Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-03-11
Inauguration Ceremony
PRESIDENT GRANTS AD-
!. 00E00 A
A Large Crowd Present.
The inauguration Ceremonies.

Almost exactly at twelve o'clock, Gen.
Grant and Mr.. Colfax entered the Senate
Chamber, side by side, escorted BY Sena-
tors McCrery and Cragin. Gen. Grant
and his escort took seat in front of the
desk of the journal clerk of the Senate.
Mr.. Colfax advanced to the presiding
officers desk, and Mr.. Wade then said !:
The Vice-President of the United States
will advance and be lnaugurated.
Mr.. Colfax stepped to the desk and
spoke as follows
SENATOR'S: In entering upon the
duties in this chamber, to the perform
ance of which / have been called by the
people of the United States, realize fully
the delicacy as well as the responsible
ties of the position, presiding over body
whose members are in so large degree
my seniors in age, and not chosen by the
body itself, shall certainly need the as
sistance of your support and your gener-
Gus forbearance and confidence, but pledg-
ing to you all faithful and infiexible
impartiality in the administration OF
your rules, and earnestly desiring to CO.
operate Win YOU III lldhiuS LILO otiioci-
atoms OF. the Senate worthy, not only OF
its historical renown, but also of the
States whose commissions you hold. |
am now ready to take the oath of office
required by law.
The oath of office was then administer
ed to Mr.. Colfax by Mr.. Wade, who i'm
mediately declared the fortieth Congress
adjourned sine die.
Mr.. Colfax called the Senate to order
and announced that the Senators elect
would then be sworn in. Their names
were called and they advanced, four at a
time, and took the oath. When this had
been done the sergeant-at-arms ANNOUNCE
ed the order of proceeding to the plat
form at the East of the rotunda, as fol-
lows: The President and Vice-President,
Judge of the Supreme Court, the diplo-
matte corps, &c.
The immense crowd in the galleries at
the same time made rush, and the halls
and corridors were for few minutes in
inextricable confusion. The procession
then left the Senate chamber in the order
indicated. Most of the Senators having
returned to the chamber, the session was
resumed at 12.45 pm, and five minutes
on motion of Mr.. Trumbull,
the Senate adjourned until 70 o'clock to-
morrow.
a few moments after Gen. Grant and
a. he.
Senate chamber, immense cheers from
without and outbursts of music from
dozen bands announced his appearance on
the platform. Here was gathered the
greatest multitude that ever witnessed an
The drizzliug rain, which
seemingly had not dampened at all the
enthusiasm of the immense throng, ceased
for while, and the sun burst forth bril-
liant and beautiful, lighting up a scene of
dazzling splcndor. The surging crowd,
who had all along preserved admirable
iecorum,I subsided into profound silence
r. the President elect and the Chief JUS
ice of the United States rose simultane-
ously, and the latter commenced in clear
aad solemn tones TO recite the formula of
the Presidential oath Of office. which Gen.
Grant reverentially took aud became Pre-
sident of the United States for the next
ensuing four years. The boom of the
cannon and the shouts of the vast multi
Lude burst forth with deafening sound as
be took his seat, and cheer after cheer
went up with volume Of tone which
almost rendered inaudible the deep re-
ports of the cannon and the ringing of
bells throughout the city. Partial quiet
having been restored, the President then
arose and proceeded to read from manu-
script his inaugural address, as follows
CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES:
Your suffrages having elected me TO the
office of President of the United States, /
have, in conformity with the Constitu
office prescribed therein. | have taken
this oath without mental reservation, and /
with the DISCRIMINATORY do TO the best of
my ability, all that it requires of me.
The responsibilities Of the position | feel,
but accept them without fear The office
has come 10 mo unsought. | commence
its duties untrammelled. | bring to it
desire and determination to
fill it to the best of my ability, and to the
of the people. On all leading
questions, agitating the public mind |
will always express my views to Congress,
and urge them according to my judgment:
and when | think it advisable. will exer-
else the constitutional privilege of inter-
posing q veto to defeat measures which
ecuted, whether they NEST my approval
or not ! shall, on all subjects, have
policy to recommend, none to enforce
against the will of the people. Laws are
to govern all alike: hose opposed to, as
well as those in favor Of them. | know
no method TO secure the repeal of bad or
obnoxious laws so effective as their strin-
gent execution. The country having just
emerged from great rebellion, many
questions will come before it for settle
ment, in the next four years, which
preceding administrations have never
had to deal with In meeting
these, it is desirable that they should
be appreciated calmly without
prejudice, hate or sectional pride, remem-
bering that the greatest good to the great
est number is the object to be attained
This requires security of person, property,
and for religious and political opinion in
every part of our common country, with
out regard to local prejudice. All laws to
secure this end will receive my best
efforts for their enforcement A great
debt has been contracted in securing to us
and our posteritY the Union. The pay