Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1869-03-02
Inauguration of President Grant


took the seat provided for him directly in front
of the centre, Vice President Coliax and the
Sergeant alarms lin charge OF the ceremo-
nies) sitting en- his right, and the Chief JUS
tee of the Supreme Court on his left
The Senate Committee Of Arrangements
were near at hand, and the next in the rear the
Associated Justices Of the Supreme Court oc~
cupied the seats On the left, and members and
the Secretary Of the Senate on the right The
Diplomatic Corps were to have occupied the
seats next in the rear of the Supreme Court,
but they were not sufficiently alert to prevent
themselves from being crowded into the back
ground by the members of the House of Rep
resentatives, enterprisng correspondents and
others, who secured the foremost places re-
naming, and left the diplomats to take their
chances with the officers of the army and navy
and others on the steps and portlco, where,
perhaps they Jared better, being less crowded,
and having a better view of the surroundings
and general scene The rain had ceased, and
though the atmosphere was damp and heavy,
the weather seemed to have no chilling effect
upon the general enthusiasm The ground OPP
posite and the streets adjoining were packed
with human beings some of whom were at
least quarter Of a mile distant, watching the
scene with intense interest. Men, women and
children were promiscuously crowded. many Of
them having stood patiently in the mud for
several hours. All around the Capitol were
dense throngs. The windows looking out upon
the scene were of course all crowded.
IL, o1 4bo apfa
sive wings, the lower part Of the dome and
other prominent points exhibited their clusters
of spectators, and men and beys were seen In
numbers perched upon the projecting limbs,
and clinging to the topm0st boughs of the
trees in the opposite public squares In fact
every available point and perch of observation
was made use Of with the exception Of the
street or avenue directly in front Of the Capt.
tol, which was occupied, but not crowded. with
the various military and civic organizations
which had composed the procession, and were
now drawn up in open order to witness the
ceremonies The crowds elsewhere surged and
swayed to and fro, and several fierce disputes
took place about conflicting claims to standing
room, but the policemen and guards moving in
all directions succeeded admirably in enforcing
due decorum, and no difficulty Of serious or
unpleasant nature occurred so far as known
,Sear General Grant, and little behind him,
sat Mrs Grant accompanied by her sisters,
Miss Sharp and Mrs CasIy, her sister-in law,
Mrs General Dent, and her children, Misses
Jennie and Nellie, and Masters Fred. and i.
s., Jr. The shouts and bursts of music from
dozen bands, with which the appearance OF
the chief actors In the coming drama had been
greeted, subsidized and died away to stiffness as
the President elect and the Chief Justice OF
the United States rose simultaneously, and the
latter commenced in clear and solemn tones
to recite the formula of the Presidential oath
of office, which Gen. Grant rcverentially took,
and became President of the United States for
the next ensuing four years.
The boom Of the cannon and the shouts Of
the vast multitude burst forth with deafenng
sound as he took his seat, and cheer after cheer
went up with volume Of tone which almost
rendered inaudbe the. deep reports of the
cannon.
Partial quiet having been restored the Pres
ident then arose and proceeded to read from
the manuscript his inaugural address, as fol
lows:
General Grants Inaugural Address.
Citizens of tie United States;
Your suffrage having elevated ME to the of
fee Of President OF the United States, | have
in conformity with the Constitution of our
country, taken the oath of office prescribed
therein: have taken this oath without men
Ii,E<p
do to the best of my ability all that it requires
The responsibilities Of the position | feel, bu
accept them without fear The office has come
to me ungought-I commence It's duties un'
trammelled. bring to it a conscientious dc
sire and determination to fill it to the best O
my ability and to the satisfaction OF the people
Gn all the leading questions agitating the pub
lie mind / Will always express my views TO Con
gfeSs and urge them according to my judg
ment, and when think it advisable will exer
else the constitutional privilege Of interposins
4 veto to defeat measures which | oppose But
all laws will be faithfully executed, whethel
they meet my approval Or not. / shall on al
subjects have Il policy to recommend, but none
to enforce against the will Of the people Laws
are to govern all alike-those opposed to as
well as those who favor them. | know ne
method to secure the repeal Of bad or obnox-
ious laws so effective as their stringent egecu
ton. The country having just emerged from
great rebellion, many questions will come be-
fore it for settlement In the next four years
which preceding Administrations have never
had to deal with. In meeting these it is desi,
rable that they should be approached calmly
without prejudice, hate or sectional pride, re-
memberlng that the greatest good to the great
est number Is the object to be attained This
requires security OF person, property, and fo1
religious and political opinion In every part oi
our common country without regard to local
prejudlces. All laws to secure the ends will
receive my best efforts for their enforcement.
4 great debt has been contracted In securing to
us and our posterity the Union The payment
of this principal and interest as we'll rs the
return to specie basis as soon as it can be ac-
complIshcd without material deriment to the
debtor class, or to the country at large must
be provided for. To protect the national hon
or every dollar Of Government Indebtedness
should be paid in gold, unless otherwise ex-
pressly stipulated in the contract
Let it be understood that no rapudiator of
one farthing of our public debt will be trusted in
public place. and it will go far towards strength
ening credit which ought to be the best in
the world, and will ultimately enable US to re-
place the debt with bonds bearing less interest
than we now pay. 70 this should be added a
faithful collection Of the revenue, a strict ac-
countabllity to the Treasury for every dollar
collected, and the greatest practicable retrench-
ment In expenditure in every department of
Governments. When we compare the paying
capacity OF the country now-with ten States
still in poverty from the effects of war, but soon
to emerge, | trust, into greater prosneritv than