The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1865-03-11

dent and the Vice President elect, cAiho Ivy
the Chamber arm in arm, the iol"ei 'aAisg
the chair which had been occupied by Mr.,
Foote, and the latter being seated az MS rigns'
a faw m;nrtes later Secretaries Seward,
Stanton, Usher, Wells, Dennison' and Ai'or-
new General Speed, entered and took seats on
tho loft and soon after the Judges OF the gu
rra,,o Cont, in their official robes, headed py
rh;af Justice Chase, came in and were seated
=, the right of the Vice President. Ex-Sec-
so,ary Fessenden was seen as of old, the fash
of steel in his gray eye, in that place which he
left SO relunctantly and to which he returned
so gladly. among the Senators, Nor should
omit to mention that on the floor Of the Sen
ate, amid the illustrious company, sat young
man of African blood AN attache of the Haytian
legation. The Diplomatic Corps in their
splendid court dresses glittering with geld
lace, some OF them wearing on the breast nu-
merous orders and decorations, now entered
and took their Sc ats on the right of The pre-
siding officer; and soon after the President in
a plain suit OF black, looking pale and worn,
accompanied by the Committee of Arrange
ments, entered and was seated in front OF the
Secretary . desk. The members of the House
entering the Chamber, preceded by Speaker
Colfax, completed the august assembly
Attwelve O'Clock, Vice President Hamlin
rose and with evident feeling delivered very
a appropriate Valedictory, and having admins
TIRED the oath to his successor, Hon. Andrew
I'll bn oil rHe 81
length, he declared the Thirty Eighth Con-
gcess adjourned without day. The bearing OF
Mr. Hamlin towards his successor was very
frank and cordial and throughout the ceri-
monies it was dignined and thoroughly manly,
worthy of himself and the great occasion. l
may here mention that in view OF his retire.
msnt from the Senate, / have heard but one
expression of sentiment-that of sincere re-
greet.
After the proclamation of the President
calling Special Session of the Senate had
been read, and the Senate had been called to
order by Vich President johnson, the oath Of
Office was administered to Senators elected to
the Thirty Ninth Congress, and those upon
the floor of the Senate, forming in procession,
proceeded to the east, central portico of the
Capitol,
Before the eastern front had gathered an
immense crowd of people, of whose numbers /
can form no idea. There were delicate ladies
patiently standing in the mud, veterans with
medals on their bosoms aud nobler mementoes
of their valor in glorious scars and mutilations,
citizens from the borders of the land anxious
to look on this grand illustration of our in
stitutions, and to behold the man whom all re-
spect, and most love, and-as who had bet
ter right to be?-many and many man and
woman. who only four years ago were but SO
many things. Among the vast crowd were
drawn up several bodies of troops, including
the 18th N. Y. Cavalry, the 1st Brigade of
Veteran Reserves, a section of the 4th U. S.
Artillery and detachment of Colored Infan-
try, to whom thought "every step" must
have been as well "worth half dollar" as TO
Higginson's Regiment in their parade through
Beaufort, with many civic Associations, in
Guiding Colored Odd Fellows all which had
marched in procession from the White House
In the forenoon. The rain had ceased and the
sunshine was now struggling through the
clouds. The first sight of the President as he
appeared amid the throng upon the portico,
called out enthusiastic cheers, which were re-
peated during the delivery and at the close of
mis- Inaugural. At the conclusion of the ad-
at the Presidents left, and administered to him
the oath of Office. Never did my heart beat
higher, never was l prolnder of my country
and her institutions or more thankful to God
for both, Than when l saw the lips of Abra-
ham Lincoln touch the Sacred Book, and knew
that, by the will of the people and the bless
ing of God, he was our President for the next
four years. Right worthy seemed that con-
sumation to be greeted as it was by salvos of
artillery and the acclamations Of the people.
Nor was the scene Other than very stirring
when, soon after, he emerged from the north
eastern portico and descended with barred
head the stately steps to his carriage, follow
ed by his suite and the gorgeous train of Di-
plomates, while the soldiers presented their
arms, cleaning and flashing in the sun, which
had now broken forth in midday splendo-,
and the people cheered, and band after band
caught up and poured forth the stirring Strains
of "Haii to the Chiefy The return of the
President to the White House was an ova-
ton.
Many minor features of the great occasion
might be mentioned but space forbids. In
spite OF rain aud mud the day was a proud
and even pleasant one. Even the gloom OF
the morning, dissipated by MONDAY splendors
almost at the moment when the President
took the oath, gave added effect to the august
ceremony, and was universally hailed as
pleasant incident, if not happy augury.
Thus passed ascene which may well provoke
the envy, perhaps excuse the hatred of
usurpers and absolutists the world over; and
which should make every American love
his country better than ever. T. s. P. 'A