American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-02-21
Celebration OF Lineoln's s Birthday.
WASHINGTON. Feb. IL.

including the Capitol, are at half mast to
day. At ten o'clock the doors leading to
the rotunda of the Capitol were open to
those to whom invitations had been ex-
tended by the presiding officers of .he
two houses, and to those holding tickets
Of admission to the galleries, issued by
the chairman of the joint committee OF
arrangements. The hall of the House Of
Representatives was opened for the ad-
mission of Representatives and those to
whom Invitations had been extended be.
fSre being conducted to the seats assigned
to them.
The President of the United States
ives seated in front of the speakers ia.
BILE. The Chief Justice and associate
justices Of the Supreme Court of the
United States occupied seats next to the
President, and on the right of the Speak.
er's table The heads of Departments
with Diplomatic Corps, occupied seats
next to the President, on the left of the
Speakers table, Officers of the army and
navy, who by name have received the
thanks ofCongress, occupied seats next
to the SUPP eme Court.
Un the right of the Speakers table
representatives occupied seats on either
side of the hall, in the rear of those invi
ted. -Four rows on either side of the
main aisles, for Senators, in addition tc
those above mentioned, were the assist
ant Heads of the Departments, Cover
nors of States and Territories, the MAY.
ors of Washington and Georgetown, ths
Chief Justices and Judges Of the Court
of Claims, and the Chief Justice and as
sociate Judges of the Supreme Court oi
the District Of Columbia, the heads of bl
reaus in the departments, and Others.
When Lieut.. General Grant entered
the gallery, with the ladies, he was greet,
ed with applause.
The army an navy officers were in uni.
form. The Diplomatic Corps appeared
in citizens dress.
Cen. b. L. Butler, on entering the
Hall was appladded by his friends.
The House was called to order at
twelve o'clock by the Speaker, who, sf
ter q prayer by the Rev. Mr.. Boynton
laid before them letter from Secretary
Seward, addressed to the Speaker, ma.
king his acknowledgement for the ivita.
ton to be present on this occasion, bu,
sincerely regrstting that the state of his
health forbids his attendance on the in
teresting national ceremonies. The Cab.
met, excepting Mr.. Seward, were pres.
ent.
Senator Doolittle conducted the orator
of the day to seat at the table Of the
Clerk ofthe House. When the Senators,
the President and his cabinet and the
Supreme Court entered the Hall those on
the floor rose to their feet and stood until
they we're all seated. Every scat in the
Hall was occupied. The scene was brill.
iant an imposing, and apart from the
solemn occasion, it was interesting from
the fact that here we're represented all
branches of the General and State Gov.
ernments, with the ministers from foreign
governmonments, these and thousands of
others meeting and paying their tributes
to the memory ofthe illustrious dead
The Marine Band in the rear of the
reporters gallery, performed solemn air
from the opera OLA Travatore, when DR..
Boynton, the Chaplain of the House, de-
livsred prayer. Hon. Lafayette S.
Foster, President of the Senate pro tenn,
called the House to order in few per-
tinent remarks. He introduced the Hon.
George Bancroft, who delivered the me-
mortal address.