The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1865-04-20
The Inauguration Speech Of President
Johnson,

s copy Ol ttlo CoiliLl uhAO"Ul'A AN10hio"
%:
"WAsHINGToN,A April Is.
s'Sir: Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States, was shot by an assassin last /
evening at Ford's Theater in this city and
lied at the hour of 1922 o'clock this morn
NO. About the same time at which the
President was shot, IAN assassin entered the 4
sick chamber of Hon. w II, Seward, Secre-
Earv of State, and stabbed him in several
places in the throat, face andlneck, severely if
not mortally wounding him, The other I
members Of the Secretary's family wereA
wounded by the assassin whileE
making his escape. By the death of Presi-
dent Lincoln the Office of President has de-
volved, under the Constitution upon you
The emergency of the Government demands
that YOU should Immediately qualify accor-
ding to the requirements of the Constitu-
ton, and enter upon the duties OF PRESIDENT
of the United States. If you will pleasei
make known your pleasure, such arrange
ments as you deem proper will be made.
"Your obedient servants.
HUGH MoCULLooH,
Secretary of the Treasury.
'.E, M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
''WM. DENNlsoN,
POSTMASTER General.
u. P. USHER,
Secretary of the Interior.
'tJAMEs SPEED,
Attorney General
sTo ANDREW JOHNSON, Vice President OF
the United States"
Mr. Johnson requested that the ceremony
take place at his rooms at the hirkwood
House, in this city ats10 o'clock in the morn
ling. Hon. S.P Chase.Chief Justice Of the
limited States Supreme Court, was notified
lof the fact and desired to be in attendance
Ito administer the oath of Office. At the
above named hour the following agents as
Ssembled in the Vice-President's room to
participate in the ceremony: Hon. S. sChase,
aHon. II, McCulloch. Acknowledgement Speed
sF. P. Blair. Hon. Montgomery Blair Senator
! Foot of Vermont, Yates of Illinois, Ramsey
1of Minnesota, Stewart of Nevada, Hale OF
New Hampshire, and General Farnsworth OF
3 Illinois.
After the presentation of the above letter
athe Chief Justice administered the following
! oath to Mr., johnson: Il do solemnly swear
THAT | will faithfully execute the office OF
president of the United States, and will to
! the best of my ability, preserve protect and
adefend the Constitution of the United
sStates,"
! After receiving the oath, and being de-
sclared President of the United States, Mr..
johnson remarked
Gentlemen: l must be permitted to say
that have been p nost overwhelmed by
\ the announcement of the sad event which
has so recently occurred. [ feel incompetent
Ito perform duties so important and RESPONSE
bile as those (which have been so unexpected
.Iv thrown upon me AS to an indication Of
iany policy which may be pursued by me in
1.-THE administration of the Government, |
jhave to say that that must be left to .devel-
9opment as the administration progresses. The
message or declaration must be made by
acts as they transpire. The only assurance
that can give of the future is reference
Ito the past course have taken i'll connec-
|tion with this rebellion. My past public
life which has been long and laborious, has
been founded as in good conscience believe
upon a great principle of right which lies at
the basis of all things. The best energies
lof my life have been spent in endeavoring
Ito establish and perpetuate the principles Of
free government. | believe that the Gov
sernment ia passing through the present per-
ills, will settle down on principles consonant
with popular rights more permanent and en-
lduring than heretofore. | must be permit
ted to say if | understand my own heart |
have long labored to ameliorate and elevate
the condition of the great mass of the Amer
;ican people. Toll and an honest advocacy
'of the great principles of Government have
been my lot. The duties have been mine
the consequences are Gods. This has been
the foundation Of my political life, and feel
that in, the end, Government will triumph,
and that these great principles will beiper-
established. In conclusio n, gentle
menlet me say that l want your encourage
mentaand countenance. | shall rely upon
you and others in carrying the Government
through its present perils. | feel in making
this request that it will be heartily respond
ed to by you and all other prtriots and low
ers of the rights ane interests of free ma
ton
AT the conclusion of his remarks, the Pre- :.
sident received the kind wishes of the friends
who surrounded him. But few minutes were
devoted to conversation. All were deepl Vi
with the solemnity of the occasionI
and the recent sad occurrence that causedI
the necessity for the speedy inauguration of
Of the President, was gravely discussed. Mr.
Johnson is in fine health, and has an earnestE
sense of the important trust confded toI
him.
VIM, Hunter Chief Clerk of the State De
partment has been appointed Acting Sec vi
Of State. A special meeting of the Cabinet
was held at the Treasury Department at 10Y
0, clock this a. m.
At twelve o'clock the President met tbes
heads of the Departments in Cabinet meet
ing, at the Treasury Building, and among
other business the following was transact \
ed:
First, the arrangements for the funeral oil
the President were offered to several Secre
5aries as far as relates to their respective de
Oartments.
Second, VIM. Hunter Esq. was appointed
acting Secretary of State, during the disa
oility of Mr.. Seward and his son, Ere derrick 4
Seward, the Assistant Secretary.
Third The President formally announcedN
hat he desired to retain the present Secre
aries Of Department of his Cabinet, andS
hey would go on and discharge their re-
pective duties in the same manner as be-
ore the deplorable event that had changedT
he head Of the Government Il
All business in the department was sus
pended during the day. Il