The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1857-03-13

the coiunhn rehched tile Capitol at l o'clock,
halted, and the Military presented arms The
carriage containing the President and President
elect, passed through to the spot where the
Senate committee was waiting to receive them
The Capitol Grounds were throngcd.
DIR. buchanan delivered his inaugural from
the Portieo of the Capitol, and afterwards went
| into the Senate Chamber where the oath of
Office was administered to him aud Mr. Brock.
enridge by Chief Justice Tancy
The procession was composed of the Judi
ciary. Clergy. Fore ign Ministers. Diplomatic
Corps, Members and ex Members Of Congress,
and the Cabinet Officers of the Army, Navy.
Governors and ex-Governors Of States aud Ter
| ritories, military citvens dc. a full rugged
ship was one of the ornaments Of the process
| sion.
THE INAuGuRATToN BILL
The grani Inauguration Ball mt judiciary
Square. presented scene Of regal rnaguificence
never before eqnallcd in the metropolis, for
the reason that on no similar occasion hereto.
fore have the arrangements been SO extensive. or
the Dali room so sInciOus well calculated for
the display Of beautiful women in rich and
gorgeous apparel, studded with jewels and
gems, which usually distinguish such mn occa.
sion. The room is nearly three hundrel feet
~ length. by about ninety feet in breadth, light.
ed through its whole surface ly large md mas.
sve chandeliers, and Jets of light extending
across the hail. The walls on either side and
| at the end are formed Of deeply co,orcd hing.
| ings Of red, white. blue md gold, whilst the
ceiling Is of pure white, thickly studded with
glit stars, which reflected the gas lights and
produced most brilliant effect The scene
from the head of the broad flight of stnirs lead.
ing from the Court House, one wing Of whicl,
'orhs the entrance. was pronounced BY nll
present OF the most imposing ever witnessed
AT the upper end Of the hall n canopy wns
erected for the Of President Buchanan.
wee President Breckenridge, aud ex-Prcsidcnt
dignitaries. On the side Of the room. about
the centre, was a large balcony orchestra, nc.
commod"tng cotillion band of forty.three
performers. comprising the military band of
the Navy Yard, and about twenty of Linbardt's
and ollandt's Bands of Baltimore from which,
| Mt about o'clock, n national air called the
company to order for grand promenade, pre-.
sent,ng moveing scene Of great brillancy.
AT at o'clock, the approach Of the President
elect and suite wns announced, which caused
great commotion through the hall, when the
company ranged i'll lines. and opened an ave.
nue. nue. Tor their passage to the positions assigned
them Mt the upper end of the hall. As soon rs
they appeared Mt the head Of the broad flight
OF stairs leading to the floor of the room. the
band struck up "1Iail Columbia" and amid
the waving of hnndkerchiefs, anil considerable
heering, the distinguished party descended to
tho floor, and passed up through n line of In
dies, representing the youth and beauty of
nearly every State in the Union.
so soon ms the commotion had subsled, the
ball was opened, and dancing commenced with
much zcst, though the immense crowd on the
floor rendered this rather difficult opera
tlon. sets being so crowded, that magnif1icence
of dress, and grace of movement was in n
measure, lost sight of. There appears to be
| among the ladies n very general effort to
eclipse each other in the display of iewcly,
and the magnifcencc and cnstliness of their
apparel; and the palm Of beauty. in form. fea-
ture and carriage, was contested by about a
dozen Others wthc great spirit. The style of
heonty was, however, so varied, that ali ,,al
their admirers, though for stately and com
| mand'ng appearance, blended with q fine
countehonce, goo! expression, and brilliant
comp'eX'on, the lady of Senator Douylns wns
evidently the star of tho evening Her fine
stature gave her the advantage over nl com
pet'tors, as she could be casily dsccrncd in
any part of the room, whilst others were par
tally lost in the tl,rung
The supper room extending the whole lenotl,
OF the ball room, was thrown open at IL
o'clock, where sumptuons repast was served.
The opening of the upper room tended to re-
lieve the crowd on the floor. many fingered
there long after the dancing had been resumed
The President and his suit, with ex.Presitert
Pierce retired shortly after midnight, which
also tended to thin the concourse when the
dancing commenced in good earnest, and was
doubtless continued to late hour this morn
The niece Of President Buchanan, Miss Lane,
attracted much attention, and was evidently
the f"vorite of the evening. She possessed n
fine pleasant countemnnce, bearing the impress
Of intelligence. 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 the grace
and ease that distinguish her at Wheatfand,
and at the Ministerial residence at the Court of
St. James.