The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-03-30
live George Washington, President of the
IInifad Statoa %

live George Washington, President of tn
United States p
In commencing his address he paid
compliment to the genius and patriotism
OF Washington, and Immediately proceed
ed to give his views of the administration
/ of government in the longest sentenc
found in any work of the English Ian
guage. 1t covers four pages of an ordi
: nary duodecimo volume. We cannot bu
: view with wonder how he ever was ena
bled to consistently deliver so elaborate
sentence--yet Charles Francis Adams in
E forms us that the paragraph was received
with applause. His manner of delivery
was impressive, and his fine voice enabled
him to overcome difficulty almost in
surmountable to an orator.
At this moment flag was displayed on
the cupelo of the Hall, general dis
charge of artillery on the Battery echoed
over the city, all the bells rang out joy
full peal, and the vast multitude rent the
air with their acclamations. Washington
again bowed, and accompanied by the Of
ficials, retired to the Senate Chamber to
read his address. Thus the new nation
was fairly ushered into life and the first
Presidential Inauguration ceremonies
were ended
The Inauguration of John Adams.
The refusal of Washington to serve
more than two terms necessitated another
selection and after spirited contest be-
tween John Adams and Thomas Jeffer-
son, the former was elected. On the 4th
of March the Hall of the House of Rep
resentatives, in New York, was crowded
to its utmost capacity. More than ordi-
nary interest was attached to the senti-
ments about to be communicated, as ru.
mors had been assiduously circulated that
cial with REPUBLICAN form of Government
Every word uttered was received with
jealous care.
In the center of the Hall sat General
Washington, and, when the President e.
lect appeared, the thought that the Amer
ican people were forever losing their
"Father," caused sobs to break forth and
tears to flow in all parts of the vast as
sembly. Rather discouraging COM
mencement for new Administration !
| Oliver Ellsworth, Chief Justice of the
United States, administered the oath, and
as Adams himself wrote, did SO with great
energy. Among the audience were all
the foreign ambassadors, and Justices
Cushing, Wilson, and Iredell. Adams,
in letter to his wife, thus describes the
spectacle
GA solemn scene it was indeed, and it
was made more affecting to me by the
presence of the General whose counte-
nance was serene and unclouded as the
day. He seemed to enjoy triumph o.
yer me- Methought heard him say -
"Aye, l am fairly out, and you fairly in |!
See which of us will be happiest." All a.
greed that, taken altogether, it was the
sublimest thing ever exhibited in Amer
ica."
Immediately after the reception, Wash
ington departed for Mount Vernon, and
the second Administration commenced
its work.
The Inauguration of Thomas Jefferson.
The election of President, for the first
time in the history of the country, had
just been made by the House of Repre-
sentatives, and party spirit ran higher
than ever before. The idea that the
Federalists, of whom the late Presid ent
was the chief, favored monarchy, and
with it all the pomp of royalty, induced
Jefferson to decide that his Inauguration
should be accomplished in the plainest
and most ostentatious form, in manner
which the reddest Republican could not
take ofense at His wish for simplicity
was however nullifed by the presence of
large concourse of his political friends,
who focked to the Capitol to be present
on the occasion of their faith. Deter
mined however, to do his part without
pomp, che dressed in plain cloth, rode on
horseback to the Capitol without single
servant in his train, dismounted unassist-
ed, and hitched the bride of his horse to
the palisades"
On his entering the Senate Chamber,
Aaron Burr, Vice President, who had al
ready been sworn into Office gave up his
chair to the President elect. 1t may be
noticed that the Vice President is always
sworn in without any excitement, previ-
GUS the Inauguration of the President
Jefferson was supported by Burr and the
Chief Justice. The usual august assem-
blagc was present, with the exception Of
the ex-President, who had, in the bitter
ness of resentment, rather ungratefully
departed from the Capital.
The address of Jefferson is one of the
finest rhetorical efforts in our literature
and the passage-"We are all republicans
we are all Federalists. If there be any
among us who may wish to dissolve this
Union, or to change its republican form
let them stand undisturbed, as monument
of the safety with which error of opinion
may be tolerated where reason is left free
to combat it," still sounds in our land
familiar household word in the mouth o
all true Americans. Itwas here that the
custom of reading the address previous t.
e H. oath heino administered first cam,