Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1869-03-10
THE INAUGURATION.
Grant Becomes President.
COLFAXBECONESTICEP PRESID'NT.
Organization of the House
and Senate.
Serious Accident to Grants Father.
INAUGURATION DAY.
INAUGURATION DAY.
MAsHrNeroN, March 4, 1863.
THE SENATE CHAMBER.


The Senate was arranged as usual
on Inauguration day. Between the
seats of the Senators were placed adj
ditional chairs, and in the vacantspace
behind the semi-circle were other
chairs and sofas for the accommoda-
ton of invited guests. Large arm
chairs were also placed just in front
of the secretary's desk, those on the
right for the justices of the supreme
court, and those on the left for MI.
johnson and his cabinet.
The floor of the Senate chamber,
five minutes before twelve, presented
a sight not soon to be forgotten. The
Senators were all seated on the left of
the presiding officer, and immediate
ly in the rear were the Senators elect.
The diplomatic body had gathered IN
the marble room a short time prevI-
Gus, and there, chatting with one an
other or looking out upon the crowd
north of the Capitol, they waited the
time for their entrance. They came
in on the right, with Baron Geroit at
their head, and took the senatorial
seats on that side of the chamber. 1t
was such a group as republican eyes
rarely see. The seat of honor was oc-
cupied by Baron Geroit of the PTus-
sian legation, who has been longer in
this country than any other member
of the diplomatic corps. At his left
one saw the placid face of Mr.. Thorn
ton, the English minister, and behind
him sat Mr.. Bertham, the French
minister, with a dozen decorations on
his breast, and looking like ones idea
of a dashing cavalry officer. Further
round to the right sat the tall form OF
the Russian Charge D'Affairs, deco
rated with a broad green sash and two
or three medals, behind him was the
swarthy face of the Italian minister.
Every man of the group was in full
uniform, and the breasts of many OF
them were completely covered with
gold lace and braid.
In the back part of the chamber,
on the right, sat General Sherman,
Thomas, Hancock and Terry, all on
one bench. With Admiral Farra-
gut, in front on another bench, SAT
Generals Meigs, Price, Eaton, ingalls,,
Over and Admiral Dahlgren. Back
near the doorway sat General Sickles,
Townsend, Holt, Butterfield and
Pleasonton. Over in the further cor
ner on the left were General Harney
and the burly form of Admiral Colds
borough. By one of the side doors
stood the stout full-bloOded negro
Bishop Campbell of the African
church, and near him were Gov
ernor Geary, Bishop Ames, and Mas
the artist. Over by the other sld'
door sat the only woman on thu
floor, DIR. Mary Walker, there by
virtue having received the thanks
of Congress lust after the close of thu
war. Not far away were Commits
sioners Wells and Rollins, Genera
Jay Cooke, Rev. 91r. Puncheon ant
Bishop Simpson. In the rear on tn
I let sat the judges of the court o
claims and of the supreme court dis
I trict, while between Judge Carte
and Mr.. Sumner sat the historian
/ Motley. On one bench were a groul
of the officers of General Grants staff
and on another the chief clerk ant
heads of bureaus in the navy depart
ment. Pretty much every body Q
any note in Washington was there
4 and the gathering was one of whicl
I the republic had no occasion to b
to be ashamed.
Into the chamber at this mOmen
came the Judges of Supreme Court
two and two, arm in arm, wit
Messrs. Chase and Clifford in front
They took the chairs at the secretary
right. The chairs on the left were
have been filled by Mr.. johnson an
his cabinet, but they remained vacar
all day.
General Grant and Mr.. ColfaX, rt
ceived from the procession by Ser
ators Cragin and McCreery of the CON
mittee, were in the rear rooms, an
now came in with Mr.. Wade Mr.. Or;
gin, another senator, being in tn
chair for the moment to relieve NJ
Wade. There was a buzz of deligt
at their entrance, and Mr.. Wade too
his place, raped to order, and, tru
: to himself, instead of asking Mr.. Co
fax to come forward and take the oat
of Cffice directed him to advance an
I be inaugurated, whereat there was
: smile among the senators.
Mr.. ColfaX took the oath modest
and with feeling said:
: COLFAX ADDRESS.
SENATORS I'm entering upon Il
duties in this Chamber, to the pc
formance of which / have been callt
! by the people of the United States,
/, realize fully the delicacy IS well
the responsibility of the positiol
{ Presiding over a body whose men
: bers are in so large a degree my SCI
! iOrs in age, and not chosen by Il
= body itself, shall certainly need Il
assistance of your support, and yo'
: generous forbearance and cOnfidenc
d But pledging to you a faithful al
Q infiexible impartiality in the admit
4 istration of your rules, and earnest
a desiring to cooperate with you
s making the deliberations of the Sci
ate worthy, not only Of its historic
l. nown, but also of the States VINO
commissions you hold, am no
ready to take the oath of office.
After which Mr.. Wade declared q
Senate adjourned without day.
: Mr.. ColfaX took up the ivory CAV
!. as it waslaid down by his predecessC
and at once called the new Senate
= order.
d General Grant was seated in fro
Of the chief justice, facing the who
House, apparently as calm and unco