Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-03-12
THE PROCESSION

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marked characteristic It had was the colored
element which constituted quite one.half
OF the whole stragliug line. With the ex.
ception of the cavalry escort aud the 18th
United States infantry, the military feature
OF the procession was burlesque, and. it
was only the fine appearance of the Phila-
delphia fremen that saved the whole
movement from ridicule. .,s s. ,..s,
The sidewalks along Pennsylvania ave-
nue., through which the procession was to
move presented solids walls of humanity.
we'll cemsnted with mud. The windows of
all the buildings along the line of march had
been engaged in advance, many OF them at
fabulous prices, and these were filed by the
more fortunate Of the gentler sex, and pre-.
sented apIeasant contrast with tile sunless,
raw, cold and muddy spectacle on the side.
walks. E ...-...
AT TIE WHITE HOUSE
When the head of the line reached n.
.fopt ot Inc White House it stopped to wait
for the carriages Of President johnson and
his Csbine. to join it, and one of the euus
OF Dupont's battery was loaded, ready 70
lire the signal gun announcing that the
President of the United States had entered
his carriage and s.ar,ed for the capitol.
Bat messenger arrived from the Execu.
tive mansion and informed the chief mar
shal. General Webb. that President johnson
would lie unable to take part 10 the inau.
guration ceremonies, as he would be
engaged in considering and signing bills
until the hour Of noon, when his official
term would expire. The signal gun was
then fired, and the procession started for
the capitol. As the President elect passed
along the avenue be frequently responded
to the waving of handkerchief by lifting
his bat a. regular stovepipe) and slightly
bowiog. The bead of the procession bad
reached the Capitol long before. one half
Of it bad formed in the western, part of
the city according to, the programme; but
this great "leug,h Of line" resulted from The
scattered character Of the PROFESSIONALISM
was emphatically Washington,,ianI,' there
being numerous "magnifo ens distances'
between the several parts. The whole
procession in proper, compact form, would
probably have extended milaS including
the hacks, fireman's parade and negroes.
CLOSE OF THE OLD ADMINISTRATION.
AT the White House the President ap-
Piled himself at an early hour to disposine
of the business remaining yet undone, and
Of deI'berating upon and signing orsde-
clining to sign, such bills as were laid
before him. All the members Of his Cabi.
net assembled at hslf-past ten, and assistsd
The President in the transaction Of the
business before him. At hslf-past' twelve
he Presidents carriage drove up to fhe
ioor. Mrs. johnson, who was 10 sncl, lie.
'le health that she. had to be assisted to
he carriage entered; ~ followed by Mr..
Johnson and Aia son Frank, ana were
lriven to the lresidence Of Mr.. John F.
joyle: Secretary Welles and Mu.Patter.
on, with her ehidfan; entered 7Mr.;sWelIes'
a'riage aud proceeded TO his house, odsH
lreet opposite Lafayatte Square. The other
iab'net ministers drove off to their, respec.
i've residences, and the. White House was
sftin possession Of the police and attendants.
DR.. Johnson's administration was is.i' at tt1 an
nd, and the new order Or things bad begun.
AT 7BE oararo1..' 1s.t -stsiia
Meanwhile the impatient crowd throne.
ns the east grounds of1iheioapitsi wore
"gerly awaiting the opening OF he main
oor to the Senate. As 1880 this; door
'as thrown wiaeopen upon itsbipgss; and
hen began . fearful struggle ferprsosdsuee
t entrances, The police was of 20 assiI.
very one sought BY pushing and erewdipg
is nsighbor to b. the first inside knowing
8 they we'll did, that. thonsapds would
ecessarily be excluded. The fortuuste
~, comparatively speaking, uSo secured
eats 10 The galleries. patiently awaited ai.h
'.stsst and curiosity lie Ibssinsina ct The
mc'al osrsmoniss: The outsidess atssu,pt.
D to9forse "a entrance by storm, bu.
eaa|g failed; ;asahs' doors had been 7kysiu
o''sd .and barred. s,tii.it;,a S,sssa. ltiass
..,j9Rr TN mann S;ex,r >y,,s~-