructed t6
draw NJ a constitution, and Congress. as
has been shown by the resolution OF
september -, l1S. arranged the start
ing time of tho new government.
"The day on which the votes ot M
electors have been given Is fixed by thf
following act of Congress (chapter ~
page 20. vol. /. Supp. r. 50:
BE it enacted, etc. That the electors
OF each state shall meet and give thel
votes on the second Monday in January
next following their appointment, at shci
place in each state as the l.egia!ature'
Of such state shall direct.
sec. A.. That Congress shall be in
session OF too second Wednesday in Fen
ruary succeeding every meeting OF III