White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1865-03-30
snectacIe Of Our New Vice.
INC Rrezldeut. -z--1~

President.
A.. the hour of twelve approaches.
va President Hsmlin takes his leave Of
~" senate in fewfitly -worded sentences.
"a Introduces his red-faced and confused
successor.
What followed one might we'll seek to
.sc.pe rscounting; but this thing was not
dome in q corner. The man was the Vice.
President elect; the time was the hour for
his inauguration; the post be was to asu-
ma was that of the second executive Of
fcer of great people; be appeared in the
nresence Of brilliant audience. gathered
from every quarter of the land-of our
own highest dignitsries, and of the psr
sonsl representatives of the powers Of
Chris.endom.. Then and there and thus
this man stood. to say, with many q re-
petition and many an error of grammar,
that the Constitution of the United
States was q striking instrument; that be
felt here before the Senate to day that be
was q man and an American citizen; that
this was = proud illustration that man
could rise from the ranks to the second
place in the gift Of the American people:
that Senators and Supreme Court and
Cabinet should know. and he wonld tell
them. that they were the mere creatures
of the people.
You. Mr.. Chief Justice Chase. though
you are now so high in place, your OK
altation and position depend upon the
people. And l will say to you. MIR. Sec
rotary Seward. and to you. Mr.. Secretary
Stanton, and to you Mr.. Secretary. to
. gentleman near by. soto voce. "who is
the Secretary of the Navy?" The person
addressed replies. Mr.. Welles, and to
you, Mr.. Secretary Welles. l would say
you ali derive your power from the people!
I want to say it. to all who hear me, in
the face of the American people that oil
power is derived from the people. Isay,
in the presence of yon. foreign ministers,
for l am going to tell the truth. here to-
day, that / am q plebeisn. 1t is the
popular heart Of this nation that is beat
ing to sustain Cabinet officers and the
President of the United States.
All this aud much more, with cleuch.
ed fists and veheme nt gesticulstions; while
Senators and Supreme Judges, and the
Representatives. now filing 10, hung their
heads; and the Foreign Ministers looked
agaps with open eyed amazement. Vice.
President Hamlin. who had restlessly
borne it thus far. now whispered, "Mr.
johnson. you mast conclude: the prescrib-
ed time for adjourning the Senate has ar
rived" But the food was not to be so
STAYED.
More vehemently than ever the Vice
President elect resumed. He came from
Tennessee. He thanked God for it. He
thanked God Tennessee was q State 10
the Union. and had never been out TIL
State Government had been discontinued
for time; there had been an intsrregnum.
hiatus, but she had never been ont of the
Union. He stood here to-day as her re-
preventative. On this day she would
elect Governor and Legislature. and
she would very soon send Senators and
members to Congress.
And go on, again. with iteration and
amplIica.ioD. AT last the ratiring Vice
President would wait no longer; and in q
peremptory and audibl whisper. he assur,
ed the Vice President elect that the Senate
had to be adjourned. and that If Mr.. John
son wouldn't stop to take the oath. he
must 60 without it! This checked the
orat0ry, and he swore the oath, with
flourish called the Senate to order again,
in extra session, and sank into his seat.
The proclamat ION was read. and the new
or newly elected Senators came forward
to take the oath. ex- Secretary Fessenden
conspicuous am ,ng tn m. Ia, Vice
President approached. with the Bible. to
administer the oath; but. as If Of infrm
purpose. changed his mind, and began an
effort to shake hands with all of them
At last, Col. Forney. the Secretary Of the
Senate, ended the scene by coming for
ward and administering the oath HIMSELF
-"AaArE," in the Gazette.