The Washington herald., 1915-07-15
HISTORY BUILDERS.
Written expressly for The Washington Herald.l
by DIR. Z. J. EDWARDS.
Presidents Who Took the Oath of
Office Privately.


Before his health was shattered and
business misfortunes had almost over
whelmed him. Thomas White Ferry.
United States Senator from Michigan for
two terms. was looked upon as one of
the finest representatives of mental and
physical vigor and also of temperamental
qualities which are essential to one who
is to be successful in the time of great
emergency. Senator Ferry was so high
ly esteemed by his associates of the
United States Senate that he was named
president pro tempore of the Senate after
the death of Vice President Henry VIII
son. Had Gen. Grant died at any time
IN the last two years of his second ad-
ministration, Senator Ferry would by
virtue OF the law as 1t then stood upon
the statute books been President of the
United States.
1t was while serving as president of
the Senate that he made it possible by
his rulings and announced purpose for
Congress to count the vote as reported
from the various States which showed
that Rutherford r. Hayes had been elect
ed by one majority and it was he who
was presiding officer over both Houses
which met in joint convention to receive
and declare the certificates from the
various electoral colleges who made the
announcement which required some
couraGe-that Rutherford b. Hayes had
been elected President of the United
States.
A few weeks after Gov. Hayes had been
inaugurateQ as President, reports were
in circulation, some of which got into
print. that Senator Ferry was actually
President of the United States for one
day. That report has passed into tradi-
ton. but II something which was told
to me years afterward by the late Col
George Bliss was not an error then Sem
ator Ferry was not President for a single
day or single moment.
had been chatting with Col. Bliss
about the dignified manner in which
Chester A. Arthur was inaugurated as
the successor OF President Garfield some
weeks after President Garfield died.
Arthur" said Col. Bliss land Hayes
were sworn in as Presidents of the
United States twice. In each case the
first oath was administered privately.
Within an hour after the death of Presi
dent Garfield 1t was officially reported to
Arthk Judge DAILY. long time per-
sonal .friend of Arthur. administered the
oath to him in the parlor of Arthur's
mousse OT LtNlnStDH dNtHue' view iOEh
City The only witness was Arthur's
son Allan Later Arthur repeated the
oath in public.
THE fourth Of March. 1877. occurred
on Sunday. The Inauguration of Gen.
Hayes as President was for that reason
to take place on March 5. Monday. but
Gen. Grants term as President expired
at noon on March 4, so that full day
appeared to have passed before Hayes
took the oath. For that reason Senator
Ferry was said to have been President
of the United States for single day.
But I have been reliably informed that
after the noon hour Of
March 4 the oath was administered to
Gen. Hayes privately and that was ex-
pedient, in view Of the fact that great
excitement prevailed on account OF the
contested election. Therefore, Hayes be-
came President within q few moments
after Grants term expired, although he
was not publicly sworn In until noon
of the next day"
tcouight, 1915. b. E. J. Edw,rdA An rights ~
seved)
Tomorrow DR.. Edwards will tell How
r In coln Aided thA I1nion Pacific