The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1879-04-03
THE FIRST INAUGURATION.
a Graphic Picture of the Incidents ant
Scenes of the Great Day.
From the american Queen.

ica had witnessed some of the most
sublime scenes in humau history its
present position had been achieved by
such cost of personal suffering, human
life, and individual pecuniary ruin, as
almost staggered credulity. Beyond all
this there was debt due from the Uni
ted States to creditors at home and
abroad Of more than fifty millions ofdol-
lars. The whole expense of the war just
ended had not been less than one hun
drcd and thirty-five millions. The OPP
pressions OF tyranny and the pressure of
common danger having been lifted. the
prediction of enemies seemed likely to
be fuliilled-that the success of Amer
lea would prove her ruin, in that she was
incapable of governing herself.
A meteoric light finally appeared from
among the dark clouds in the form of
Convention, from which emanated the
Constitution of the United States of
America. AS soon as the necessary ma
jority Of the States had transmitted to
Congress their acceptance of this Const-
tuition, an Act was passed for the choice of
a President and ice-Presidcnt, and
Washington was elected unanimously by
n grateful people for the highest Office
in their gift. John Adams, recently
from the court Of St. James, where he
had been the first Minister Plenipotenti-
airy from the new Republic, was chosen
Vice President by small majority.
The first Congress under the Consiitu-
ton assembled in New Yc-k City, March
1889, which was then expected to be the
permanent capital of the new nation.
The old City Hall had been remodeled
at cost of thirty thousand dollars for
national capitol, and presented quite
stately appearance. The basement
story was in the Tuscan style, with
seven openings; four massive pillars in
the centre supported heavy arches, above
which rose four Doric columns the
cornice was ingeniously divided to admit
thirteen stars in the metopes, an eagle
and other insignia we're in the pediment,
together with the sculptures of thirteen
arrows surrounded by olive branches
over each window, marked it as build
ing set apart for national purposes.
| The entrance was through lofty yesti-
bule paved with marble, and elegantly
finished. The Hall of Representatives
was slightly octnngular shape, sixty-one
by fifty eight feet in dime nsion, with an
arched ceiling forty-six feet high in the
centre. 1t had two galleries, Speakers
platform admirably arranged, and sep
arate chair and desk for each member.
Its windows we're immensely large and
some sixteen feet above the floor, under
which were the quaintest of fi-e-places.
The Senate Chamber was a much
smaller apartment, forty by thirty feet
in extent, and twenty feet high, with an
arched ceiling. of light blue-a sun and
thirteen stars in the centre. 1t was dec
! Orotpd rIOci orticf;co l1xy .,pl -,
G.a-rlaccs we're of highly polished varie-
gated American marble. The Presi-
dents chair was elevated thee feet above
the floor, and Was under rich canopy
of crimson damask, the window curtains,
and chair-covers of same material. The
chairs were arranged in semicircles, and
the floor was handsomely carpeted. 1t
had three windows opening upon Wall
street, and balcony twelve feet deem.
| guarded by an iron railing, where the
Y President of the United States was 10 tax.
the oath of Office.
The great day at last arrived. Every
arrangement was perfected. For three
weeks the hotels and boarding houses
had been thronged with visitors from all
paris of the country, and now every
private house in the city WAS filled with
guests, everyone anxious to witness tie
proud ceremonial which was to complete
the organization Of the Government
The beautiful Bertha Ingersoll wrote to 9
young lady friend of her experiences on
this OCCASION:
"Mr. Williamson had promised to en-.
gage US rooms at Frances tavern, but
that was jammed long ago, as was every
other decent public house; and nof.
while we are waiting at Mrs. Wander,
voorrs in Maiden Lane, till after Dime,
two OF our beaux are running about towr
determined to obtain the best place fo,
US to stay at which can be opened fol
love, money, or the most persuasive
speeches."
The streets were filled with multitude.
Mt an early hour in the morning. AT:
O'Clock the bells rang from every churcl
steeple, calling the people into the yari
Gus places of worship for prayers, to i'm
plore the blessing of heaven upon the
new ruler, and success to his admins
tration-so universal was religious sens,
of the importance of the occasion. I'm
mediately upon the close of these servi
ces the air was filled with insprn.
music and the military unfurled thei
banners i'll every direction. The chic
companies which took part were Cup
Stakes troop of horse Captain Serbia
German Grenadiers, with blue coats, vel
low waistcoats and breeches, blacl
CATERS, and towering cone-shaped cap
faced with bear.skin; Captain 'Harsin'
, Grenadier, composed of the tallest an,
handsomest young men of New York
,, dressed in blue coats, with red facing
and gold lace broideries, cooked hat, whit
feathers and white waistcoat and breeche
and the Scotch Infantry, in full Highlan,
costume, with bagpipes.
When the President. Vice.Pres;den,
Senators, Chancellor and other public
; Chamber (above described) upon tn
outside gallery, Wall street and Broa,
street, each way, were filled with a Sc
of upturned faces-the widows crowde,
with gaily. dressed ladies-and sienc
, /, reigned as profound as if every livin,
/. form which composed the vast concours
was statue carved in stone. In tn
!, centre, between the two pillars, stoo
= Washington, in dar,, brown coat, waist
, coat and breeches, ruffled shirt, whit
silk stockings, plain silver shce.buckles
head uncovered, and his white lock
6 combed up and tied in q 9ueuBbehind.
On one side Of him etcod Chancello
, Robert K. Livingston, tall, elegant, an
!. superlatively dignifed, in full suit q
? black, and on the other hand stood Vic
President John Adams shorter man, O
an aristocratic bearing, in more show
:. costume. Between Washington and th
, chancellor was Mr.. Otis, Secretary ofth
! Senate, small, short man holding a
open Bible upon a rich crimson cushion
, and conspicuous in the gloup wer
General Knox, Roger Sherman, Baro
Stenben, and other distinguished person
ages.