Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-05

TIME inauguration of president
Wilson on the fifth day of March
reminds the student of history
of the two previous occasions when
inaugural days fell on Sunday.
The first of these occasions was in
1849 when General Zachary Taylor,
fresh from his laurels in the Mexican
war, took the oath as President of the
United States. The second occurred
in 1877, when after much doubt, 1t
was finally decided on Friday, March
2, and announced in the morning pa
pers of the following day that Ruther-
ford b. Hayes and not Samuel j. Til
den was President-elect of the United
States.
"Wcnt to 1t" in Those Days
On both these occasions, 1S49
and 1877, the closing days of
Congress were marked by exciting
scenes, for in those days party spirit
ran much higher than it does to-day.
In the House of Representatives dila-
tory motions, and various attempts at
filibustering were in order of the day.
A Philadelphia newspaper of March 5,
1S49 says while killing time by
useless motions a fight occurred be-
tween Johnson, of Arkansas, and
Ficklin, of Illinois, at halfpast two
o'clock (Sunday morning) in which
Mr.. Johnson inflicted severe blows up
on Mr.. Ficklin causing the blood to
flow freely. They were separated and
Mr.. t'icklin led out of the hall" An
other alteration took place in the
Senate when Mr.. Cameron, of Penn
sylvania, raised q point of order and
Mr.. Foote accosted him. Warm words
were passed between the two when Mr..
Foote shook his fist in the face of Mr..
Cameron and the latter struck him;
for this Mr. Foote afterward apollo
gized. The houses after an all-night
session adjourned at about 6 o'clock
on Sunday morning, March 4, 1S49.
Just before this adjournment Presi-
dent Polk sent in several important
appointments, one of which at least
was confirmed.
Far more serious were the closing
days of Congress in March, 1871.
When it was evident that the cleo
toral commission would decide in ia
Vor of Hayes, a number of Demo-
Gratis undertook a filibuster to pre-
vent final decision in order, perhaps,
that the dispute might be prolonged
until after the time for the. Inaugural
ton.
RandalI's Big job
The Speaker of the House at this
time was a distinguished Pennsylva-
MIA Democrat, Samuel J. Randall.
Though no doubt out of harmony with
the conclusions of the electoral COM
mission he ruled all dilatory motions
out Of order. Concerning this the New
York Tribune of Friday, March 2.
says: Congress devoted the whole
day yesterday and a large part of the
night to the electoral commission bill.
In filibuster to prevent final con-
sideration of the report of the COM
mission the whole desperate pack rose
to their feet and inaugurated such a
scene of disorder as has probably
never been witnessed in the stormiest
scenes of Congress before. After
about ten minutes of disorder which
cannot be described, the Speaker sent
the sergeant-at-arms among the desks
| on the Democratic side and compelled
the members to sit down. Randall is
reported to have declared that his de-
| termination to prevent this filibusteI
came to him as an inspiration, and
that he considered it the greatest
crisis and the greatest patriotic
achievement of his life. This Con-
gress adjourned at noon, Sunday
March A."
Taylor succeeded a political oppon-
ent Hayes succeeded a member ot
! his own party, Wilson succeeded him.
self only in 1877 at the time of the
| disputed succession was the question
seriously raised as to whether it is
safe to wait until Monday to take the
| oath.
Taylor held a conference with such
of his cabinet appointees as were in
the city on Saturday. He did not
however. take the oath until Mon
day, March 5. Out of this has arisen
the story about the president for a
Day." The reference here is to Sena-
| tor Atchison. who was elected presi-
pent pro tenn of the Senate in the clos
ing days. Neither President Taylor
nor his predecessor nor the members
Of Congress acted as though they