Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1865-04-29
President JOhusop,s Inauguration.

On oalufuay, the l0Jn, Attorney Uenefal
SPEED waited upon Hon. ANDREW JOHNSON,
Vice President of the United States, and off,
cially informed him of the sudden and unex-
peeted decease of President LINCOLN, and re
quested that an early hour might be appoint
ed for the Inauguration of his successor.
He presented the following communication,
signed by all the heads of Departments, ex-
cept Secretary SEWARD:
To Andreao Johnson, Vice President Of the United
States:
WASHINGTON, April Is.
SIR: Abraham Lincoln, President of the United
States, was shot by an assassin last evening, at
Fords Theatre, in this city, and died at the hour
of T:22 O'Clock this morning. About the same
time at which the President was shot, an assassin
entered the sick chamber of the Hon. W. III. Sew
ard, Secretary Of STATE aud stabbed him in sever
al Plac~s in the throat, face and neck, sesArsIy.
but not mortaily, wOunding him. Other mem bers
Of the secretary's family we're dangerously wound
ed by the ASSN while making his escape
BY the death Of President lincoln the Office of
President has devolved, under the Constit ton,
upon you. The eme,g ency of the Government de-
mands hat you should immediately quality, ae-
cording TO tie requirements OF the Constitution
aud enter upon the duties of President of the
United states. II you will please make known
your pleasure, such arrangements as you deem
proper will be made
Your OBJ edent servants,
HUcH McCuLLoca, Secretary OF the Treasury;
J.. NJ STANF5N, Secretary OF War;
G. NRLLEs, Secretary Of the Navy;
WG. DENNIsoS, Postmaster General;
j. p. UsaEs, secretary of the Interior;
JAMES SPEED, Attorney General.
Mr.. johnson requested that the ceremony
take place at his rooms at the KirkwOOd
House, Washington, at 10 o'clock in the morn
ing. Hon S. P Chase, Chief Justice of the
Uuited States Supreme Court, was notified of
the fact, and desired to be in attendance to
administer the oath of Office.
At the above named hour the following
gentlemen assembled in the Vice Presidents
room to participate in the ceremony Hon.
S. p. Chase, Hon. III. McCullocb, Attorney
General Speed, +. p. Blair, Hon. Montgomery
Blair, Senators Foote of VT, Yates of ILL.,,
Ramsey of Mimi, Stewart of Nevada, Hale
of n H., and Gen. Farnsworth of Ill.
After the presentation of the above letter
the Chief Justice administered the following
oath to Mr.. johnson: 81 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
defend the Constitution of the United States"
After receiving the oath, and being de-
clared President of the United States, Mr.
johnson remarked:
"GENTLEMEN: / must be permitted to say
that have been almost overwhelmed by the
announcement of the sad event which has so
recently occurred / feel incompetent to
perform duties so important and responsible
as those which have been so Unexpectedly
thrown upon me.
GAS to an indication of any policy which
may be pursued by me in the administration
of the government, l have to say that that
must be left for development as the admins
tration progresses. The message, or decla-
ration, must be made by acts as they trans
pire. The only assurance that / can now
give of the future is reference to the past.
The course which / have taken in the past in
connection with the rebellion must be re-
garded as a guarantee of the future. My
past public lite, which has been long and
| labOriOus, has been founded, as / in good
conscience believe, upon great principle of
right, which lies at the basis of all things
. The best energies of my life have been spent
in endeavoring to establish and perpetuate
the principles of free government l believe
that the government, in passing through its
present perils, will settle down upon princi-
Piles consonant with popular rights, more per-
manent and enduring than heretofore.
al mnst be permitted to say, if l under
stand the feelings of my own heart, that l
have long labored to ameliorate and elevate
the condition of the great mass of the Ameri-
can people. Toll and an honest advocacy OF
the great principles of free government have
been my lot. The duties have been mine.
The consequences are Gods. This has been
the foundation of my political faith, and feel
that in the end the Government will triumph
and that these great principles will be per-
manently established. In conclusion, gen.
tlemen, let me say that / want your encour-
agement and countenance. l shall rely upon
you and Others IN carrying the Government
through its present perils. / feel, in making
this request, that il will be heartily respond
ed to by you and all other patriots and lovers
of the rights and interests of a free people.
At the conclusion of his remarks the Pres
ident received the kind wishes of the friends
by whom he was surrounded, and a few min
utes were devoted to conversation. All
were deeply impressed with the solemnity OF
the occasion, and the recent sad occurrence,
that caused the necessity for the speedy in
| auguration of the President, was gravely dis
cussed. Mr.. johnson is in fine health, and
has an earnest sense of the important trust
conided to him.
Nine. de Tocqueville is dead. She was the