River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1877-03-08
THE INAUG URATION.
How President Hayes WAS Installed-Vice
President Mheeler's Address.


days. The President elect was escort
ell from the White House to the Cap
itol by an imposing military process
sion.
Holders of cards of admission to the
Capitol thronged the approaches to the
Senate long before the doors were
opened, and within few minutes af-
ter IL, the Senate galleries were filled
to tue utmost capacity.
Mrs. Hayes, wife of the President,
occupied the front seat in the private
gallery next to the diplomatic gallery.
Her little son, Scott, sat on her left,
Mrs. Senator Sherman on her right,
Miss Fannie Hayes and Mrs. Stanley
Matthews occupied seats beyond Mrs.
Sherman, together with other personal
friends of Mrs. Hayes from Ohio. The
diplomatic gallery was occupied by
ladies of the diplomatic corps. The
remaining galleries also presented a
brilliant appearance.
The greater number of occupants
were ladies'. The floor of the Senate,
excepting seats reserved for the Presi-
Dental party, the Supreme Court and
the diplomatic corps, was crowded
with Senators and Senators-eleet,
members of the House of Representa-
tives and other distinguished person
ages entitled to its privileges. Among
the latter were General Sherman and
Major Generals Hancock and Terry, in
full uniform, attended by the members
of their respective stats. About a
quarter before twelve the foreign
Minister, Secretaries and attaches of
the legation, entered the Senate cham
Der. headed by Sir Edward Thornton,
Dean of the Diplomatic Corps, and
took their seats, the two from rows of
the Senators chairs on the rigl. All
the ministers and most of their s.tten-
dants were in full diplomatic uniform,
Respondent with gold and silver en-
broidery and gllttering with orders aud
decorations. Beside Sir Edward Thorn.
ton, NJ. Bartholdi, French Minister !;
Count Hayes, Austrian Minister Herr
Won Schlosser, German Minister, and
Baron Blance, Italian Minister, were
especially notict able.
When the diplomatic corps had taken
the place assigned them, the Chief JUS
tice and Associate Justices of the SUI
preme Court, tall in their robes of office,
entered, and were escorted TO the seats
arranged in the semi-circular space in
front OF the Senator'S desks. AT pre-
cisely IL
THE PRESIDENT APPEARED
at the main entrance of the chamber,
arm in arm with General Grant. AS
they proceeded down the aisle to the
seats reserved for them the Senators
and all other occupants of the floor
rose and remained standing until they
had taken their seats, and the galleries
applauded by clapping of hands and
waving of handkerchiefs. Immediate
ly following him came the members
of President Grants Cabinet, Webb
Hayes, Colonel Fred. Grant, and Lieu
tenant Dunwoody, of the Signal Corps,
one of the aids of the Grand Marshal
of the day. Four policemen brought
up the rear. Colonel Grant and Lieu-
tenant Dunwoody were in full uni
form. The Presidential party having
taken their seats in the space in front
of the desk of the President of the
Senate, the Senate was called to order
by its Secretary, Mr.. GoTham, prayer
was offered by the Chaplain, Rev. DR..
and President Crafts
proclamation converting the special
session was read. After the organiZa-
ton of the Senate.
VICE PRESIDENT WHEELER
was escorted to the Senate by Senator
McCreery, of Kentucky, of the COM
mittee of arrangements, and his az
pearance was greeted with applause.
Proceeding Immediately to chair on
the right of the presiding officer, he at
once began his address to the Senate,
and was warmly applauded. He said
SENATORS: Official station ever
brings with it corresponding duty and
responsibility. Service in analogous
parliamentary spheres has taught how
delicate, aud at times difficult and
are the duties which the
oath am about to take will impose
upon me as President of the Senate.
1t is my sincere purpose TO lift myself
entirely above the element of partizan-
ship, to administer its rules in their
true spirit, with courteous irmness,
and by all the means in my power TO
facilitate and expedite its delibera-
lions. In doing this | shall need your
aid, your generous forbearance, and
at times your lenient judgment, upon
all of which know | may confidently
rely, when you shall be satisfied of the
rectitude of my intentions, | trust
that the relation about TO be establish
e between us may be mutually pleas
ant and productive of good TO the best
interests of our national common
wealth.
Mr.. President, | am ready to take
the oath of office.
At the close, the oath of Office was
then administered to him by President
pro TEN. Ferry. and his first official act
was to direct the Sergeant at Arms to
proceed with the programme of inau-
gural ceremonies.
The procession was accordingly FORM
ed and proceeded to the central por-
tico of the east front of the capitol.
Mrs. Hayes and her party had pre-
viously left the gallery and taken seats
on the platform erected for the occa-
sion, which was built out from the
FIRST landing of the steps of the central
portico, and profusely draped, as usual
with national flags. The President
began his inaugural address at l2:45,
after the procession
reached the platform. His appear
anee was greeted with
SHOUTS OF APPLAUSE
from the people who were closely
packed, 10th in front AMI behind the
long lines of military that extended
from one end of the capitol ground to
the other. The address, although read
from manuscript, was delivered with
great animation, but although his
voice was clear and strength could not