Pomeroy weekly telegraph. [volume] (Pomeroy, Meigs County, Ohio) 1860-1866, 1865-04-27
Inaugural Ceremony OF Andrew
... Johnson, .H..

Yesterday morning Attorney General Speed
waited upon Hon. Andrew Johnson, Vice
President of the United States, and officially
informed him of the sudden and unexpected
decease of President Lincoln, and stated that
an early moment might be appointed for the
inauguration Of his successor The following
is copy Of the communication referred to:
''Tp ".'.o. WAsHlsaroS, April l5
SlR:--Abfaham Lincoln, President fEthe
United States, was shot BY an assassin last
evening, at Fords Theater, in this city, and
died at the hour 7:22 this morning. About
the same time at which the President was
shot, an assassin entered the sick chamber of
Hon. W. II. Seward, Secretary Of State, and
stabbed him in several places in the throat,
neck and face, severely, if not mortally
woundihg him. Other members of the Sec
retary's 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-
ton, upon you. The emergency Of the Gov
ernment demands that you should immediate
ly qualify, according to the requirements of
the constitution, and enter upon the duties Of
the President 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 MoCULLocH, Secretary of the Treas
1' EDWIN NJ. STANTON, Secretary of War.
&c. WELLS, Secretary of the Navy 30.
WM DENNlsoN, Postmaster General 'e
j. P. USHER, Secretary Of the Interior.
JAMES SPEED, Attorney General
To Andrew johnson, Vice President of the
Z United States ~'oH
Dr. Mt. johnson requested the ceremony 10 take
place at his rooms at the Kirkwood House, in
this city, at 10 o clock in the morning. Hon.
81 p Chase, Chief Justice of the United States
Supreme Court, was notified Of the fact, and
desired to be in attendance to administer the
oath of Office: At the above-named hour the
following gentlemen assembled in the Vice
Presidents room to participate in the cere.
mony: a' .'.t '.'.
4 Hon. s. P. Chase, Hon. Il. MUCull6ch At
torney General Speed, F. p. Blair, Hon. Mont
gomery Blair, Senators Foot, Of Vermont,
Yates, Of Illinois, Ramsey, Of Minnesota,
Stewart, of Nevada, Farnsworth, Of Illinois
After the presentation Of the above letter, the
Chief Justice administered the following oath
TO Mr.. johnson .... ..,....,. E,.. -.
~ do solemnly swear, that will faithfully
execute the office of President Of the United
States, and will, to the best of my ability, pre-
serve, protect and defend the Constitution Of
the Uhited States, IN. ,.-5,,,s.,,. ~, 3.
After receiving the oath and being declar-
ed President Of the United States Mr. John.
son remarked: e.gall 'ns5sa.1f i71''7I"F
+ " GENTitMEs:--I nihst be permitted to say
I have been almost overwhelmed by the an
nouncement Of the sod event which has 60 re-
GENTLY occurred i feel Incompetent to per-
form the duties 30 important and responsible
as those which have been 60 Unexpectedly
thrown upon me- .H.g.1 g.J.f.s.
"As 70 an indication of any policy which
may be porsued by me in the administration
Of the Government, / have to say that that
must be left for development as the admisis-
tration progresses. The message or declara-
tion must be made by the acts 40 they tran
spire pc q 1esA " 's.'1 ma BINS ''o's
"A q The only assurance thstf can pew give
of the future is reference 70 the psAt The
course which have taken in the past, ID CON
nection with the rebellion must be regarded
as guarantee Of the f,tufes My past public
life, which has been lohg and laborious, has
been founded, as in good Conscience believe,
upon great principle Of right which lies at
the basis Of all things. This best energies Of
! H. N