Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1867-01-25
Our National Humiliation.

Our National Humiliation.
The Cincinnati Commercials W ash
ington correspondent, 8 Mack, " gives,
in a recent letter. some interesting in
formation in reference to the national
disgrace brought upon our country by
the present incumbent of the Presi-
Dental chair, on last Inauguration
Day. He says
The Capitol Building was closed
against strangers and visitors at a
very early hour on the morning of the
4th of March, 1865, as is customary, I
believe, IN order to prepare for the IN
augUTatIOn ceremonies. The doors are
opened at 10 o'clock, but only to such
as have previously been supplied with
tickets of admission from the Sergeant
alarms. and these generally include
none but the families of Congressman,
members of the press, and special court
favOrites. On the occasion I refer to,
both Houses had been in session all
night, and had adjourned at about 6
A. M, for breakfast and a nap, to re-
assemble at 10, and finish out the re-
manning two hours of the Thirty eighth
Congress. 1t was after this adjourn
ment that the Capitol Buildings were
sealed against outsiders; even an angel
from heaven, they said, couldn't get in
until after 10, and then only if he had
ticket However, as this class of
visitors seldom stop in Washington on
their mundane travels, there was no
opportunity to test this particular case.
/ had been up all night, and was deter
mined to see all that was to be seen,
despite the red tape and rules of the
Sergeant-at-Arms. Before leaving,
after the o. clock adjournment, I had
left one of the Committee-room win
doWs, In the rear of the building, in a
condition to be opened from the out
side, and returning after breakfast at
about o'clock, hanked the doOr-keep-
ers, and made my way into the Senate
wing in spite Of them. Andy had ar
rived in town the night before tight as
a brick they said, though I guess that's
a Radical SANDER now as it was Cop
perhead slander then. A any rate he
had provided himself or been provided
with a ticket Of admission, and so rigid
were the orders that even he could not
get in till the proper time came, though
the play was the Melancholy Dane, and
he was the star Hamlet of the occa-
sion. Andy got tired of waiting in the
cold outside, [ suppose, for before the
doors were opened he began to prac-
tice one of the tricks he had no doubt
learned from the 'breechy" cows down
In Greenville, only using hands in
stead Of horns, and upon windows in
stead Of fence bars. He had tried
good many to no purpose, when finally
ne reached the window of the Senate
POst-otlce on the east front Forum
ately he saw a friend behind it, and
knocking, it was opened unto him
l was there at the time and saw him
climb in. He was accompanied by a
friend, who was addressed as Doctor, "
and who advised him to be seated and
rest himself. The Doctor then in
quired if there was any good liquor in
the building, saying that "the Gov
ernOr" was quite i'll, and needed some
thing to stimulate him. Ard he was
Ill, too, but from what cause, not being
a Doctor, can t pretend to say, though
the symptoms we're, to an unmedial
eye, very much like those which follow
an iBjudieiOus mixture of liquors.
Andy was really sick, trembling like
an aspen leaf; pale and bilious looking
cradle of all human beings, a man who
suffers all the Nausea of sea sickness,
but can get the heavenly relief of a
square vomit. Mr.. FOrney was imme-
diately sent for, and came to see Andy.
He expressed almost fearful compass
sion for the sufferer, and took him into
his private office, where the bottle was
produced and handed to poor Andy. /
Vice President Hamlin was there too, !
l believe, aud the bottle was passed to
him but he didn't drink, whether |
from conscientious scruples, or because
Andy had taken all, however, / can't /
say. Andy felt much relieved, he said /
so did the bottle, I swear. Pretty /
soon it was suggested that Andy had /
better take another dose, as the first |
had done him so much good. His |
doctor friend didn't like this idea; he /
evidently thought ''the Governor" had T
had enough already; but he said moth I
ing, and the bottle, or another of the I
same sort, was passed. Andy seized it |
ike man who was perfectly at home
on the subject, and emptied the depth
0f about four fingers of it into the +
.umbler, and thence into his throat
That was enough He was a plebeian
.hencefOrWard for the rest of the day.
lie didn't care a continental for for
9ign ministers, cabinet officers, or chief
ustlces-and he soon told them all so
n plain words.
Forney soon discovered the mischief
le had unwittingly done, but it was
90 late to repair it. It was drawing
lose to twelve O'Clock, and the last
shot had struck Andy right astern,
Inshlpped his Tudder, and cut his tiller
Opes all to pieces. He couldn't naYi-
,ate, could hardly even Wabble"
cross the little room in which he had
,een "mendicating. And yet he must
De In the Senate Chamber, standing :
!p to take the oath at twelve precisely.
forney took fast hold of him-helped
nm as best he could to the Vice-Pres-
dents desk, and there seated him by
he side of Mr.. Hamlim. So far, his
was known only to few, and !
here was no reason why the knowl- j
dge of it should extend beyond that q
elect eircle-but that "unruly mem c
er which has since got its owner 9
1tO so many scrapes, was destined to
etray him thus early in his career
ordinarily the Vice President makes =
o Inauguration speech. He takes the
ath of office, and proceeds with the &
uIleS OF EreSlQenb OF the Senate as II o
e had been there a lifetime. But Sc
cor Andy felt that he would be re-
reant to his trust if he didn't saw
just as he had smacked
le Bible in attestation of his love and Z
srYioe to the Constitution, he looked \
-r. Hamlin squarely in the eye, and Il
nd, " Yes, sir, I can eonseientiously
Ike that oath before God. Here r
as the first scene in the little comic I
agedy about to be enacted. The gal =
rles, were filed with ladies, and such b,
chattering as they set up when they oi
card the enchanting remark, so out bl
place on such a grand occasion, has
ever before been heard and never will -
gain, | guess, until Gabriel wakes up
/ the magpies that have lived and n
ed since the year one Andy had a
ken the oath and was now Vice
resident. Even this extra official as
.Veration might have passed without
uch notice, but, alasl that tongue of o
is was bound to ruin him. Standing
p directly behind the Vice Presidents i,
9sk, and facing the assembled multi
.de Of judges, Senators, Cabinet min