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Millard Fillmore, N. Y., 9th July, 1850, to 4th March, 1853---2 years, 7 months, and 26 days.

Franklin Pierce, N. H., 4th March, 1853, to 4th March, 1857---4 years.

James Buchanan, Pa., 4th March, 1857, to 4th March, 1861---4 years.

Abraham Lincoln, Ill., 4th March, 1861, to April, 1865--4 years, 1 month, and 10 days.

Andrew Johnson, Tenn., April, 1865, to Mch. 4, '69. Ulysses S. Grant, Ill., March 4th, 1869, to March 4th, 1873.

Of these, William H. Harrison died 4th April, 1841, just one month after his inauguration. On the death of Harrison, Tyler, the Vice-President, became acting President. Taylor died July 9, 1850, and Fillmore, Vice-President, became acting President. Lincoln was assassinated on the 14th April, 1865, one month and ten days after he was inaugurated upon his second term; and Andrew Johnson, the Vice-President, became acting President; this being the third time that such an event has occurred since the govern ment went into operation.

CHAPTER V.

The Vice President.

1. THE high sounding title of this officer would lead one who is but little acquainted with our government to think that he stands next to the President himself in dignity and power; that on his shoulders rested a large amount of the duties and responsibilities of administration. Such, however, is not the case. He is, in fact, nearer a cipher than any of the high officers of State. He is merely the presiding officer of the Senate, with not even the power to vote, except in case of a tie vote in that body, when he may give the casting vote. It is only in case of the death, resignation, impeachment, or disability of the President to discharge his duties, that the Vice President becomes an officer of much power or dignity. He is something like an heir-apparent to a throne. The Constitution provides that he shall take the President's place in case any of the foregoing contingencies occur; and up to this date this has happened three times.

2. He is elected at the same time and in the same manner as the President, and for the same term, and must possess the same qualifications; that is, he must be a native citizen of the United States, and of the age of 35 years.

The following is a list of the names of all who have filled this office, from John Adams, the first, down to

the present incumbent, with the dates of entrance upon their duties.

John Adams, Mass., 30th April, 1789, to 4th March, 1797-eight years.

Thomas Jefferson, Va., 4th March, 1797, to 4th March, 1801-four years.

Aaron Burr, N. Y., 4th March, 1801, to 4th March, 1805-four years.

George Clinton, N. Y., 4th March, 1805, to 20th April, 1812-seven years, one month, sixteen days. Elbridge Gerry, Mass., 4th March, 1813, to 23d Nov., 1814-one year, seven months, nineteen days.

Daniel D. Tompkins, N. Y., 4th March, 1817, to 4th March, 1825-eight years.

John C. Calhoun, S. C., 4th March, 1825, to 4th March, 1833-eight years.

Martin Van Buren, N. Y., 4th March, 1833, to 4th March, 1837-four years.

Richard M. Johnson, Ky., 4th March, 1837, to 4th March, 1841-four years.

John Tyler, Va., 4th March, 1841, to 4th April, 1841 -one month.

George M. Dallas, Pa., 4th March, 1845, to 4th March, 1849-four years.

Millard Fillmore, N. Y., 4th March, 1849, to 9th July, 1850-one year, four months. William R. King, Ala.

John C. Breckinridge, Ky., 4th March, 1857, to 4th March, 1861-four years.

Hannibal Hamlin, Me., 4th March, 1861. to 4th March, 1865-four years.

Andrew Johnson, Tenn., 4th March, 1865, to 15th April, 1865-one month, eleven days.

Schuyler Colfax, Ind., Mch. 4th, '69, to Mch. 4th, '73.

Of these, Clinton died April 20, 1812; from which time till 4th March, 1813, the Vice-Presidency was

vacant.

Gerry died Nov. 23, 1814; from which time till 4th March, 1817, the Vice Presidency was vacant.

Tyler became acting President upon the death of President Harrison; and until March 4th, 1845, the Vice Presidency was vacant.

Fillmore became acting President upon the death of President Taylor, 9th July, 1850; and until March 4th, 1853, the Vice Presidency was vacant.

King was elected with President Pierce, in 1852; but died 18th April, 1853. He never took his seat, and the Vice Presidency was vacant till 4th March, 1857.

Johnson became acting President upon the death of President Lincoln, 15th April, 1865; and the Vice Presidency again became vacant, and remained so till 4th March, 1869.

CHAPTER VI.

State Department, and Secretary of State.

1. THE Constitution makes no mention of this department of the government, or of any such officer as Secretary of State, or indeed, of any other of the Executive Departments, or of their official heads. They were all created by acts of Congress; and when it first met, the Constitution was the only guide it had for its action-but that clothed it with all the legislative power of the government. Consequently, at its very first session it passed such acts as were necessary to put the new government into operation. Several departments were created, and the officers for their management appointed. This was the first of all the Executive departments created by Congress. In the outset it was found necessary to correspond and negotiate with foreign governments, and to have some duly authorized official to conduct such correspondence. Hence, this department of the government was established, and at first denominated "the Department of Foreign Affairs;" and the principal officer at its head was denominated "the Secretary for the Department of Foreign Affairs." But before the close of this session of Congress, for some reason it was determined to change the denomination of it from that of "Department of Foreign Affairs," to that of "Department of State;" and that of the Secretary, to "Secretary of

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