When Congress gathered in joint session on January 6, 1869 the mood was somber. The great chamber was silent as senators and representatives entered the room. Everyone had an idea for how things ought to procede, but no one wanted to give voice to their thoughts just yet.
In due course, Theodore Pomeroy (R-NY) rose and banged his gavel. It was odd seeing him standing there. Standing in the place where Schulyer Colfax had stood for the previous five years; where he should be standing on this day. Sadly such was not the case.
Two months earlier, Ulyses Simpson Grant had been elected President of the United States and elected with him as Vice President was Schuyler Colfax, Jr. Their ticket had won 214 electoral votes (to 80 for the Democrat's Seymour-Blair ticket) and 52.7% of the popular vote. In December the presidential electors met in their respective state capitals as they had done twenty time before and cast their ballotts in accordance with the Constitution.
All was going as planned with the transition of power, as Andrew Johnson was glad, A-to be finishing his term in the fulness of its prescribed time, and B-to be completing his term and leaving Washington for good. Then, like being hit square in the face by an unexpected snowball, tragedy struck. In fact, it struck twice, hundreds of miles apart, on the same day. December 24, 1868 will be remembered for generations to come as a day of infamy.
In the early afternoon of that fateful day, President-elect Grant was boarding a carriage with his wife, Julia, and son, Jesse, at their home when John Jacobs emerged from the back side of the house and attacked the family. "An eye for an eye; my children are avenged," he shouted. (Two of Jacobs' children had died during the siege of Vicksburg and John had been slashed in the shoulder by Grant himself during the battle of Chatanooga.)Jesse was shot in the leg and Julie in the shoulder. They survived. The General was hit in the throat. He died a few hours later.
Word reached Vice President-elect Colfax that evening as he was leaving a Christmas Eve service. In the commotion and rush to get him to a safe and secure location, he slipped on the ice and hit his head. Insisting that he was okay, Colfax and his family returned to their home. The next morning, Colfax woke with a splitting headache and blurred vision. By mid-morning the pain was unbearable and he was feverish. At 11:10 AM he suffered a massive stroke and died on New Year's Eve at 7:35 PM.
On January 6, 1869, newly appointed Speaker of the House, Theodore Pomeroy reads the elector's votes state by state and says, "the total electoral vote is... 214 votes for the Republican Party ticket of Grant and Colfax; 80 votes for the Democratic Party ticket of Seymour and Blair. Uylsses Grant and Schuyler Colfax have been elected President and Vice President of the United States. Is there anyone who wishes to contest these results?" There was silence for what seemed like an hour. BANG went the speaker's gavel. "Then these results are received and declared legal and final." BANG went his gavel again. "Regretably this time gentlemen, our business is not finished. For today our nation is grieving the loss of the President-elect and Vice President-elect. We are grieving the loss of..."
After several speeches, the Speaker addressed the Congress. "Gentlemen, in accordance with the Presidential Succession Act of 1792, and in light of the situation we face today, I declare that on March 4th of this year both the office of President and Vice President of the United States shall be vacant. According to that act, the President pro tempore of the Senate, Mr. Benjamin Wade of Ohio, should become acting President of the United States until March 4th of next year, following a Presidential election to be held on the first Tuesday of November in this year of our Lord, 1869. Do I hear a motion to confirm Mr. Wade as Acting President and to call a special Presidential election for November?" A motion is made, seconded, and unanimously approved.
Benjamin Wade rises from his chair. There is silence in the room as he walks to the podium. Then a lone, young congressman begins to clap. A few more clap, and then more, and soon everyone is applauding the new Acting President of the United States, Benjamin Wade.