Charles City Republican intelligencer. [volume] (Charles City, Iowa) 1861-1864, 1864-03-31
Inauguration of Gov. Hahn.

ration of Gen. Hahn, of Louisiana
the first Free State Governor elected
by the people of one of the first States
to throw off their allegiance and fealty
to the government of the United
States:
The memorable day of the inaugu-
ration ceremonies, the 4th of March,
1864. in accordance with arranged
programme, was ushered in 10y sa-
lutte of one hundred guns from bate
rics under command of Gen. Arnold.
MingIing with this echoing thunder,
pcaled forth merry chimes from all
the bells of the city. The morning
thus gloriously ushercd in was as
balmy as spring, and throughout the
day the sun. as if in sympathy with
the scenes, behaved in the most con-
siderate manner, and yelled it's
noontide heat in heecy clouds. Atan
early hour our population-ladies,
gentlemen and children-commen
vending their way toward the centre
of attraction, and before ten o'clock,
the four sides of the square outside
were densely packed with excited and
happy spectators. The time consum-
ed in waiting was happily relieved as
one delegation of school children after
another threaded their way through
the multitude, waving their tinDy Tn.
ion flags, and greeting with innocent
joyons smiles, The repeated involunta-
ry cheers that went up in behalf of the
4" little folks" as they, unchecked cn-
tered the square, and, by thousands,
and intcrminablc rows ascending one
above another, took possession Of the
ampithcatre.
At III O'Clock, when the school chill
dren had arrived, when the ladies had
taken possession of their allotted seats.
when the veteran soldiers, two regi-
ments, LIST Regulars and 30,h Massa-
chusetts Veterans, passed into the
square, smiling grimly at the novel
aud harmless part they were to per-
form in the pageant, viz fire blank
cartridges in musical way. the excite
mcnt grew quite intense, particularly
at the appearance of Major General
Banks aud suit, who, without swords
in long procession entered the City
Hall and passed into Gov. Shepley's
room, where had already assembled
the Governor and other State officers
elect, with the specially invited guests
Under the direction OF Col. Thomas
Chickering, Grand Marshal, a process
sion was formed, which left the City
Hall, crossed St. Charles street, and
entered the square.
As the procession moved toward the
platform, and its members were ar
ranging their seats, Mr.. l.. S. Gilmore's
band, or small section of it, dis
courscd appropriate music. Order
being at length obtained, Hon. r. X.
Howell, Judge of the Sixth District
Court, called the vast meeting to order
and invited Rev. L. L. Chubbuck to
open the ceremonies with prayer.
When prayer had been offered,
Hail Columbia" was performed in
the following manner: First verse,
full band, five hundred performers
Second verse, full band and grand
chorus of the ten thousand. public
school children present I; Third verse,
full band, grand chorus by the chill
dren, and Ginning Of all the bells il
the city; Fourth verse, full band
grand chorus, the Ginning Of the bells.
and a great gun accompanied by fifty
pieces of artillery. 1t is certainly diff
iicult to give the slightest idea of the
magnificent effect of this climacteric
rendition of our grandest national air.
Too much praise cannot be bestowed
upon Mr.. Gilmore, the leader of the
band, who rang the bells and fired the
artillery by means Of Geographic
wires that centered on the tables be-
fore him. Not a mistake was made
the united voices sounded as one vast
shout Not bell struck in the wrong
time, not piece of artillery was ont
OF place. 1t was a magnificent mu'
steal demonstration, aud such as had
never been equaled until done so 10y
the subsequent pieces that closed the
ceremonies of this remarkable day,
1t was some time before the delighted
and astonished audience could control
their feelings, and when silence was
apparently restored, there would break
out in some parts OF the vast assem-
blage involuntary shouts of applause,
which would be echoed back again to
be still again taken up by the children,
who cheered, waved their bandker.
chiefs, and little flags, until they seem
ed, like lot of gigantic butterflies
waving their CANDY wings TO the ever
Joyous voices. Order being finally re.
stored, the tall and manly form of the
Hon. +. II. Durell, our just confirmed
Judge Of the United States Distrc,
Court, arose and stepped up to the ia.
bic in the centre of the platform, upon
which lay a gigantic and magnificent.
~ bound Bible. The Governor-elect,
amid deafening cheers, which were
particularly enthusiastic on the part
of the children, for they were greeting
one who claimed to be child himself
of the public schools, stepped up to
the table and, amid profound silence
listened TO the words of the solemn
oath as they were repeated by Judge
Durell. The Governor elect then kiss.
ed the Bible, and then was sworn into
Office, under circumstances Of extraor.
binary interest, not only the first 10y
al Governor of State once identified
with the so called Confederacy, but al
so the first Free State Governor of the
Southwestern States. What revo
luton thousand days have witness
ed /! The progress of an age had beer
made in few short days in this New
Orleans, dating from the time Yancey
stood up in Canal street and spurted
his treason, and told the people the
North would not, dared not, fight fol
the Union, to the time when Michael
Hahn assumed the gubernatorial chair
of this same Louisiana, which had been
recovered from rebel rule by the bayo
nets of Northern men. and by the peo
pie declared to be forever free.
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