Sioux City register. [volume] (Sioux City, Iowa) 1858-1871, 1865-03-25
THE NATIONAL DISGRACE-.lNAU
DURATION OF DIR U N KEN VICE
PRESIDENT.

PREslDENT.
Andrew Johnson, Vice President elect
Of the United States, presented himself
for inauguration on the 4.h inst, in state
Of beast'y intoxication. Much ~ We might
desire to conceal 90 d,sgrsceful fact
from the eyes Of the world It i no. in our
power to do 20. Assembled there were
the various departments OF the Govern
ment, . grand concourse Of people from
every part Of the country, visitors from
foreign lands, aud the ministers of foreign
courts. In the presence Of all he appear.
ed, after dsbauch Of two weeks dura.
ton, on the very verge Of idiocy, and
poured forth for half gu hour the gibber.
ish Of a mind made imbecils by long con.
tinued drunken debauchery. A correspou.
dent Of the Cincinnati Gazette gives 10
the particulars, and describes bis manner
as being far more disgusting and disgrace.
full than his words. With clenched fists
and wild gesticulations he presented him
self to that august assemblage, vehemen.ly
inviting their attention 10 himself - .
"prcud illust ration of the fact that man
could rise from the ranks to the second
place in the gift Of the American people,
As he proceeded every American in the
assemblage hung his head in shame, and
foreigners stood agape with wonder. At
last, Vice President Haulin, who had
restlessly borne it thus far, whispered,
"Mr. Johnson, you must conclude ; the pre-
scribed time for adjourning the Senate has
arrived" But the drunken brawler would
not "down." He continued With greater
vchemence than before, repeating wha. he
had already said, numbering the Kings
English, aud making his horrible condi.
ton apparent to ,hs most distant specta.
tor. "At last says an eye witness Of the
scene, 1.-The retiring Vice President would
wait no longer; and in peremptory aud
audible whisper, hs assured the Vice Pre-
S'uo"' e'0Ss 'uos tuc SeHotc uau W DC du-
journed, and that if Mr.. Johnson wouldn't
stop aud take the oath, he must 60 with
out it! This checked the oratory, and he
swore the oath. with flourish called the
Senate to order again, in extra session.
and sank into his seat. The proclamation
WAS read, and the new or newly elected
Senators came forward to take the oath,
tx Secretary Fessenden conspicuous
among them. The Vice President up.
preached, with the Bible, to administer
the oath but, as II Of in6rm purpose,
changed his mind, and began an efFor. to
shake hands With oil Of them. At last,
Col. Forney. the Secretary Of the Senate,
ended the scene BY couing forward Add
administering the oath himself!'
Our Cincinnati exchange SAY tha. be
made similar exhibition Of himself 10
that city when on bis WAS to Washington,
but the press chari.sbly refrained from
giving publicity to the disgrac.fal fact
But the disgusting scene At the Inaugural
ton, as the Gazette says, cannot be GOV.
cred up as a private infrmily. Il va. ex.
hiLited before the world. We have to dis,
cuss it Is public calamity. and as
national insult and disgrace which de.
mands relief Mr.. Johnson should at once
resign the place he has 60 disLonorea, and
in which be can never have the respect of
any American citizen, and should retire TO
private life, where his wallowing will DO.
foul no one but himself. The nation can.
not suffer the dishonor that q man who
was inaugurased drunk, who driveled over
the Holy Book as he took the oath of office
and shamed the nation in the eyes Of the
world. should sit to preside over the Sen.
ate aud represent The second executive
Office And it cannot afford to keep open
the risk of such all alternative in cass of
the death or disability Of the President
Mr.. Johnson hos exhibited to the world
his un6saess for his presen. position, and
be has dishonored the institutions of his
country. He should make the only repa.
ration in bis power.
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TIL r sENATORSHlP.