The people's press, and Addison County Democrat. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1838-1841, 1841-05-25
Fronrthe National Inielli geacer.
NOTITlA
GEN. HARRISON WHILE IN WASH,
INGTON.
HIS INAUGURATION.

HIS INAUGURATION.
The three days previous to his Inauguration,
after his arrival in Washington, were mostly
spent at the mansion of the Mayor of the City,
where he received at all hours of the day the
visits of his friends and fellow citizens. The
urbanity Of his manners,tho open hearted frank
ness with which he received the congratulation
of his friends, deeply impressed all impartial
and dsinterested persons at the capitol with the
confident assurance that he was about to enter
upon the high Office TO which he had been call
ed with single heart and purpose to discharge
and faithfully execute the important trust.
Numerous strangers from Utmost every sec
ton of this widespread republic, for DAYS and
weeks preceding the 4th of March, had been
rushing into this metropolis till the crowd had
become immense almost beyond calcula ton.
Every hotel and boarding house was filled to
overflowingand almost every private residence
crowded beyond convenient accommodation.
Tho procession for the inaugur alton was
formed in a beautiful order, and. as it passed
along the streets and avenues of the capitol,
the throngiEg multitude pressing against each
other, seemed to move on like the ocean wave
and with the "noise of many waters"
The spontaneous expression of JOY and glad
ness which ever and anon burst forth from
young and old, even from the aged matron and
the blooming maiden, together with the wav-
ing of handkerehiefs from the crowded win
dows, proclaimed 10 the war.worn veteran
welcome 10 the highest honors of his country.
After taking the oath of office, and having de-
livered his Inaugural Address, he returned
from the capitol to tine Presidents Mansion
mir ha clarn IF paarlx fOrfv nd
of his admiring countrymen, who there tender
ed him their cordial congratulations. Thus
passed away thissjoyous day of his political tri-
umph, none suspecting that in one short month
the whole scene would be changed; that God
was preparing 10 summon him away from the
height Of his earthly glory, we trust TO more
exalted station at bis right hand.
HIS RELIsroUs CHARACTER.
The next morning (the 9Th of March) Gen.
III arrison walked down on the avenue and pur'
chased a Quarto Bible and Book of Common
Prayer, which he carried home with him, an
directed the servant 10 place in his bedroom,
where saw them on the night of his death
thereby Indicating that he had chosen that
Holy Book for the rule of his faith and guide
of his life in the execution of the important
trust committed TO his charge. THIS Bible he
was seen reading early every morning and late
every evening.
In his first letter to Mrs. Harrison after his
Inauguration, he states that, after he had re-
turned from the Capitol 10 the Presidents man.
sion, as soon as he could command any time,
he retired TO his room and fell down upon his
knees before his Maker, thanking him for all
his mercies, and duplicating his gracious gui-
dance in the faithful discharge of the duties of
his high station to his country and his God.
On Sunday morning, tie 7th, Benjamin
Harrison, Esq. of Virginia, at the request of
the President, called at my house, desiring to
know whether he could be accommodated with
a pew for himself and family for that day, and
expressed wish to obtain the one recently &C.
cupied by Mrs. Madison which the owner
accorded to him. In the public worship of
the church be conformed to all the rituals in the
audible responses of the service, and with that
humility so expressive Of devout feelings and
humble devotion, bowed himself on his knees
before the Majesty of Heaven, and duplicated
that mercy of which as a sinner, however ex-
allied his station. he stood so much in need
Thus following the example of The pious rulers
Of Israel and the illustrious men in every age
who have adorned the doctrine Of God their
SAVIOR
The following day he purchased the pew,
and regularly attended the service Of the
church every Sunday morning until prevented
by his last fatal sickness.
His high regard for the Sabbath was such,
that, oflate years, he always avoided travelling
on that holy day, unless from absolute necessi.
ty; and during the short period he occupied
the Presidents mansion, carefully avoided all
tLatJ nd Il,
hour, that he might attend public worship i'm
the afternoon with his family. some of whom
belonged TO the communion Of the Presbyterian
Church.
His high estimation for the "people of Cod
was most nobly shown In kindness TO his Min
listers. On recent occasion, he said to a
brother clergyman of mine, with whom he had
been for some time acquainted, whom III health
prevented from the performance Of his clerical
duties, and on whom he had within sew weeks