The tri-weekly herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-04-06
i Scene in the Senate Chamber-Anay
--..'.~ JOhnSOn'S Speech.
Is PUBLISHED AT

. ---..- =. JOhnSOn'S Speech.
A Washington letter thus depicts the, scene IN
The Senate on Inauguration day: =.
: While the foreign ambassadors were taking
their seats M HamIin concluded his speechs
when Vice President elect, Mr.. johnson comE
menced his address, before he had taken the oath
of office. He had been talking about i've MIN
ntes when the President entered the door from
the Senate lobby, at the right ofthe Clerks desk
escorted bv Senators Hendricks and Foster, hr.
Tinenln taking his seat at the end Of the CLERK s
desk rnear.the members of his cabinet.
During all this time Andrew JohnSon-for such
ba simpIy was then, not having takeHsthe oath OF
office (would TO heaven that it con dFbe said IN
behalf of the country that he is still only AndTsF
:IohnsonI-continued his speech.-Sucb speech
Il might have ben appropriate at some husrings
in Tennessee but it certainly was far from>helng
anpropriate on this occasion. It was not only
.nihety-ninth rate stump speech, but disgracetut
in the eSexaeuae. He had not proceeded tar when
Senators on the Republican side began to lang
their heads, sink down in their seats, lookat each
other with significance, as much as to say, zig ne
crazy, or what is the matter ?" They exhibited
in every feature great uneasiness.
There as no nistaking the fact that the Sen
ators were mortified in the extreme. The Demo-
cratic Senators leaned forward and appeared to
be ehuckling with each other over the figure
made BY the Republican party through their Vice
President elect. The foreign ministers showed
unTnista kaale signs of amazement as the incomes
rent sentences came from Mr.. Joensons hps.
Republican Senator'S moved around IN their seats,
unsble,t to sit stiA-uaderl the exhibition before
them, Some of the Senators sat sidewise, others
.turned their backs, as if anxious to hide them
selves. > .s..+t -
Luckily for the members ofthe House of Rep
resentatiges, they did not reach the Senate until
several minutes after y, and they were hot SUBJ
iected to bat small portion of the scene
The speech was disconnected, the sentences SO
incoherent that it isimpossbe to give an accurate
report of his speech. As his sentences came up
in the reporters gallery, the statements that
YOUR President is plebian-I am "a plebian,
glory in it-TenneSsee has never gone out OF the
Dnion-I am going to talk two minn es and
half on that point7-f want You to hear me. Ten
nessee always was loyal-we all derive our pow
,er from the people-Ghief Justice Chase is but a
creature OF the people, want you to hear me
two minutes on that point-you, Mr.. Stanton,
Secretary of War, derive your authority and
power from the people ('.Wh0 is Secretary of
the, Navy ~ was then heard, ina voice of less
volume Some one responded, "Ar Wees y
You. Mr.. WeIIes, Secretary of the Navy, get your
power from the people. This was the strain and
to!a of the whole speech, mixed with a lecture
to the Senate on the action of the Senate On the
rebellious States. -,
1t was impossible to give full report sitting
in the gallery. The eonstsn: clatter of voices
in their rear, declaring, "What "a shame"
stHas he. ne friends?'' t'Is there no person who
will have mercy on him.? sTell him to stop
and save the country further disgrace" were SO
numerous that it entirely prevented full report
being made. The only full report was that Of
the official reporters of the Globe.-The senators,
however, were so chagrined at the speech that
they notified the Globe reporter 10 suppress his
copv aud wait until Mr. johnson conld write out
so .eh, that this affair might not go before the
world in that FORM 1t is charitable to- say that
" his condition was such that he was unfit to make
a speech. He evidently did not shun Bourbon
county Kentucky, on his way here.
Mr.: Johnston finally concluded his speech,
vhereupon Vice President Hamliu administered
TO him the cath Of Office Mr.. Hanln read the
oath by sentences, and Mr. johnson repeated
it after him. The effort of the Vice President
elect to go-through with the form OF repeating
the sentences as read by Mr.. Hamlin was pam
fuii the extreme. He stumbled, stammered,
repeated portions Of it several times over. The
moment that he concluded this task, Mr. john
son turned to the audience AID commenced
another speech, giving to those assembled his
idea of the oath which he had just taken. He
had uttered but two or three sentences when
some OF the officers standing near him had the
good sense to stop him, be having already oc-
cupied some nineteen minutes in his former
speech, and delayed the proceedings beyond all
usages. -..
Q They were unwilling that they should be any
longer delayed by the incolerent remarks of this
new official. It has heretofore been the custom
to close all speeches the moment that the Jud-
gss of the Supreme Court and diplomatic corps
reach tbe Senate Chamber. Gr, EauFn. in