Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1865-04-17
SUNDAY NlGHY'S DIsPlTCHES.

II ppAUhA tltAuhlu Dbl lVHubs.
Correspondence Between vles
4 President Johnson a ma tne Cabs.
net-The inauguration.
WAsHISGToN, April l6.- Yesterday niorii-
3ng Attorney General Speed waited upon
1ion. Andrew johnson, Vice President oi
}jthe United States, and officially informed
1him of the sudden and unexpected death OF
4PresideDt Lincoln, and stated that On early
2hour might be appointed for the Inaugural
ation of his successor. The following is q
9copy of the communication referred to:-
4 rm WASHINGTON, April l5.
a SIR:-Abraham Lincoln, President of the
aUnited States, was shot by an assassin last
devening at Ford's Theater in this city, and
tidied at the hour of 1922 o'clock this morn
ling. About the same time at which the
HPresident was shot an assassin entered the
asick chamber of the Hon. w. II. Seward,
aSecretary of State, and stabbed him in sew
Neral places in the throat, neck and face, Sc
Rverely if not mortally wounding him.
dOther members of the Secretary's family
Nwere dangerously wounded by the assassin
dwhile making his escape.
A BY the death of President Lincoln the
aollice of President has devolved, under the
AConstltution, upon you. The emergency
8of the Government demands that you
Should Immediately he qualified according
Ito the requirements of the Constitution, and
Henter upon the duties of President of the
aUnited States. If you will please make
known your pleasure, such arrangements
0as you deem proper will be made.
A Your obedient servants,
i [Signedl III. MCCULLOUGH, Sec'y Treas'y,
e. M. STANTON, Sec'y War, 'i
G. WELLEs, Sec'y Navy,
VIM. DENHIsoN, 2. NJ. Gen1,
J.P. USHER, Sec'y Interior,
JAS. Z. SPEED, Atty Gen1.
Mr.. johnson requested that the ceremony
2take place at his rooms at the Kirkwood
aHouse in this city, at 10 o'clock in the morn
ling. Hon. ST. Chase, Chief Justice of the
NSupreme Court, was notified of the fact and
sdesired to be in attendance to administer
athe oath of Office. At the above named
hour the following gentlemen assembled in
sthe Vice Presidents room, to participate in
THE ceremony: Hon. S. p. Chase, Hon. II.
! 3McCullough, Attorney General Speed, f. p.
1Blair, Hon. Montgomery Blair, Senators
EFoote of Vermont, Yates of Illinois, Ramsey
Sof Minnesota, Stewart of Nevada, Hale of
New Hampshire, and General Farnsworth,
1of Illinois.
After the presentation of the above let
dter the Chief Justice administered the fol-
flowing oath to Mr.. johnson:
| do solemnly swear that will faithfully
9eXecute the Office of Presidento of the United
Estates and will to the best of my ability
dpreserve, protect and defend the Constitu-
ation of the United States.
After receiving the oath and being de-
aclared President of the United States, Mr.
4JOhnson remarked:
A GENTLEMEN l must be permitted to say|
2that have been almost overwhelmed by
athe announcement of the sad event which
9has so recently occurred. L feel in
competent to perform duties so important
land responsible as those which have been sol
4 unexpectedly thrown upon me. As to anI
3indcation of any policy which may be pur-
Ssued by me in the administration of theI
aGOvernment, have to say that that must
I be left for development as the administra-
8Jion progresses; the message or dec
SIaration must be made by the acts as they
8transpire. The only assurance that | can
! now make of the future, referring to the
lpast; the course which have taken in the
Rpast in connection with the rebellion must
Abe regarded rs guarantee of the future.
sMy past public life, which has been long
zand laborious, has been founded, as believe
4 III
(which lies at the basis of all things. The
abest energies Of my life have been spent
Gin endeavoring to establish and perpetuate
Sthe principles of Free Government.
sbelieve that the Government, in passing
Through its present perils, will settle down
aupOn principles consistent with popular
arights more permanent and enduring than
Heretofore. l must be permitted to say
understand the feelings of my own heart.
III have long labored to ameliorate and ele-
5vate the condition of the great mass of the
American people. Toll and an honest ad-
7vocacy of the great principles of free gov
Sernment have been my lot. The duties
hhave been mine; the consequences are Gods.
aThis has been the foundation Of my politi-
zeal creed. feel that in the end the Gov
aernment will triumph and that these great
principles will be permanently established.
4 In conclusion, gentlemen, let me say that
II want your encouragement and counte-
nance. shall ask and rely upon you and
aothers in carrying the Government through
Tits present Perils. / feel, in making this,
arequest, that it will be heartily responded
ito by you and all other patriots and lovers
sof the rights and interests of free people,
AT the conclusion of the remarks the Presi-
tdent received the kind wishes of the friendsI
10y whom he was surrounded. A few mini
sutes were devoted to conversation. ALI
were deeply impressed with the solemnity|
lof the occasion, and the recent sad occur
srence that caused the necessity for theI
speedy Inauguration of the President was
igravely discussed. Mr.. johnson is in fineI
3health and has an earnest sense of the inn
sportant trust confided to him. VIM. Hun
tier, Chief Clerk in the State Department.
8has been appointed Acting Secretary of
Estate.
A special meeting of the Cabinet was
HELD at the Treasury Department at 10
O'Clock this morning.
4S Sawvnu.H VrpnrnvfnO