The Columbia Democrat. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1837-1850, 1841-04-24


services they had rendered were incesssnt.
So completely worn out was the Presiden,
that at Baltimore he had to shake hands by
proxy.
lie came 10 Washington, marched on
foot, through the snow and rain Of one of
the most disaereeable days of Lass winter, 10
the City Hall, where he was harsngurd by
the Mayor, and delivered an address in re-
ply, and was then taken 10 his lodgings
hut not 10 rest. There was no rest for him.
The privacy Of his own rooms could not
shelter him from the cry of Give y sGive!'
'Give!' Can this be deni. d by any one who
was acquainted with what transpired dur
ing the few days after the President reached
the city?
He went 10 Virginia to visit the home of
his childhood. and the scenes Of early life;
but we are told that on his way thither.
whilst there, and on the road back his mind
was kept almost constantly on the stretch
by application TO consider claims for office.
The few days that mtervened before the
Inauguration he had to suffer the innicton
of the opportunities of the Office begging
members Of Congress, who had the knowI-
edge Of, and access to, his whereabouts.
The day of Inauguration came. The old
President was mounted on horseback, and
instead Of proceeding directly to the Capt.
tel. was marched by circuitous route of
nearly two miles through an atmosphere of
dust. TO use the language of one of his
political friends, when he arrived there,
"his dress was as white as a miler's, and
he was so faint that alcohol and ether ap-
pliances were required tn balhe his head and
temples.'' After speaking bareheaded in
the open air for an hour and half with
"trumpet toned voice,"ss was said by pa
per IN this city, TO the immense multitude
present, he was again placed on horseback,
and rode TO the White House; but when he
arrived there was he permitted to retire for
rest and relreshment after the immense ex.
ertion Of the day! Nay, he had to stand
until the vast assemblage could be individu-
ally introduced to him. have heard and
believe, that as the visiters cane to offer
their hands, pfofessedly in congratulations it
was, Here, General, here are my letters
and, Here, General, here are mine' On
one occasion he was so besieged that the
Marshal Of the District was called upon TO
relieve him. The Marshal went through
the throng, which continued to crowd the
apartments Of the Presnenl's House, pub
lie and private. for several days after The in
auguration, and expostulaied with them;
but all his eaerts to induce the Office claim.
ants to leave, by urging the great press of
public affairs or the President, was in vain.
Before attempting compulsory measures,
this efficient public officer suggested to The
r--:----f "t.r--i:-
their better feelings in short address. He
did SO; but they sill insisted in pressing
their demands upon him, although, as he
sad,in no condition to attend TO them al The
moment. They came forward with their
papers until his pockets were filled. The
Marshal was loaded in the same way, and
still the crowd was reluctant TO retire.
From the day of his inauguration until
the day Of his death, the avenues TO his
house were thronged, the house itself was
crowded, as were the public offices. De-
mands the most peremPtory were made for
the expulsion of the incum5ents in office,
and the granting of situations. By day and
by night that old man was beset; when he
walked out--in his oiIice--at meal times
so that. 10 use an expression of his own to
gentleman, Sir, have hardly time to
eat. Once or twice. it is said. he went 10
one Of his public offices, aud requested
messenger to show him to private room,
to retire from the multitude Of Office seekers
who pressed upon him.
Several respectable citizens, and several
ministers of the Gospel who happened to
be in the city, called at the Presidents
House, for the purpose of paying their re-
spects. They found it-part Of the private
portion of it too-crowdeI with so many
persons, that they at fist declined proceed
ing, but when pressed by friend to go up
and see the President, he (the President
frankly told them :. Gentlemen, there never
was poor devil harrassed as am on earth;
you must excuse me; good morning; must
go;" and of he did 60, before they had
time TO say /" how are you 7" much less
"good bye;" and before they reached the
front door, he was a considerable distance
on his way 10 the Treasury Department.
A gentleman at the door, seeing the cond-
ton of the President, and the crowd in the
house, significantly remarked, +" Well,
will agree to die, if it is not time to pull
the the latch string into the door of this log
cabin"
AT another time. two respectable gentle
men of this city called and found the Pres
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