The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-03-05

MIR. Davis failed to get the tenure. Of
Office bill up.
Messrs. Sherman and Whyte were
appointed a committee on the part of
the Senate to inform the President that
that body was ready to adjourn. About
half past eleven the unsuccessful at
| tempt was made to take up the bill
| to repeal the tenure -of-othce act, which
was followed by little protocol of in
action, and as there appeared to be no
| further business to transact, or at least
no disposition to do anything else, ap-
parently by common consent, the Sena-
| tors began to chat with each other and
to change seats, and in u few minutes
the desks on the right hand side of the
cbumber were left vacant for the occu-
patton of the Diplomatic Corps and
other invited guests, who kept coming.
The Diplomats, however, entered in
body, and attracted immediate atten-
tion by the splendor OF their uniform
and dignitied bearing. All legations
were represented, and the Ministers of
the principal foreign nations were
all present, except Baron Gerolt, OF
ness. Among those present who
were particularly noticed, were Ed
ward Thornton, Minister for Great
Britain, NJ. Bertheny, French Minister,
| Chevalier Cerruti, Minister for Italy,
| Blnsque Bey, Turkish Embassador,
who sat in the front linei behind the
Ministers and Charge D'Affaires, were
ranved a large number OF Secretary's
and Attaches of various Legations,
who in many instances were gorgeous
| Iv attired. Soon after buZ OF excite"
Ineut called attention to the ap-
pearnnce at the side door, OF the Presl-
dent and Eice-PreSident elect, who en-
tered arm in arm, respectively WIN
Senators Cragin and htcCreery, the
| Committee appointed to escort them to
| the Chamber almost at the same mo.
ment and before they had reached the
| open space in front OF the chair, Inc door
| al the main entrance was thrown open
and the Justices OF the supreme Court:
| headed by Chief Justice Chase and
| clad in robes Of office, entered the Senate
chamber and walked in procession
| down the centre aiSles and took
seats that had been prepared for them
| in front of the rostruu. General Grant
had meanwhile been conducted to
chair Immediately in front OF the
clerks desk and sat there facing the
| audience, target tor several thous-
and eyes, whose gaze he seemed neither
| TO avoid nor realize, but exhibited his
usual self possession and unassumlng
demeanor. a seat to the lett OF that
prepared for General Grant, was in
readiness for President johnson, but
| was not occupied, nor was the latter IN
| the capitol this morning but signed
| bills as they were sent to him at the
| White House. The presiding officer
having announced that all WAS in read
mess for the Inauguration OF the Vice
President elect, MIR. COlfaX advanced
nm the steps of the roStrum and facing
the presiding officer took the usual
oath OF office which the latter admins
tered in the morning to the Senate. Mr..
Colfax delivered the following address
which was listened to with the deepest
attention.
COLEAx'S SPEECH.
Senator's I'm entering upon the du-
ties in this Chamber, to the perform
apce of which 1 have been called by the
people OF the United States. realize
iully the delicncy as we'll AS the respon-
sibility OF the position, presiding over
a body whose members are in SO large
a degree my seniors in age. Not cho-
son bv the body Itself shall certainly
need The assistance of your support and
YOUR generous forbearance and conn-
dence, but pledging to you all faithful
| aud inllexible impartiality in the ad-
ministrAtion of your rules. and ear
nestlY desiring to cooperate with You
in making the deliberations of the SEN
ate worthy, not only of its historic re-
nown, but also of those States whose
commissions you hold, | am now
ready to take the oath of office required
| bylaw.
At its conclusion the Senators came
forward as their names were called ana
| took the Senatorial oath Of Office, which
was administered by the newly induct-
ed Vice. President. This over and the
organization of the new Senate having
| been com pleted, it was announced that
the Senate, Supreme Court and invited
| spectators would proceed to the east
portico of the Capitol to participate in
| . ri InAnUnrAtlOn OF
the President elect. A procession was
/ accordingly formed and the late occu-
| pants OF the floor of the Senate proceed
| ed through the corridors and rOtunda
| to the place indicated in front OF Inc
| portico, but about ten feet lower, belng &
on q level with the first landing place.
| On n flight of marble steps there had
| been constructed a platform capable OF
| accommodating together with the steps
about tive or six hundred persons, II
| had semi. circular front which was
| covered with American flags and taste
full decorated with wreaths OF ever
| green. The National tlug was also
| entwiued with two of the columns sup
porting the pediment of the portlco.
| On reaching the platform the President
| elect took a sent provided Tor nun
directly in front of the centre, vice
| President CoIfax and the Seargant-at'
arms in charge of the ceremonies sit
|
of The Supreme Court on his left. The
Senate Committee OF Arrangements
were near at hand and next in the
rear, the associate Justices of the Su'
preme Court occupied seats on the left
and the members and secretary of the
Senate on the. right. The diplomatic
corps were to have occupied seats next
in rear of the Supreme Court, but were
not sufficiently alert to prevent them
selves being crowded into the back
ground by the members of the
House OF Representatives and others
who secured the foremost places
remaining, and left the diplomats
to take their chances with the
officers of the army and navy and
others, on steps and porticos, where
perhaps they Jared better, being less
crowded, and having better view o!
the general scene. The rain had ceased
J and though the atmosphere was damp
and the weather seemed to have nc
chilling effect upon the general enthus
iasm. The grounds opposite ana the
street adjoining were packed with hu
} man beings. Near Gen. Grant and 6
little behind him, sat Mrs. Grant. ac'
companied by her sisters, Mrs. SHARP
and Mrs. Casey, her sister-tn-law Mrs
Gen. Dent, and her children, Jennie
and Nellie and Master Fred, and U. 5
Jr. The shouts and bursts OF music
from a dozen bands subsided as the
President elect and the Chief Justice o
the United States, rose simultaneously
and the latter commenced III cleal
and solemn tones to recite the tormuIt
of the Presidential oath of Office which
: Gen. Grant reverentially took.
The boom of canon and shouts of th'
vast multitude burst forth, and part1a
quiet having been restored. the FEesl res.
dent rose and proceeded to read from
. unonuscrint his inaupural address al