The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1865-04-20
THE NEW PRESIDENT.
HE Inauguration Of Andrew
ns0H-ESis Address
WASHINGTON inr;,

IN. y pIii ~.
Yesterday morning Attorney General
Speed waited upon Hon Andrew johnson.
vice president Of the Uuited States. and
officially informed him Of the sudden and
unexpected decease of President Lincoln.
and stated that an early hou> might be
appointed for the inauguration of his sue
cessor.
Mr. johnson requested that the ceremo-
ny take place at his rooms at the Kirk
wood house i'll this city. at 10 o'clock in
the morning. Hon. 5. j. Chase. chief
justice Of the United States Supreme
court, was notified Of the fact. and desired
to be III attendance to administer the oath
OF Office.
At the above named hour the following
gentlemen assembled in the vice presi-
dents room to participate in the ceremo-
ny: Hon. s. p. Chase, Hon Il. McCul-
loch, Attorney General Speed. F. =. Blair.
Hon. Montgomery Blair, Senators Foote
of VI, Yates of ILL.,, Ramsey of MINI.
Stewart of Nevada, Hale of n. H., and
Gen. Farnsworth Of Ill.,.
After the presentation of the above let>
ter the Chief Justice administered the fol-
lowing oath 10 Mr. johnson: Il do sol
EMMY swear that | will faithfully execute
the Office OF president OF the United States,
and will, to the best of my ability, pre-
serve, protect, and defend the constitu
ton OF the United States"
'After receiving the oath and being
declared president Of the United States,
MIR. johnson remarked:
"GENTLEMEN-I must be permitted io
say that have been almost overwhelmed
by the announcement OF sad events which
has so recently; occurred. feel ncom-
petent to perform duties 50 Important and
responsible as those which have been so
unexpectedly thrown upon NE.
CAS- TO an indication OF any policy
which may be pursued by NE in the admin
| istration OF the government, l have to say
that that must be left for development
as the administration progresses The
message, or declaration, must be made by
acts as they transpire. The only assur>
ance 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 regarded as q
guarantee Of the future 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 of my life have been spent
in endeavoring to establish andperpctuatc
the principles of free government be-
iieye that the government. in passing
through its present pcrils, will settle down
uspon principles consonant with popular
rights, mere permanent and enduring ::,nau
heretofore
u must be permitted to say, i'll under
stand the feelings of my own heart, that
have long labored to ameliorate and ele-
vate the condition of the great mass of
the American people. Toll and an honest
advocacy of the great principles Of free
government have been my lot The ca.
ties have been mine. The consequen,
ces are Gods. This has been the fouuda-
ton of my political faith, and ! feel that
IN the end the government will triumph,
that these great principles will be perma-
nently established In conclusion. gentle
men, let me say that ] want your cncour-
agemcnt and countenancc. | shall rely
upon you and others in carrying the gov
ernment through its present perils, | feel,
in making this request, that it will be
hertiIy responded to by you and all other
patriots and lovers of the rights and inter
ests of a free people,