Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1865-04-26
Inauguration of President Johnson.

81
United States, and officially informed him
of the sudden and unexpected decease OF
Fl esident Lincoln, and stated that an ear
ly hour might be appointed Tor me inau-,
guralion of his successor. The following
is copy Of the communication referred
to:
WASHINGTON CRY. April Is, 1865.
Sir; Abraham Lincoln, President OF
the United States, was shot by IN assas-
sin last evening at Ford's Theatre, in tt.ls
city, and died q, the hour of 7; S2 o'clock.
About the sane time at which the Presi-
dent was shot, an assassin entered the
sick chaG.uer of the Hon. w. H. Seward,
Secretary Of State, and stabbed him sew
eral nlaces in the throat, neck and face,
severely if not mortally wounding him.
Other members of the Secretary's family
were dangerously wounded by the assas-
sin while making his escape. BY the
death of President Lincoln the Office oi
Presidep. has devolye6 under the Con.
s.ituiion upon you. The emergency o,
the Government demands that you shouio
Immediately qualify according 10 'he re-
ouirements of the Constitution, ana en-
ter upon the duties OF President oi the
United States If you will please make
known your pleasure, such arrangements
as YOU deem proper will be made.
! Your obedicnt servants,
Uucu McCuLLocu, Sec. of Treasury.
Il. Nj. STANTON, Secretary OF War.
@hRrfniSs AW6EVsSSsrstteSEsy 81 stRssf GGsHs'
J.P. UPsmgR, Secretary of the Interior.
JAMES SPEED, Attorney-Gcneral'
nv. N,ca-prp5ilpnt Ot
the United States.
Mr. Johnson requested that the cere-
monies take place at his rooms at The
'Kirkwood House, in Washington, at ten
o'clock on the morning ofthe 10Th.
Tho Hon. Salmon p. Chase, Chief JUS
tice of the United States, was notified OF
the fact, and desired TO be in attendance TO
administer the oath OF office
u At the above named hour the following
gentlemen assembled in the Vice Presl'
dents room to participate in the ceremo'
ny: Hon. Salmon P. Chase; the Hon
Hugh McCulloch, Secretary OF the Treas
! Iury Mr.. Attorney General Speed; +. Z
. Blair, Sr. F.; the Hon. Montgomery Blair
Senators Foot Of Vermont, Yates of Ill
inois, Ramsey of Minnesota, Stewart oi
Nevada, Hale of New Hampshire, and
: Gen. Farnsworth of Illinois.
After the presentation of the above let
ter, the Chief Justice administered the
following oath TO Mr. johnson:
Il do solmnly swear that will faith
: fully execute the Office of President o
the United States, and will, to the best o.
, my ability, preserve, protect and defend
the Constitution of the United States"
After receiving the oath and being de
clared President the United States, Mr.
, johnson remarked:
Gentlemen must be permitted tC
say that have been almost overwhelmed
by the announcement Of the sad even
which has 90 recently occurred, l Tee
\ incompetent to perform duties so imror
I. tant and responsible as those which hav
been so unexpectedly thrown upon me
As to an indication of any policy which
l may be pursued by me in the administra
t ton Of the Government, / have TO sa.
, that must be left for developement as tn
Administration progresses. The messag
- .noJ uSusprt1. Ino uuIy assuranc
D that | can now give Of the future is refer
Q ence TO the past in connection with thi
l.. Rebellion must be regarded as q guaran
tee Of the lutute. My past public life
which has been long anG laborious, ha
oeen founded, as | il: good conscience be
' lieYe, upon a great principle OF right
which lies at the basis Of all things. The
best energies of my life have been spen
in endeayoring to establish and perpetual,
the principles of free government, and
believe that the Government, in passing
, through its present perils, will settl,
, down upon principles cousonant will
popular rights, more permanent and en-
during than heretofore. | must be per
= mitted to say, if understand the feeling
of my own heart, have long labored t
ameliorate and elevate the condition o
the great mass Of the American people
) Toll and an honest advocacy Of the great
= principles of free government have beer
my lot The duties have been mine--the
consequences are Gods This has been
the foundation Of my political creed.
: feel that in the end the Government viii
triumph, aud that these great principles
!, will be permanently established In con
clusiou gentlemen, let me say that want
your encouragement ard countenance.
shall ask and rely upon you and Others
in carrying the Government through its
present peris. feel in making this re-
quest that it will be heartily respon
ded to by you and other patriots and low
ers of the rights and interests of a free
people"
At the conclusion Of The above remarks
the President received the kind wishes
Of the friends by whom he was surround
ed. A few moments were devoted 10 con-
versation. All were deeply impressed
with the solemnity OF the occasion, aud
the recent sad occurrence that caused the
necessity for the speedy inauguration of
the President was gravely discussed. Mr..
johnson is in fine health, and has an ear
nest sense Of the important trust that has
been coniided TO him. VIM. Hunter, Esq,
the chief clerk of tho State Department,
has been appointed Acting Secretary of
State. A special meeting of the Cabinet
was held at tho Treasury Department at
| 10 o'clock this morning.
ANOTHER SPEECH or PRESIDENT JOHNSON
On Tuesday large delegation of the
o;,;,o,, &c Ill;po;s ,ollaJ npnp p,aIiJapt