The Portland daily press., 1869-03-04
Washington NIeIangc.

To-day being the time, long and anxiously
expected, when Ulysses S. Grant is to be in
augurated as the 18th President of the United
States, the various items of fact and rumor
concerning this event of transeendent impor-
tance will be of interest, as we'll as matters
relating TO the closing scenes of the 4Oth Con-
gress
All that is known of Grants inaugural at
present is that it is characterstcally brief, not
covering more than have dozen pages of
manuscript, and that be takes decided ground
against reputation and in favor of the consti-
tutional amendment. The address will not be
put into type before delivery, and consequent
ly the press will get no advance copies
It is supposed that ON Friday or Saturday
General Grant will nominate Sherman for
General and Sheridan for Lieutenant-Gen-
eral.
The following are the remarks of Mr.. Dawes
at the Republican caucus, Withdrawing from
the contest for the Speakership and nominat-
ing Mr.. Blaine for that position:
Mr.. ChGirnaan,-The Office of Speaker of the
American House of Representatives is worthy
the highest ambition. The third in rank uL-
der the Constitution, it has become in the econ
omy of our administration, second in honor
and power only to that of the President. This
distinction is not little due to the illustrious
names associated with the discharge of its
difficult and delicate duties, most conspicuous
amongst which is that of the distinguished
gentleman now about to retire SO gracefully
from its responsibilities and honors. 1t was,
therefore, to me, q matter of unaffected diff
dence, but of unfeigned qualification also, that
any considerable number of the members of
the Forty-frst Congress considered me worthy
of that high position. But when it became
evident 10 me that the selection of another
would be likely to he more acceptable to ma
jority of those members, no earthly considera-
tion could induce me 10 longer occupy the po-
sition of a candidate. ] embrace this oppor-
tunity to publicly express my deep obligations
to those whose Dartality l have enjoyed. 1t
only remains for me to discharge the pleasant
duty OF giving expression to the choice which
has thus become unanimous. do this, sir, in
the full assurance that the Office will lose in
the future none of that dignity or lustre which
has distinguished it in the past. With these
remarks it is hardly necessary for me to say
that l rise to move, as / now do, the nominal
ton by acclamation of the Hon. James G.
Blaine of Maine for Speaker of the Forty first
Congress.
At the same caucus Mr.. Mcpherson was
made the nominee for clerk by vote of 83, TO
26 for Mr. Eckley of Ohio and 20 for Mr.. Nc
Kee of Kentucky. Mr.. Ordway again carried
the nomination for sergeant alarms by rs
against 81 for Washburne of Indiana, and Mr..
Buxton was nominated for doorkeeper by SO
against % for Mr.. Collins, who was presented
by Mr.. Logan as the candidate of the Grand
Army oil the Republic. No nomination for
postmaster was made, the vote standing,-for
Mr.. King, the present incumbent, So; for Mr..
Given, former incumbent, 62; and for Mr..
Lucas, 8. The contest for this place will
therefore have to be settled in the House.
The impatient public must wait till Friday,
at least, before learning the names of the gem
temen who are to compose the new Cabinet.
The President elect said, a few days ago, in
explanation of his reasons for keeping his
Cabinet secret that few of the Presidents
who had done otherwise had been successful
in forming their Cabinets as they desired and
cited among others Mr. Lincoln, declaring
that, of the original Cabinet list prepared by
him in 1861, only two were permitted to take
their portfolios. All the rest were dictated 10
him by party leaders and interests.
The appropriation bills will probably all be
passed, though some of them are being amend
ed in the Senate and hers are being eonsid-
cred in committee of conference. 1t is not
certain whether the Senate may not yet con-
cur with the House in repeating the tenure-of-
Office act
At the reception at the White House Tues
day evening, or "Andy's Wake" as it is called,
there was no disorder, but perfect lack of
order, and the surging crowd separated sever
al ladies from the gentlemen who escorted
them. Others had their dresses almost torn
off them, and others were glad to escape from
the windows of the East Room. Never has
such mob been known at the White House.
General Grant Tuesday morning received
stout and handsome broom by express from
Ohio, which furnished good many callers an
opportunity for repeating an old saw, which
will readily occur to everybody.