New-York tribune., 1869-03-05
THE INAUGURATION.
THE INAUGURATION OF GEN. U. s. GRANT
AS THE EIGHTEENTH PRESIDENT 0FTHRi
limited STATES
ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE TRIBUSEl

UNITED STATES.
ESPECIAL DISPATCH TO THE TRIBuNE
wAsHrNGros. Thursday March 4. Ian
The last ceremonies have been concluded, and
new Administration begins its career for better q,
for worse Andrew Johnson. at certain hour And
minute to-day, became private citizen Of In.
United States Ulpsses s. Grant assumed to-day III.
earnest, grave and, at this time terrible respond.
bilty of directing the Government for four years %
come AS he said to-day, he feels the responsbiity
but does not shrink from it, The manner Of the
transition has been so often told that it is an Old
story but it may be repeated here. 1t will awaken
a train of recollection in every mind, whchit were
not well to lose 1t will recall the scenes Of eight
years ago. the uncertainty the anxiety, the eas and
the hopes of the people in that trying period Later
it will bring up recolections Of the scenes Of four
years ago,-the beautiful words of Mr. Lincoln aud
the sad spectacle of drunken vice-Prcsident Thsa
tho fearful trials which oyerhung the Governnsut
for five years. The work of restoration against Oh
stinacy and adversity, and the beautiful promise
which to-day's proceedings convey to the people
Of the country. The Inauguration of Gen. Grant
so far as he was personally concerned, was like
his life simple and unostentatious In this respect
the new President resembles Thomas Jefferson,
The simplicity Of their natures their preference for
quiet scenes, and their adherence of display and
ostentaton, at once so similar. will be recognized
The election Of Jefferson took place sixtyeisht
years ago. 1 am reminded of it by tho
remark of a very old gentleman who witnessed tho
ceremonies to-day: "When Jefferson was inaugu-
rated, he rode to the Capitol on horseback. No
friends accompanied him. and procession filled the
streets. / was q mere boy then but remember
all the facts. When he reached the Capt.
tol, he dismounted, and with his own hands
tied his horse to the fence. He then went in and
took the oath OF Office, returning in the same man
ner" Jeffersons inaugural was not unlike Grants.
and was about the same length. His manner OF
speaking was similar. lie was no more of an orator
than Grant, and his speeches were no longer. tbs
recorded that he neverl spoke longer than ten min
utes in his life, his tone being conversational. His
Administration was carried out on the principles
which Grant has marked out-hOnesty and economy
in the public service. He reduced the public debt
$1,000 900 yearly during his term and the people will
be disappointed if Grant does not after the promises
of to-day lessen the debt in greater proportion
The throng Of visitors in the city to-day was SIM
ply overwhelming. To say that it was immense
would convey feeble impression of its magnitude.
There was OF the usual crowd Of fremen In red
shirts and sheotiron hats with big belts and
massive shields staggering and Dragging swear
ing the while like the army in Flanders
There were the Tanners and Wide-Awakes, the
campaign clubs, the gee clubsgthe Grant and Colfax
clubs the Printers Grant and iColfax clubs There weo
the Invincibes, whose services were brilliant There
were the petted militia companies, with waxed mus
tacnes and hands bsered with the friction Of the mus
ket stock which for the day the place Of scissors
pen and yardtck There brass bands string bands
drum corps all striving to make the most noise and tho
least music There the battaons Of artillery all be-
longing the Regular Army, which everybody could tell
from their bad marching and the nsolence Of the beard
less officers. There GATmsn societies and negro
militia companies which latter promptly accorded
places in the line. There were citizens ,n tall
tall hats, looking wise. and knowing their importance
cOmmitteemenb bearng upon their breasts big rosette
and fashy scarf encircng their waists riding franu
cay up and down the ne trying TO make people believe
that the burden Of the whole inaugural rested their
devoted shoulders. Then there were more militia
companies. brass bands. and more bad
music more civil societies. more hre-engines
and finally toddng along with feeble step and captua
ting curage. the soldiers Of the Of 1872 shout
deung their cruch show how fields were won, but evil
IDENTIFY worn out with fatigue.
Thu mucn Tor the procession O course the streets were
Jammebd and impossible. Here the couutrymen from
Pennsylvania, New,Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, and
Virginia, accompanied. Of course, by the women and
children Here are the freedmen, in smiling faces
and brilliant costumes Here are the "soed
doves" OF fashion, dressed in silks and velvets
glaring In false bushes painted lips padded forms.
and barber's hair Hero thieves, house breakers,
and gamblers, native and imported. from Baltimore.
New-York, and Philadelphia Here. sprnked through
the crowd, residents OF back streets having win
dows fronting the avenue but who cannot forego the
procession There are flags, and sreamers, and gaily
decked windows filed with handsome faces. There
are badges, transparenoIes. and decorations, and
platforms filed with ladies, and the whole avenue
trembes beneath its weight Of gaiety and osentaton
expected that everybody present the ceremonies
to-day will say that it is the largest crowd which
attended an Inauguration. All expected to say 10
the most brilliant the most impressive, and the most
peaceable. OF this have nothing TO say But II there
we're moro visitors present to-day than when Lincoln
first naugurated, the fact only be regarded
great compliment to Grant and Colfax
THE PROCESSION.
The streets Of the city presented very animated ap
gearance far into the night and many respectable per
sons not otherwise provided for perambulted
all night or slumbered uneasy and unsatisfactory in
obscure places becoming for the yaGabonds with
out homes shelter Of any kind Rooms nearly