Madison Whig advocate. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1839-1841, 1839-06-01
From the New York Commercial.
The Fiftieth Year.


The 4th day Of March was the fiftieth
anniversary Of the United States. under
the present constitution. Finding that
the old articles of confederation were not
strong enough to bind the States togcth-
er, and, that when relieved from the cx-
ternaI pressure Of common danger, the
=. binding force of those articles were lit
! tie stronger than a rope Of sand, the
I convention Of 1887 was c0nvoked bv the
patriotism Of the country, and our pre-
sent constitution was the result Of their
wisdom. During the year 1893. the
States were engaged in discussing the
new constitution, and proposing the
amendments made conditions precedent
to its adoption. The consequence Of
DELAY was. that the constitution itself did
not 90 INTO effect until the 4th of March.
/ 1889. The semi-centeniaI anniversary
/ Of this event, came upon US on the 4rh
March, and the event itself was ccIe-
brated n Washington on that day, by
many distinguished gentlemen. Senators.
Representatives. and others. by dinner:
and appropriate toasts and speeches.
Foremost and most eloquent among the
speakers was the great defender Of the
Constitution, Daniel Webster.
But, although the constitution became
Of full force and virtue on the 4th Of
March, 1899, the wheels Of Governnq.nt
were not brought into full play uFi
nearly two months afterward. The in
ference is, that in those days Of pure
patriotism. men were less greedy OF
office than ut present. For although
both houses Of Congress attempted 10 as
scmble on the dav prescribed BY the new
Constitution which was the 4th Of March,
vet a quorum of neither house appeared,
and both houses were obliged to adjourn
over from dav to dav, week after week,
before either could be organized. Thrice
did the attending members OF the Sen
ate address circulars TO the absences,
urging them TO come and take their seats.
1t was not. therefore, until the 1st of
April, that quorum appeared IN the
House of Representatives, and not until
the 9th Of that month, that bv the ar
rival of Richard Henry Lee, of Virginia.
that the Senate was enabled to organize
and proceed to business. John Langdon
was elected President of he Senate. pro
tenn, and Frederick Augustus Mullen
burg, Speaker of the House.
The first act of Congress was TO count
the votes FOR President and Vice PresI-
dent. Only ten States had then placed
themselves within the pale OF the Union
by ratifying the Constitution. The
whole number Of votes given was sixty |
nine. every one of which was spon'ane- !
ouslv given to GEORGE WASHING /
TON. for President. The vote for Vice |
President stood-for Jno. Adams 81, JnO. /
jay. 9. Robt. II. Harrison 6, JnO. Rut /
ledge 6, Jno. Hancock 4, Geo. Clinton I. !
Saml Huntingdon and Jno. Milton 2,
each, and one each for Edw. Teltair,
Jas. Armstrong and Benz Lincoln.
The result having been ascertalned, |
Charles Thompson, the Secretary OF the
old Congress, was despatched TO Mount
Vernon. as commissioner. to notify the
chieftain of his election, and accompany
him to New York, to enter upon the da-
ties Of his exalted station. His progress
was one of triumph, his arrival in New
York, on the Esd of April, was hailed
with a degree of patriotic enthusiasm
which has never been equailed since
and but once approached. That aP-
proach was made on the landing Of La
Favette in the summer of 1924. The
marshal who conducted the pageant of
the day yet survives-General Morgan
Lewis.
The inauguration of the President did
not take place until the 30th of April.
The Vice President. John Adams, had
been indicted into office few days be-
fore without public ceremony. But the
Inauguration of the beloved Father of
MS Country, was the occasion of an I'M
posing pageant and solemn ceremony.
The oath of Office was administered up !
IN the terrace in front of the ancient
City Hall, at the head of Broad street,
~ Chancellor Livingston, dressed IN a
oil suit of black. The Secretary OF the
senate held the Bible upon rich cush- :
on of crimson velvet. The man on !
whom all eyes were turned. stretched I
orth his hand with simplicity and Dig
iity The oath was administered. The
Bible was raised. and his head bowed
lpon it to kiss the sacred volume. The Z
chancellor then proclaimed it vas done'
n full distinct voice, and IN the follow
ne words :-'sLoSG LIVE GEO. WASHING q
ON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATEsr'
The silence of thousands was at an end
the air was rent with acclamations,