The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1865-04-17
Additional kilograms.

Additional kilograms.
OmciaI Communication 10 Andrew
johnson.
WASHINGTON, April 16.-The following
is copy of the communication sent by
Attorney General Speed to Hon. Andrew
Johnson:
WASHINGTON, April Is.
SIR:-Abraham Lincoln, President OF
the United States, was shot by an assas-
sin 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. w: II. Seward, Secretary OF
State, and stabbed him in several places
in the throat, neck and face, severly If
not mortally wounding him.
Other members of the Secretarys fam
lily were dangerously wounded by the
assassin while making his escape.
By the death of President Lincoln the
Office of, President has devolved, under
the Constitution, upon you. The emer-
gency of the government demands that
YOU should immediately proceed accord
ing to the requirements of the COnstitu-
ton and enter upon the duties of Presi-
dent of the United States. If you will
please make known your pleasure as to
the arrangements You deem proper, they
will be made.
Your obedient servants,
Signed
EN- STANTON, Sec'y of War.
G. WELLEs, Sec'y OF the Navy.
far
J.P. USHER, Sec'y of Interior.
j. SPEED, Attorney General.
To Aadrep johnson, Pice President Of the
United States.
Mr.. Johnson requested that the cere-
mony take place at his rooms at the
Kirkwood House. in this city, at ten
O'Clock in the morning. Hon. Salmon p.
Chase, Chief Justice of the United States,
was notified of the fact and desired to be
i'm attendance to administer the oath of
office.
At the above named hour the follow
lug gentlemen assembled in the Vice
Presidents rooms to participate III the
ceremony: Hon. p. Chase, Hon. Hugh
Mccullough, Attorney General Speed, F..
P. Blair, Hon. Montgomery Blair, Sena-
tor Foote, of Vermont, Yates of Illinois,
Marcy, of Maine, Stewart, of Nevada,
Hale, of New Hampshire, and Gen. Farms
worth, of Illinois
After the presentation of the above
letter the Chief Justice administered the
following oath to MIR JOhnson:
do solemnly swear that l will fa tn
fully execute the office of President of
the United States, and will to the best
of my ability preserve, protect and dc
tend the Constitution of the United
States.
After receiving the oath and being do
clared President of the United States,
Mr. Johnson remarked:
GENTLEMEN:-I must be permitted to
saw that have been almost overwhelmed
by the announcement of the sad event.
which has so recently occurred. | fail
to perform duties SO important and re-
sponsible as those which have been So
unexpectedly thrown upon me. As TO
an indication of any policy that may he
taken by me in the administration of the
government, | have to say that that
must be left for development, as the adj
ministration progresses, the message or
declarations must be made by the acts
as they transpire. The only assurances
that can now be given of the future are
with reference to the past The course
which we have pursued in the past in
connection with the rebellion must be
regurded as a guarantee of the future.
My past public life, which has been
long and laborious, has been founded, as
l in conscience believe, upon a great prin-
ciple of right, which lies at the basis of
all things The best energies of my life
have been spent in endeavoring to es-
tablish and perpetuate the principles OF
free government. / believe that the gov
eminent in passing through its present
perls will settle down upon principles
consonant with popular rights more per
manent and enduring than heretofore.
l must be permitted to say that if |
understand the feeling of my own heart,
have long labored to ameliOrate and
elevate the condition of the great mass
of the American people An honest ad-
vecacy of the great principle of free GOV
eminent has been my lot The duties
have been mine and the consequences
are Gods This has been the foundation
of my political creed I feel that i'll the
end the government will triumph, and
that these great principles will be perma-
nently established.
In conclusion, gentlemen, let me say
that i want your encouragement and
cOuntenance. | shall rely npon you and
Others i'll carrying the Government
through its present perils. l feel, in
making this request, that it will be re-
sponded to by you and all other patriots.
At the conclusion of his remarks the
President received the kind wishes of
the friends by whom he was surrounded.
A few minutes was devoted to converse
ton Allwere deeply impressed with the
solemnity of the occasion, and the recent
sad occurrence that caused the necessity
for the speedy Inauguration oi the Presi-
dent was gravely discussed. .
The Presidents Funeral 10 take Place
e ea Thersday-Incidenfs of the Last
Day Of his Life.
WASHINGTON, April l6-The corpse
of the late President has been laid out i'm
xho yUb;fa unusa If ia drassad an tha