The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-03-06
WHEELING, WEST VA, SATURDAY MORNING, MARCH 1869

and Clifford in front. They took the
The chairs on the left were to have
been filled by Mr.. johnson and his
Cabinet, but they remained vacant all
day. General Grant and Mr.. Colfax,
were received from the procession by
Senators Cragin end McCreery OF the
Committee, who were in the rear rooms
and now came in with Mr.. Wade and
Mr.. Cragin, another Senator being in
the chair for the moment, to relieve
Mr.. Wade. There was buzz Of delight
at their entrance.
Mr.. Wade took his place, raped to
order and true to himself, instead of
asking Colfax to come forward and
take the oath OF Office, directed him to
advance and be inaugurated, whereat
there was smile among the Senators.
Mr.. Colfax took the oath modestly, and
with feeling said the few words he had
to say, and then Mr.. Wade declared the
Senate adjourned without vote.
Mr.. Colfax took up the ivory gaVel as
1t was laid down by his predecessor,
and at once called the new Senate to
order. General Grant was seated in
front of the Chief Justice, facing the
whole house, apparently as calm and
unconcerned as If in his own office. He
was dressed in a plain and simple suit
OF black. The new Senators came for
sworn, and then the Vice e-President
directed the officers to lead the way to
the rotunda and platform. The persons
on the floor went. out In accordance
with the order of the day, except as
this was varied by the failure of the
House of Representatives to get into
the Senate chamber. The people rush.
ed headIong down stairs only to find
that nobody could go beyond the line
of policemen till the floor was cleared.
In ten minutes, however, the chamber
was empty above and below, and the
platform and portions of the rotundA
were crowded.
DEATH OF THE OLD CONGRESS.
Tho House gathered slowly in its
chamber, though the order closing its
wing was rescinded on meeting, and
the corridors were soon thronged But
few went into the galleries to see the
House die. The interest centered upon
the new. The old was II already dead.
To most the members who were going
out looked very quiet. Some looked, 1t
is true, as If relief from life OF drug
cry was just at hand, but most had an
air of marked regret. There was for
NAL and subdued air over the House,
which it does not often wear, and SO,
while its routine of uninteresting bust
ness WAS going on, with few to watch
its exit, and none outside It's Oody TO
mourn its death, it died with the falling
stroke OF the Speakers hammer AS the
bell of the clock sounded twelve. Then
headed wi ith ito officers and chief COM
mittee men, it marched as in impeach-
ment times in a long line. two by TWO,
to the Senate chamber, where new
Congress and a new administration was
coming into life.
THE OTHER END OF THE AVENUE.
Pending the preparations inside the
Capitol building, the spot termed the
other end OF the avenue was swarming
with a new life. A new man was at
that end, and instead of the ra bble that
has so often screamed around the White
House since Abraham Lincol died,
score of loyal organizations were form
ing to escort General Grant to the Cap
itol. The line began to assume its place
around the War Department and head
quarters about two O'Clock.
THE SKIES SMILE.
The previous and still slight rain
checked the enthusiasm somewhat be-
fore the movement began, but dry,
warm air. blue sky and sun put smiles
on all faces before the march began.
THE PROCESSION.
The column was formed OF eight d.
visions, and was made up OF regular
infantry, artillery and cavalry, militia
from abroad. picnic In movement and
far gayer in dress than the regulars;
Firemen, Boys in Blue, Veterans, Ger
man and Irish clubs, the municipal au-
thorities, prominent officials, political
organizations, citizens and Strangers'on
foot, on horseback and in carriages.
Sixteen or eighteen bands we're in the
line. The sun smiled out bright when
it started. Banners waved gaily. The
crowds shouted, and cheer followed
cheer along the crowded avenue I'LL II
reached the Capitol.
NoN-APPEARANcE OF Al.
Almost as soon as the sound OF the
signal gun the head of the column halt
ed in front of the Executive Mansion.
General Grant, with his Chief-of-Stat,
General Rawlings, were in one car
riage, Mr.. Colfax in another, and others
we're prepared for Mr.. Johnson and his
Cabinet. A staff officer went to invite
these latter out. but the late President
chose to refuse, and sent curt word
that neither himself nor his Cabinet
would join the procession or go the
Capitol. There was dead weight to
the march and the great ovation re.
moved by the only man who could rid
the line of it.
MOVING OF THE PROCESSION.
From this moment the line moved on
without hindrance past the Treasury,
fronting north and east, packed with
thousands, answering to the hundreds
crowCling the windows of the Revenue
Bureau, opposite, through the dense
lining of the pavements, but into tho
broad avenue, reaching mile and
half up 10 the capitol, which stands SO
clear across its upper portion. Here the
thousands upon thousands who could
not get into a reasonable distance of the
capitol, were packed. Each pavement
was full. The trees blUssomed black
with men and boys. Platforms built
along the inner line OF the pavement
were filled. Balconies had been hired
months in advance, and the holders of
the leases were here to settle and see.
All the windows of the houses were
like great protruding eyes, drinking In
the scene. Roofs were covered, and
from gutter edge to house tops, men
and women were piled up and back Till
the long procession seemed to be NOV
ing through a great channel grooved
only from the thick strata OF men. All
the way there was shouting and wav-
ing of banners, and scarfs, and hand
kercLiefs AS The line moved on, 1t was
as if an immense cloudy pillar moved
with its front aud hung above the man
| to whom the nation has entrusted its
Thus it moved down the avenue, wound
arol3nd the south front of the Capitol,
and filing into the area in front of the
eastern porch took position in columns.
Long battalion lines stood waiting for
the proceedings in the Senate to close.
and the subsequent appearance of
that body and all in its cham
Der upon the platform, upon which
all eyes were constantly turning.
When the House marched over to the
other wing, it found the floor OF the
Senate crowded, as has been described.
Not more than a dozen files succeeded
in entering the Chamber. The rest
reached back through the corridors and