Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1865-04-17

| Yesterday morning Attorney General
Speed waited upon Hon. Andrew John
son. Vice President of the United States
and informed him of the sudden and un-
/ expected decssse of President Lincoln, and
stated that an early hour might be sp.
pointed for the Inauguration of his success
sor. The following is copy Of the COM
municstion referred to:
WAsHINGToE, April I5, 1866.
SIR: Abraham Lincoln, President of the
United States was shot by an assassin last
evening, at Ford's Theatre, in this city,
and died at the hour of 7:22 o'clock
this morning. About the same time at
which the President was shot an assassin
entered the sick chamber of the Hon.
VIM. II. Seward, Secretary of State, and
stabbed him in several places, in the throat,
neck and face, severely, if not mortally
wOunding him. Other members of the
Secretary's family were dangerously
wounded by the assassin while making his
escape.
By the desth of President Lincoln the
Office of President has deTolved, under the
Constitution, upon you. The emergency
of the government demands that you
should Immediately qualify yourself &C.
cording to the requirements Of the Consti-
tuition, and enter upon the duties of Presi-
dent Of the United States. If you will
please make known your pleasure, and
such arrangements as you deem proper
will be made
Your obd't servants,
HUGH MCUULLoCH, Sec = Of the Treas
ury, E. NJ. STANTON, Sec'y of War,
g WELLEs Sec'y of the Navy, WM
DENNIsoN, Postmaster General, j.
P USHER, See'y of the Interior,
JAS. SPEED, Attorney Gel ersl.
To ANDREW JOHNSON, Vice President Of
the United States.
ILMr. johnson requested thst the cere-
mony take place at his rooms at the Kirk
wood House, In this city, at ten o'clock in
the morning. Hon. s. P Chase, Chief
Justice of the United States Supreme
Court, was notified of the fact and desired
to be in attendance to administer the oath
of office at the above hour. The following
gentlemen assembled in the Vice Presi.
dents room to participate in the ceTe.
monies: Hon. S. P. Chase, Hon. d. Nc
Oulloch, Attorney General Speed, +. P.
Blair, Hon. Montgomery Blair, Senators
Foote of Vermont, Yates Of Illinois, Ram
say of Minnesota, Stewart of Nevada,
Hale of New Hampshire and General
Rsrnsworth of Illinois.
After the presentation of the above let
ter, the Chief Justice administered the fol-
lowing oath to Mr.J Johnson;-"I do solemn
ly swear that will faithfully execute the
office of President Of the United States
and will to the beat of my ability, preserve,
proteet and defend the Constitution of the
United States" After receiving the oath,
and being declared President of the United
States, Mr.. johnson remarked:
GENTLRMEN:--I 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 respon-
sibie as those which have been so unex-
pectedly thrown ny me. AS to an indics-
ton of any policy which may be pursued
by me in the administration Of the govern
ment, have to say that that must be left
for development ss the administration
progresses. Message or declaration must
be made by acts as they trsnspire. The
only assurance that can now give Of the
future, is reference to the past. The course
which I have taken in the psstm connection
with this rebellion, must be regarded as
guarantee of the future. My past public
life, which has been long and lsbOrioHs, has
been founded, as in good conscience be-
ieve, upon great principle Of ri. ht, which
lies at the basis of all things The best ener-
gies ofmy life have been spent in endeavor-
ing toestablish and dperpetuste theprinciples
of frse government. believe that the
government, in passing through Its pres
ent perils, will settle down upon the prin-
ciples consistent with the popular rights,
more prominent and enduring than here
tofora. must be permitted to say, if
understand the feelings Of my own heart,
that have long lsbored to smeliorste and
elevate the condition of the great mass of
the American people, Toll and sR honest
advocacy of the great principles of free
government have been my lot. Duties have
been nmine-consequences are Gods. This
has been the foundation of my political
creed. l feel that in the end the Govern
ment will triumph and that these great
principles will be permanently established.
In conclusion, gentlemen, let messy that
I want your encouragement and eounten-
ancs. | shall ask and rely upon your sd-
vice in carrying the Government through
its present perils. 1 feel, in making this
request, that it will bo heartily responded
to by you and all other patriots and lovers
of the rights and interests of free people.
At the conclusion of the remarks, the
President received the kind wishes Of
friends, by whom he was surrounded. A
few minutes we're devoted to conversation.
All were deeply impressed with the sol
emnity Of the occasion, and the recent sad
occurrence that caused the necessity for the
speedy Inauguration Of the President Wss
gravely discussed.
Mr.. johnson is in fine health, and has an
earnest sense of the important trust con-
fided in him.
VIM. Hunter, Chief Clerk in the State
Department, has been appointed Acting
Secretary Of State.
A special meeting of the Cabinet WAS
held at the Treasury Department this morn
ing.
CAPTURE OF MOBILE.
CHICAGO, April 16.
A Cairo special says our forces occupied