Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1865-04-21
Inaprura,i.n of the New pre.,den,.

and unexpected decrease Of President Lincoln,
and stated that an early hour might be appoint
ed for the inauguration of his successor The
following is copy of the communication re-
ferred to:
Washington, April Is, lS65-Sir: Abraham
Lincoln. President of the United States was shot
by an assassin last evening at Fords Theatre in
this city, aud died at the hour of 1922 O'Clock
this morning. About the same time at which
the President was shot, an assassin entered the
sick chamber of Hon. W. Fl. Seward, Secretary
of State, and stabbed him in several places in the
throat neck and face severely, If not mortally,
wounding him. Other members of the Secreta-
rys family were dangerously wounded by the
assassin while making his escape.
"By the death of President Lincoln, the office
of President has devOlved, under the Constitu-
tion, upon you. The emergency of the Govern
ment demands that you should Immediately
qualify, according to the requirements Of the
Constitution, and enter upon the duties of Pres
ident of the United States. If you will please
make known your pleasure, such arrangements
as you deem proper will be made.
"Your obedient servants
HUGH McCULLoGH,
Secretary of the Treasury,
E. NJ. STANTON,
Secretary of War,
G. WELLEs,
Secretary of the Navy,
VIM. DENNIsoN,
Post Master General,
j. p. 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 at the Kirkwood House,
in this city, at 10 o'clock A. NJ. Hon. S. p.
Chase, Chief Justice Ofthe U. S. Supreme Court,
was notified of the fact, and desired to be lin at
tendance to administer the oath of office.
At the above named hour the following gen.
tlemen assembled in the Vice-President's room,
to participate in the ceremony; Hon. S. p. Chase,
Hon. IL. McCulloch, Attorney General Speed,
F. p. Blair, Hon. Montgomery Blair, Senator
Foote of Vermont, Yates of Illinois, Ramsey of
Minnesota, Stewart of Nevada, Hale of New
Hampshire and Gen. Farnsworth of Illinois,
After the presentation of the above letter, the
Chief Justice administered the oath TO Mr.. john
son.
After receiving the oath and being declared
President of the United States, Mr.. johnson re-
marked:
'Gc,tiemeR: | must be permitted TO say that
have been almost overwhelmed by the an
nouncement of the sad event which has re-
Gently occurred. | feel incompetent TO perform
duties so important aud responsible as those
which have been SO unexpectedly thrown upon
me.
"As to an indication of any policy which may
be pursued by me in the administration of the
Government, have only to say, that that must
be left for development the administration
progresses. The messages or declarations must
be made by the acts as they transpire. The on
ly assurance that can now give of the future is
by reference to the past in connection with this
rebellion must be regarded as guarantee Of the
future. My past public life, which has been
long and laborious, has been founded, as / in
good conscience believe, upon great princi
pie of right which lies at the base of all The
best energies of my life have been spentin en-
deavoring to establish and perpetuate the prn-
ciples of free government. | believe that the
government after passing through the present
peril will settle down upon principles consonant
with popular rights, more permanent and endu-
ring than heretofore.
"I must be permitted to say, if | understand
the feelings of my own heart, | have long labor
ed 10 ameliorate and elevate the condition of the
great mass of the American people. Toll and
an honest advocacy of the great principles of
free government have been my lot. The du-
ties have been mine, the consequences are Gods
This has been the foundation of my political
CTe6u. leel Jndb III tne eDQ Ine government
will triumph and these great principles will be
permanently established
''In conclusion, Gentlemen let me say that
want your encouragement and couutenanee-
shall ask and rely upon you aud others in car
rying the government through its present per-
lis. feel in making this request, that it viii
be heartily responded to by you and all other
patriots and lovers of the rights and interests of
a free people,
At the conclusion of his remarks the Presi-
dent received the kind wishes of the friends by
whom he was surrounded A few minutes were
devoted to conversation All were deeply i'm
pressed with the solemnity of the occasion, and
The recent sad occurrence that caused the neces-
sity for the speedy Inauguration of the Presi-
dent was quietly discussed.
departments in cabinet meeting at the Treasury
building, and among other business the follow
ing was transacted:
lst. The arrangements for the funeral of the
late President were referred to the several Sec
retaries, as far as appertained to their several
Departments.
I'd. VIM. Hunter, ESQ.,, was appointed Acting
Secretary of State during the disability of Mr.
Seward, and his son, Frederick Seward, the As.
sistant Secretary.
Sd. The President formally announced that
he desired TO retain the present Secretaries of
Departments in his Cabinet and that they
would go on and discharge their respective du-
ties in the same manner as before the deplora-
BILE event that had changed the head of the Gov
eminent.
49,