The New York herald., 1869-03-05

this business OF swearing In Senators was
ended Each one had to subscribe ana ole an oath
Of ONCE; not one, according 70 his own account,
gave aid to the rebellion. Mr.. Colfax next an
nounced that the procession would be formed TO go
to the east front for the inauguration This was the
signal for general clearing Of the galleries. Nearly
everybody rose to his her feet except Grant and
the diplomatic corps. who were true to the propre-
ties all through.
Procession TO the East Front.
The procession, so called as formed first the JUS
ttces OF the Supreme Court then Grant, escorted by
Cragtn and the Committee OF Arrangements; next
the Senate ITSELF the diplomatic CORPS. ex-members
OF Congress- spectators and anybody else who chose
20. In twinkling OF eye the hall was cleared or
Its brilliant grouping, save few reporters and faith
ful ladies who, In the spirit Of Madonna wished
70 catch the last aroma of the Foreth Congress- The
members Of the House OF Representatives who had
been standing in double le partly insiee and partly
outside the Senate Chamber turned right about face
and marched with slow and measured steps in the
direction Of ehe rotunda where all was silent as the
grave, every door being barred and grim sentinels
standing guard at each. In the rotunda halt for
five or six minutes occurred to await the appear
ance OF Speaker Blaine, and when that gentleman
came and speedily placed himself at the
head Of the column the big doors the east front
new open, and the legislative host emerged on the
broad portico, descended the steps and tumbed pel
nell over two score rows OF cane-bottomed chairs
with an absence Of dignity quite novel and amusing
to behold.
On the Portico.
The platform consisted OF a projection OF boards
from the first flight OF steps In the centre OF the
Capitol, in the shape Of half hexagon, and capable
OF accommodating perhaps 800 persons. 1t stood
twelve or thirteen feet from the ground and
was draped In Union nags, outside OF
which heavy coil Of evergreens was festooned,
and between two OF the central pillars OF the por-
tco above couple OF nags were arranged In canopy
form, presenting quite an artistic appearance
Chairs were placed In rows at either side OF the
platform, leaving an aisle in the centre for the
people to pass down. Now, II the members Of the
House OF Representatives ine and genial gen.
tlemen-had observed this arrangement and pro-
ceeded two deep along the avenue between the
bottomed chairs and taken their seats in rotation
no confusion could possibly have occurred, and the
good intentions Of the Committee OF Arrangements
would have been realized. But the moment the
head Of the column descended the steps 1t was
observed that what might be called the proscenium
seats or those in 'front.' were decidedly the most de-
sirabe for seeing, and especially for hearing Grant.
Therefore was that tie discipline Of the march
at once broken, and most laughabe scramble took
place for the coveted position in front. To add to
u
dressed ladies got aisle heretofore mentioned
utterly blocked up the only passage left. There
was no help for it. for it had to break clear
over the serried ranks Of chairs, regardless Of
tender shlnbones or distended paunches. The
charge was made In gallant style. Broomail,
Schenck, Farnsworth and three or four
others leading the way, accompanied by several
daring newspaper men, who knocked the obstruc-
tions aside with reckless bravery. The long limbs
OF Farnsworth became entangled In the continue
tions OF o seat he was making for with desperate
energy, and beng close pressed by Schenck,
whose ways and means Of getting comfort
ably accommodated looked decidedly favorable,
he stumbled fearfully and raised Q terrible
commotion among the furniture. OF course all
was good humor and high exhiaration Of spir-
its. Everybody after while had seat to himself,
for q liberal supply was at hand But there
was no greater decentralization in tine original
design visible than in the Senator'S who dis
tributed themselves everywhere Some managed
to get stray seat directly behind Grant, for which
they looked supremey thankful and contented. The
judges OF the Supreme Court, all porty dignitaries,
came with stately tread, and were accommodated
with seats at the LEFT hand side Of the platform,
directly In 'front.' They their siken robes. and
were certainly an impressive appendage Of the
scene. The elittering crowd Of foreign ministers
followed and perched themselves on the projection
thanking the steps, They were seen far and wide,
with all their lace, cooked hats and other curious
ornaments.
The statuary at either side, which might have been
the better for being well scrubbed with soap and
water, had q cluster Of spectators holding
ON to their salient projections Christopher Coum-
bus-with outstretched arm poising o globe In his
hand irresisubly reminding one OF q pitcher in q
game Of base ball. especially when the eye is direct
..~At. ~<~s -ex
ngton, with hts arm elevated In the posture OF
catcher-was surrounded by more admirers than he
ever possessed while in the nesn. All across the
back Of PLATFORM up the stairs. between the pill
lars and on all the abutments were the spectators
who were privileged per ticKet from Sergeant Brown
TO occupy seats in the Senate chamber. Away up to
the dizzy DOME and directly under the mighty metal
goddess OF Liberty, heads peerinR down on the
platform beneath. Out on the roof Of House and
Senate dark clusters rapidly assembled, while
every window bearing on the scene was
thrown open and eagerly occupied. On the
green square beyond vast mass OF people congre-
gated and every tree with capable and sustaining
branch had some member Of the great African
family perched thereon. The vast oblong space IN
front OF the Capitol occupied by the picturesque
columns OF the procession, the van OF which drew
up in long and gttering lines facing the PLATFORM
and made ray and gallant show on the outskirts
OF this square. on the broad innumerable steps
ascending to the House and Senate on the far roofs
OF private dwellings, the tops OF street cars and
other vehicles and scattered promiscuousIy in all
sorts OF places the great and sovereign people.
About q hundred PAGES away from the platform
framework was erected supporting an enormous
camera OF Brady's which was leyelled like piece
OF artillery on the scene Of Inauguration and, no
doubt, took everybody In.
Taking the Oath Of Once.
At haif-past twelve General Grant made his ap-
pearance amid q burst Of reverberating applause.
lie came with light and easystep TO the front OF tho
platform looking calmly, serious and perfectly COM
posed lie sat down for q few moments, and then
another cheer went up again and again repeated.
ne rose and bowed his thanks for the popular COM
- l-alaS I..afico Chaao Thor, mama fo-.rar.i