The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1865-03-30
PRESIDENTS OF THE U. STATES.
Inaugural Ceremonies in the Past.

The Inauguration of President Lincol
i had five precedents by which it could
conducted, Washington, Jefferson, Mad
son, Monroe and Jackson were the onl
Executives who received the same mar
of popular confidence which the Amer
can people have recently extended to A
braham Lincoln. Since the foundatio
of our Government there have been bu
six reflections, and to but six of ou
Presidents has been allowed the honor @
reading two inaugural addresses.
The Inauguration of George Washington
The fourth of March, 1889, was seIec
ted as the day on which the new system
of government was to go into operation
but owing to delays incident in SO radi
cal change in the national life, the
christening was postponed until the 30tf
of April. The original intention was thai
on the 9th the oath should administered
but suddenly there arose out Of the expi
ring embers of aristocratic sentiment Q
question as to the title of the President
elect. Should it be His Honor, His
Grace, His Excellency, or should more
regal title be allowed the first in war, first
in peace, and the first in the hearts of bis
countrymen.' For three days the excite
mcnt in Congress was intense, the debate
waxed warm, when suddenly member
rose and moved that John Adams, the
Vice President elect, should be styled his
''superfuous Excelency."
The absurdity of a fixed titlo&n re-
public was at once perceived, and it was
agreed to term him merely "The Presi-
dent of the United States" This vital
difficulty having been obviated, the in
auguration was then decided to be cele-
brated. At 9 o'clock on the morning of
the 30th, religious services were held in
all the churches of New York, and prayer
put up to heaven for blessings on the new
government and the man of the people S
choice. At noon all the troops in the
city were paraded before the Generals
door, and soon after various committees
of-Congress and heads of the department
called in their carriages to form an escort
to conduct the President elect to the place
of ceremony.
At halfpast II the procession moved
forward. First came the troops, with
banners streaming, the band playing the
national airs; next came the long line of
carriages, containing the Committee and
members Of Congress, the Heads of the
various Departments just appointed to
their posts, and then Washington in a
coach of state, drown by six milk-white
horses, beautifully comparisoned next
Colonel Humphreys and Mr. Lear, of the
Generals private military family, while a
long line of Foreign Ministers and citi-
zens closed the imposing concourse.
A short distance before reaching the
Hall, Washington and his suite alighted
and passed through the troops drawn up
on each side into the Senate Chamber,
where John Adams, the Vice President,
just inaugurated, together with the full
Senate aud House of Representatives,
were assembled to receive him. The
Vice President advanced and conducted
him to the chair of State, placed at the
upper end of the Hall, all the members
present standing. A solemn silence pre-
vailed, when the Vice President rose and
informed him that all things were pre-
pared for him to take the oath of Office
required by the Constitution. The oath
was to be administered in balcony in
front of the Senate Chamber, and in full
view of an immense multitude, occupying
the streets, the windows, and even cover
ing the roofs of the adjacent houses.
In the centre of the balcony was placed
a table with crimson covering of velvet,
on which lays superbly bound Bible
"This," remarks Irving, "was all the par
aphernalia of the august seene." The
focus towards which all eyes were turned
was the balcony, and when at the appoin-
ted time Washington, accompanied by all
the high public functionarics, and mem
bers of Congress, appeared, he was hailed
by universal shouts Marshall states that
/ he was clad in full suit of dark brown
cloth of American manufacture, with a
steel hilted dress sword, white silk stock
ings, and silver shoe buckets, shorts be-
ing in the heighth of fashion. His hair
was powdered and dressed in the fashion
of the day, and worn in a bag and soh.
| tdire.
The cheers which greeted his entrance
moved him greatly, and advancing, he
laid his hand on his heart and bowed sew
eral times. A profound silence eusued
After few moments Washington came
forward, supported on his right by Johr
Adams, the Vice President, and left by
Robert r. Livingstone, Chancellor OF th'
State of New York; directly behind then
stood Roger Sherman, Hamilton, Gener
ais Knox, st. Clair, and the Baron Steu
ben.
The Chancellor advanced to administe
the oath and Mr. Otis held up his Bibl
on rich cushion. The oath was rea'
slowly and distinctly. AS the Chancello
read the solemn words. IL do solemn,
swear that will faithfully execute tn
Office of President Of the United States t.
the best of my ability, preserve, protec
and defend the Constitution of the Uni
ted States" death-like silence prevailed