Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1857-03-11
The TRANSFORMATION scenes.

,t in Washington, At one hunureo ahu my s.'oS
sand, "They have come" says that paper : even
from Europe to be present on this great occasion,
lille every State and Territory Of the Union is nu-
.,nronslv represented, even to New Mexico, Utah,
washington and Oregon Territories, whose Captains,
Majors Colonies and Generals, are being introduced
,rmnd in loose profusion. In the throng are many
add fish indeed, bile the mass are substantial citi-
cons. of whom any country may well be proud.
Tho military too, were there in large numbers from
~. Northern and adjacent States. The Bostonan.
~. New Yorker, the Canadian, the Californian, the
Texan, the Oregonian, the Hoosier, the Southron,
;ntermincled with thousands of beautiful women,
,rere there and the is said to have been
r.ss;nply impressive. One of the comfortable fea.
tures was that all night long the Sd Of March,
thousands who could obtain place to sleep, were
tramping, tramping through the City to keep them.
selyes warm Congress was in session. however, all
that night and the capitol was the focus of atrac-
tom. writer describing the scene at the capitol,
on the 4th, says
"Thcre we're perhaps $4,000 persons in the CAPT.
FOL and around the grounds. The crowd was almost
entirely composed of well-dressed people male and
female-substantisl and intelligent citizens, all Of
them Great interest was depicted on their coun-
tenances, indeed. As James Buchanan appeared
upon the inaugural platform, such shout over the
triumph of our system Of government, its principles
and results, as went up from their hearts through
their threats, never before heard in any coun-
ry Such indeed it was, all differences in politics
and personal feelings being evidently impulsively
ignored, as it were.
The appearance of the Supreme Court, in their
robes, and all the digntaries of this Government,
with nearly all the foreign Ministers and their lega-
tons upon the platform, was sight goody to be
SEEM indeed. 1t embodied more Of the true spirit
of our country and its growing institutions than we
can express"
The oath of Office was adm mustered to Mr.. Bach
anan by Chief Justice fancy. Before the admins
traon of the oath, and during the delivery Of the
Inaugural, the utmost silence prevailed, though not
one person in five hundred of those assembled could
hear it. Good order prevailed every where on the
grounds. The appearance of the military companies,
ranged as they were in the most appropriate and
striking positions gave air Of briliiancy to the
whole ceremony that was never before equallcd in
this country.
The Inauguration Ball, on the night Of the 4th, is
represented as very brilliant and successful. The
arrangements were the most magnificent scale,
the room being three hundred feet in length by
ninety in breadth. 1t was splenddly lighted and
decorated and crowded by thousands A fine band
of music. forty three performers, from the Navy
Yard, with about twenty of Lenehards and Vol
landt's bands from Baltimore. poured forth enchant
ing strains; and the dancing, which commenced at
ten o'clock, was kept up until day. AT hafpast
nne the President elect and suite entered the room
As soon as they appeared at the head of the broad
flight of stairs leading to the floor of the ball room
the band struck up "Hail Columbia" and amid the
waving of handkerchiefs, and considerable cheering
the distinguished party descended to the floor, and
passed up through line of ladies representing the
youth and beauty of nearly every State in the Union
The Baltimore American says:
"There appeared to be among the ladies very
general effort to eclipse each other in the display of
ewelry, and the magnfcence and costliness OF their
apparel [" did you ever!'l: and the palm of beauty,
in form, feature and carriage, was contested by
about dozen others with great spirit The style
of beauty was however, varied that all had their
admirers, though for stately and commanding ap-
pearance, blended with fine countenance, good
expression, and brilliant complexion, the lady of
Senator Douglas evidently the star of the even
ing. Her fine stature gave her the advantage over
all competitors she could be easily disccrned in
any part of the room, whilst others were partially
lost in the throng.
The supper room, extending the whole length Of
the ball room, was thrown open at II O'clock where
sumptuous repast was served. The opening Of
the supper room tended to relieve the crowd on the
floor, many fingered there long after the dancing
had been resumed. The President and his suite
with exPresident Pierce, retired shortly after mid
night, which also tended to thin the concourse,
when the dancing commenced in good earnest and was
doubtless contnuedup to late hour this morning.
The niece of President Buchanan, Miss Lane, at
tracted much attention and was evidently the favor
lite of the evening. She possesses fine, pleasant
countenance, bearing the impress of telligence,
with pleasing manners and excellent address. She
is to preside at the White House during the next
four years, and will doubtless do the honors with
all that grace and ease that distinguished her at
Wheatland, and at the Ministerial Residence at the
Court of ST. James"
Gen. Dockery and the Western Extension.
The Fayetteville Observer of the I'd, contains a
long communication from Gen. Dockery, in reply to
some remarks of ours in relation to that gentleman
and his course on the Western Extension.
Gen. Dockery evidently feels deeply the awkward
ness and inconsistency of his position this ques.
ton His appearance in the public prints over his
own name, and the energy with which he labors in
his own defence, prove this to be so. He must be
conscious that he has not redeemed his pledges to
the Western people; and this consciousness makes
him restless and unhappy. He must know that,
but for has motion to reconsider Mr.. Avcry's bill
after it had passed. and by the aid of his vote, the
measure would have gone through the Senate, and
would have become law.
We have disposition to do Gen. Dockery in
justice on this or any other question. We have not
impeached his motives, as he has ours and we
should cheerfully have given him a hearing in our
columns if he had not thought proper to charge us
with being Influenced on this question by unworthy
considerations. He says, for example, that "a the
Standard is after" is party capital, and that "a doz-
en- railroads may 90 by the board f it can make can.