The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1865-04-20
The lnaus uraliOn Of Presiden1
johnson.

.. Washington. April Is.
Yesterday morning Ger. Speed waited
upon Hon. Andrew JOHNSON and officially
informed him of the sudden and Hnexpect
= ed death of President Lincoln, and stated
that an early hour might be appointed fo
the Inauguration of his successor. The fol
lowing is . copy Of the communication re
ferred to: '-...-. ...... ... ...-.
Washington. April l5.-Sir: Abraham
Lincoln, President Of the United States
was shot BY an assassin last evening q
Ford's theater. in this city, and died at tn
hour Of 7:2s this morning. ..z ....ss.
] About tho same time at which the Presi
dent was shot, IN assassin entered the sicl
chamber Of Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary
Of State, and stabbed him in several places
bers Of the Secretary's family we're danger
ously wounded by the assassin while ma
( king his escape. .,.
By she death of President Lincoln the
office of President has devolved, under the
8Consttution, upon you. The emergency O,
1.-THE Government demands that you should
Immediately qualify according to the re.
I quirements Of the Constitution. and enter
upon the duties of President of the United
States. If you will please make know n
your pleasure, such arrangements as you
deem proper will be made. ..
Your obedient servant,
Hugh McCuloch, Sec'y of Treasury.
K N. Stanton, Secretary of War. .s
g. Welles, Secretary Of the Navy. #
VIM. Dennison, Postmaster General.
Up. Usher, Secretary of the Interior.
James Speed, Attorney General. ..-
To Andrew johnson, Vice President of the
United States. ... ..
Mr. johnson requested that the ceremony
take place at his rooms 4; tho Kirkvood
House IN this city, ct 10 O'Clock in the morn
ing. Hon. s. P. Cha<e. Oh ief Justice OF
the Supreme Cont, was notified of the fac,
and desired to be in attendance to admins
ter the oath Of office at the above named
hour The following gentlemen assembled
in the room to participate in the ceremony.
Hon. 8 P. Chase, Hon. Mccullough. Attor
ney General Speed, F P Blair, Hon. Mont.
eomery Blair, Senator Yates. of Illinois,
Foote, Of Vermont, Romney. of Minnesota.
Stewart. of Nevada. Hale, of New Hamp.
shire, and Gen. Tarnsworth, of Illinois,
After the presentation of the above letter,
the Chief Justice administered the follow
ing oath to Mr.. johnson:
81 do solemnIy swear that will faithfully
execute the Office of President of the Uni.
ted States, and will. to the best of nv sbil.
ity. preserve and protect and defend the
Constitution of the United States"
After receiving the oath, and being de.
c'arsd President Of the United States, Mr..
Johnston remarked: =aa-
Gentlemen, | must be permitted to say
hat have been almost overwhelmed bv
The announcement of the sad event which |
has so recently occurred. feel incompe.
.ent to perform so important and RESPONSE.
Die duties as those which have been so un
sxpectedly thrown upon me. As to an in
iicatlon ofsny policy which may be pursued
~ me in the administration of the Govern.
nent, have t" say that that must be left
or development As the administration pro.
crosses, the message or declaration must be |
made BY acts as they transpire. The outer
assurances tina. can new give of the future
10 reference to the past course which have
AIKEN In the past in connection with this
ehellion, must be regarded as a guarantee
II the future. Nv past public, which has
been long and laborious. has been founded. +
IA in good conscience believe, upon great |
principle Of right which lies at the basis of
III things. The best energies of my life have
been spent in endeavoring to establish and
oerpetua'e the principles of free government
bsiieve that the government in passing
his present peril will settle down principles
with popular rights more perna
'ent and enduring than heretofsra. I must
'e permitted to say. if I am discernant OF
he feelings Of my own heart. have long
abored ~ aneliorate and elevate the condi l
ion Of the great mass of the common people. I
oils and honest advocacy Of the great prin.
iples Of frec government have been nv lot.
he duties have been mine tho conseq ucn.
x ere Gods. This has heed u E,ucd,.