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Show Who Will be Next President. Ouikx, November 10, 1S7G. Kdilon Hcml'l: A bet hnHjiiot been mad-aB follows: A buls that neither Hnyus nor Tilden will be th nt-xt president of the United Uni-ted Suits. B beta lb.it une; ur the other will he the next president of tue L'uited States. W ho has won? Also, is the suecesalul candidate Dreeideut from tho day of the election? elec-tion? W. B wins the bet. President Grant's term expires at noon on March 4th,! 1S77, which occurs on Sunday. From that hour be will not be president of the United StateB. A mistaken im-l pression has been formed that the president of the senate, Hon, Thomas W, Ferry of Michigan, will he president presi-dent from noon on the 4lh (Sunday) till noon on the 5th (Monday) when the president elect, Hayes or Tilden, will be inaugurated. In no case could Mr. Ferry be president, us the law provides only that in case of the death, removal, resignation or inability of the president, (or vico president, which office is now vacant) then the president presi-dent of the senate shall act w president, presi-dent, but it does not make him president. Further, the president elect may take tho oath of office on thB 3d of March or on any day after his election, when he would be president presi-dent in fact at noon on March 4th (Sunday). The inaugural ceremonies are only formal; and even if they were moro, there is nothing to prevent the public installation of the president on Sunday. Two or three times in the history of the republic it has occurred that the inaugural 4ih of March has fallen on Sunday, and custom, not a statute, delayed the installation of the president uutil tho succeeding Monday. Mon-day. It will probably be bo in thid case. Again, Mr. Ferry's senatorial term expires at noon on March 4th, 1877, bo that iu any event he cannot even act as president. However, Mr. Ferry may resign a day or two before j March 4th, or another senator, whose term does not expire with the com-i com-i mencement of the new administration, be elected to the place, in which case the president of the senate would probably following custom act as I president of the United States until Monday, wheu the inauguration would occur. The above impliedly answers our correspondent's second question. Whoever is elected president will not be president in fact until tho 4th of March, and after he h.s taken the oath of office. |