The Daily empire. (Dayton, Ohio) 1865-1867, 1866-02-13
The Lincoln Funeral Ceremonies
in Washington.
Especial to Cincinnati Enquircrl


The lincoln memorial ceremonies, under
the auspices of Congress, took place at the
Capital to-day, this being the anniversary
of the birth of the lamented President.
The rain began to pour down about mid
night and continued increasingly until this
afternoon-long after the hall of the House
was densly packed. About two-thirds of
the audience in the gallery was composed
of elegantly dressed ladies, and ! did not
notice more than u half-dozen negroes min
gled In the vast assembly.
Somehow or other, the negroes did not
receive the usual special attention, in the
way of tickets from their friends, the rad
ical members of Congress. Among the dis
tinguished persons present, were the Pres
ident, the members of the Cabinet save Mr..
Seward, who was i'll and excused, his alb
sence in letter, the Judge of the Supreme
Court, the Diplomatic Corps and about
fifty officers of the army and navy. Gen
eral Grant occupied seat next in front of
General Butler and the over-curiOus OBJ
servers thought they saw something no
ticeable in theirmutlial glanccs. Promptly
at twelve o'clock, the Speakers gavel fell
and the assemblage was called to order.
Prayer was offered by Reverend Doctor
Boynton, Chaplain of the House of Repre-
sentatives. The clapptng OF hands from
time to time indicated the arrival of per-
sonages of note; such applause was given
upon the entrance of Mrs. Grant and the
daughter of the President, Mrs. Patterson
and Mrs. Slower. A hearty round of ap-
plause denoted the presence of General
Grant at eleven minutes past twelve
o'clock. The Senate of the United States
was announced, and the members of that
body were shown to their seats in the CEN
ter of the hall. Next was announced the
President and his Cabinet, and they too
were escorted TO seats Immediately in front
to the left of the Speaker, all being present
but Mr.. Seward.
Next was introduced the Supreme Court
of the United States, who were draped in
black gowns, and were placed to the i'm
mediate right front of the Speaker. Upon
the entrance of each of these bodies the as
semblage, at u rap of the Speakers gavel,
rose until the visiting party was placed !;
at two raps of the gavel they resumed their
seats. Is
With the Senate came the orator of the
day, Hon. George Bancroft, a slim, gold
specialized gentleman, of literary look, and
whose gray hair was quite closely croppen.
He was shown TO seat, in front of the
Speaker.
The audience being placed, the exercises
were commenced by the performance, in
exquisite style, by the Marine Band, thirty
six pieces, headed by Prof, Scala, of the
MiSerere from II IfOUdtOre. The band was
stationed in the hall in the rear of the re-
porters' gallery, and the mournful music
penetrated into the main hall with eX-
quisite chastencd effect. The President of
the Senate, Hon. l., s. Foster, then called
the two Houses to order, and, in we'll
timed brief speech, introduced the orator
of the day.
Mr.. Bancroft's Grafton occupied two
hours and halfin its delivery. Some pas
sages Of it have excited remark, as being in
exceeding bad taste for the occasion, cspe-
cially the filings at the English and French
Governments, and the rather ill-natured
reference to Judge Taney's decision in the
Dred Scott case. To Judge Taney the ora
tor inferentially attributed the reduction OF
the negro to bondage in the five States, and
the foundation of school for the enslave-
ment of the African, socially, morally and
politically.
These eXtraneous matters, IL is believed,
neither adorned nor added TO the merits of
Mr.. Bancroft's Grafton, but could have been
omitted without loss to the audience, and
with credit to the orator.