Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1859-05-12
inauguration of Washington as Prcsi-
lel s.ii dent, April 80, 17s9. fsao
By HENRY \. BUCKINGHAM.

By HENRY \. BUCKINGHAM.
} The inauguration of Washington rs irst
! President of the United States must ever
he memorable era in the history of the
United States. That day-witncsscd the
completion of the, government and from
that day we must date our constitutional
birth as a nation.
The House Of Representatives met in
: this city, in the old Fe.leral Hall, bnt did
not form quorum until the lst OF April.
The Senate was unable TO obtain a quo
rum until the 9th. The next business in
order was 10 examine the votes east for
I President and Vice President; when George
Washington having received sixty nine
votes--esery vote east by the States--was
( declared President and John Adams Vice
| President.
& message was then dispatched to Mt.
! Vernon, TO announce to the Father of his
Country" his election, and request his at
tendance at-Ncw York, thc-seat OF Gov
fenment. to enter irpon the discharge Of his
high and honorable office. he first magis-
trate of a free people. On his way, he
was everywhere received with acclama-
tions, shouts and cheers. His rcceptioa
under an arch erected over bridge at
Trenton, the scene Of his famous exploit
in thee winter Of, ,lH76s sawas peealiarly
touching. A-band ef-girls, dressed in
white, strcwed the way before him with
flowers, singing at thesame time an ode
which had been written expressly for the
occasion. On the; 22nd Of April be reach
ell Elizabethtown where he rested for the
night. isiaap Z i,d ! .7t- =
! On tie morning Of the o3rl, which tra-
! dition, says was magniiicently clear. sever,
al bargcs left White Hall for the purpose
of escorting Washington to the city a
committee from both, Houses of Congress,
the Chancellor OF the State and several other
functionaries, with the heals of the De-
partments nnder the old articles Of con-
federation, were on board and reached r.
hzabeihtown about ten clock in the fore
noon. 81 e...-fs s4 ~ r
The barge destined to convey Wash
ington to the city was fitted up with flags
and decorations. and manned by thirteen
Of the most respectable ship masters, to
represent the number Of the States She
was commanded by Commodore Niclol-
son, of revolutionary fame. and the Cox
swain was Capt. Thos. Randall, the foun-
der and endowcr of the Sailors Snug Har-
Dor. When Washington embarked, the
ship masters, acting as sailors, rose with
their pars, man-of-wari fashion, and at
signal. when the cannon commenced firing.
let fall, and pulled from the place of en-
barkation into the stream. 5di isdi iif
= The procession was formed in regular
dcr-boat after boat, decorated I'm the
most splendid manner, falling into the
line; and when they passed from the Kills
into the Bay, where another fleet was in
waiting to jnin the procession. the united
iotiia together with the sail boats that
hung around, coull not have nnm bered less
than a thousand bargcs and vessels, all ma
King their way to the city as fast as oars
and wind could carry Them Old mon who
witnessed the sight describe the scene as
most splendid Talk to them of process
sions ofsteamboats and steamships in our
bay on public occa.iops nowadays, and
you will hear tlIcm exclaiinb immediately
"Ah New York will never see such anofh-
er scene as the landing of Washington?"
Abou; twelve o'clock the Aotillas near
ed the city, when the shipping at anchor
in tho bay consisting of vessels Of ali ma
tions, with sese,a! men Of war, at once
hcisted their national flag, displaying also
every signal alolt in the breeze. The noon
OF that day was a glorious onc.u The sun