Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1850-07-13
WASHINGTON.
THURSDAY, JULY IL, 1850.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE CAPITAL
anu Union, now and forever, one and
inseparable.0


SCENES AND INCIDENTS IN THE CAPITAL.
The sad event which has suddenly deprived the
country of its venerated Chief Magistrate, and
plunged whole nation in mourning, has been fol-
lowed by scenes in the metropolis not less solemn
and impressive than the event is important in its
political effect, and its possible bearings on the
action of the Government ITSELF
AS soon as the death of the PRESIDENT was gen.
orally known yesterday morning, universal gloom
pervaded all classes of our fellow citizens, and the
desire to pay respect to the memory of the Chief
Magistrate soon began to manifest itself along
Pennsylvania avenue and other streets of the city.
The National Flag was displayed at half-mast, and
thepubc buildings, principal hotels, engine houses,
and many private dwellings were draped with
mourning. The Offices Of the Corporation were
also closed by order of the Mayor, and during
from business, there was abundant and unmistaka-
Bile evidence Of deep and heartfelt sorrow.
In another column we give the official observances
Of respect due to the lusrious deceased as well as
those formalties proper to be observed in trans
ferring the supreme Executive authority to the
hands provided by the Constitution for its exercise
in the contingency which has arisen.
Only once before in our history has the Office of
President of the United States been made vacant
by death--the case of the lamented HARRISON; and
on that OCCASION, Congress not being in session.
the office was assumed by the Vice President with
out the ceremony of public Inauguration. Onthe
present occasion, Congress being in session, and it
being known that the Vice President would take
the oath of Office in the presence fthe two Houses,
crowds of citizens, and Of the multitude of strangers
at present in the city, were early attracted to the
Capitol TO witness not only the ceremony of inau-
guratng the new President, but to listen with sympa-
thec hearts TO those eloquent tributes of respect
and affection which it was well known would be
paid to the virtues of him whom an inscrutable
Providence had thought fit to take from the world.
The impressive Proceedings which took place in
each House will be found under the appropriate
head. In regard TO the illusions of sorrow and
respect pronounced the character and services of
the deceased President it is due to truth to add that
we have never, on any similar occasion, observed
yesterday by all the gentlemen who gave express
sion to their feelings. The ceremony in joint
meeting only requires brief separate notice.
AT twelve o'clock, according to previous arrange
ment, the Senate entered the Hall of the House Of
Representatives, the Speaker and Members stand
ing. Soon after, the Hon. WILLARD FILLMORE,
Vice President of the United States, attended by
member of each House, entered the Hall and took
seat at the table of the Clerk of the House. After
brief pause he rose, and, in clear and distinct
voice. pronounced the oath of fidelity to the Con-
stitution, and the act of installation was complete.
The profound silence of SO great an assemblage of
deeply concerned spectators, the ceremony, so brief
and so simple, yet so important in its consequences,
national POLITICAL and personal presented incident
and scene altogether American. It was the Incl
dent of the day which probably made less impression
than some others on American spectators, but was
precisely that which is most calculated to attract the
notice OF foreigners. The death Of the President
being announced citizen, plainly attired, enters
among the assembled Representatives Of the Nation,
walks up to the Clerks desk, takes an oath on the
Bible to support the Constitution of the United
States a by this brief ceremony, he becomes,
in an instant of time, invested with the command of
the whole military force of mighty empire, with
the execution of its laws and the administration Of
its power. No one objects or dreams Of objection
the act is acquesced in as thing Of course, and
with the submission that would be rendered to a
law Of nature. The sceptre of the People passes
into his hands as quietly and as quickly as power
of attorney could be acknowledged before justice
Of the peace. And yet, though the individual at
racted, the thing itself was hardly thought of in
with the consequences. In some coun-
ries such transfer of power would have cost
streams of blood, and shaken the Government to its
very foundations. And why is it not SO here
Because ours is Government of equal rights, and
| Government Of laws; and because our People
ire law-abiding and a, law-keeping People be-
ause they know and feel that their own laws are
he restraints which they themselves have placed
IN their own passions and that it is only by obey
ny these laws that their equal rights can be main
aimed. May such ever be their spirit II So we
nay well say of the Republic, not este perpetual"
mt :" est perpetual
We understand from good authority that the
mission of Mr.. GREEN, who was dispatched an
agent 10 the Island of ST. Domingo last wear, has