National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1881-03-04

Although the 4th of March, 1889, had
been determined upon by Congress as the
day upon which our new Government should
go into operation, q Vexatious debate con-
eeTning the oficial title of the Chief Magis-
tFate arose. during which it was proposed
That the Vice-Presidsnt should be styled His Su-
perauous E1cellency," and this, together with
ether scarcely less important preliminaries de-
hyed the christening until the 90th Of April that
year.
At nine o'clock on the morning Of that day re-
fSxious exercises were held in all the churches Of
Rev York. and prayers and blessings were In
Vaked and bestowed upon
THE FIRST PRESIDENT
Of the United States by assembled thousands Pre-
eisely at the troops were paraded In 'front.' OF
WashinKton's residence, and few moments later
aprocession was formed. in the midst OF which
rode the PreSident-elect in coach of state drawn
BY dix milk white horses, splendidly caparisoned.
and followed by the members of Congress, the for
eiSn ministers and prominent citizens The oath
was administered ON balcony in front Of the
Senate Chamber OF the City Hall, Washington be-
ing supported on his right by John Adams and on
The left by Chancellor Livingston. Kneeling, he
Kissed the book, which was held to his lips by Mr..
Otis, when the Chancellor advancing to the rail
ing, waved his hand and shouted: Long live
George Washington, President of the United
States" Then, in the midst of booming cannon
and the shouts of the multitude, Washington re-
tired to the Senate Chamber and read his lnaugu-
nal address and the United STATES came into being
JOHN ADAMS.
On the 4th Of March, 1871, the hall OF the House
Of Representatives at Philadelphia was crowded
70 its utmost capacity. In the centre of the House
General Washington was seated, and when MI
Adams entered without ceremony he rose ana
extended his hand, in the midst of the greatest
emotion on ell sides The spectacle IS best de-
rcribed by Mr. Adams in letter 10 his wife, dated
that evening.
"a solemn scene" he writes, " it was, indeed,
and il was made more affecting TO me by the pres
Gnce of the General, whose countenance was as
serene and unclouded as the day. He seemed to
enjoy q triumph over me. Methought i heard
him say, 'Ay, am fairly out, and you are fairly
inl See which of us viii be the happiest' Chief
Justice Ellsworth administered the oath with great
energy. All agreed that, taken altogether, it was
the sublimest thing ever exhibited in America"
Immediately after the reception Washington
entered his carriage and left for Mount Vernon.
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
Concerning the first Inauguration at the city of
Washington on the 4th of March, 1901, the jour
nails of the day contain the merest mention, and
the most eminent authorities are strangely con-
Trajectory. Mr.. Jefferson was the Vice President
and had reached his promotion through the
medium of an election by the House of Repre-
sentatives
"Mr Adams" says Parton, "wss preparing for
that precipitate fight from the Capital which
gave the last humiliation 10 his party. He had
not the courtesy to stay in Washington for a few
hours and give the ecat of his presence TO the in
auguration of his successor. Tradition repeats
that he ordered his carriage to be at the door of
the White House at midnight, and we know that
before the dawn of the 4th of March he had left
Washington forever
"Ofthe ceremonies at Washington the records of
the time give US the most meagre accounts Bos-
well, the father of interviewing, had 10 repre-
sentative in America then, and journalism was
content to print little more than the inaugural ad-
dress. 1t is only from the accidental presence of
an English traveller that we know in what manner
Mr. Jefferson was conveyed to the Capitol that
morning. He had no establishment in Washing
ton. Jack Epps, his son-in-law, was completing
somewhere in Virginia purchase for coach and
8, 600-with which the President !
elect hoped TO contend triumphantly with the yell
low mud of Washington. But as neither coach nor
horses had arrived, he went to the CAPITOL in his
usual way. His dress, as our traveller, John Davis
informs US, was of plain cloth, and he rode on |
horseback to the Capitol, without single guard or
even servant in his train dismounted without as
sistance and htched the bride of his horse to the
palisades"
Mr. ogle Tayloe, also, in his "reminiscences" |
concerning the manner in which Mr.. jefferson |
surrendered his Office eight years later, remarks:
son the day of Mr.. Madiso1's inauguration the |
late Mr.. Parke Gusts told me that, while return
Ing from the ceremony of the Capitol on horse |
back, he met the President entirely Alone and |
they rode down Pennsylvania avenue together"
On the other hand, we have the authority of Mr.. /
Hfdreth, the historian, whose reputation for his
torical accuracy is generally accepted as reliable
that the ceremonies attending the Inauguration |
Of Mr.. Jefferson were in no manner exceptional.
among other Federal principles" says Hildreth,
' Jefferson had condemned with strong emphasis,
rs savoring of monarchy, any public ceremony at
the swearing In of the President Yet on the
morning efhis accession to Office, not to disappont
the multitude of his friends and partisans who
had assembled to pay him honor, and perhaps,
now that his own time had come, looking at the |
matter in somewhat different light, escorted by |
body Of militia and procession of citizens, he
proceeded to the Capitol where the Senate had
met in special session. in obedience to call Issued
by Adams some weeks before. Burr, already
sworn in as Vice President, gave up the chair to
Jefferson takinga seat at his right hand On his left
hand sat Chief Justice Marshall ready to admins
Ter the oath of Office. The chamber was well filed,
being present, to which body just before it adj
burned Jefferson had sent notice of his intended
public inauguration. But the absence of the late
Speaker, well as that of the late President did
not fail TO excite remark"
Painfully aware that our conclusions are likely
70 excite remark in questioning the accuracy of
what has grown to become cherished tradition
IN American history, we are led to believe in con-
1ection with various incidental circumstances,
merely limited in the foregoing quotation from
Bildreth, and too extensive to be here elaborated
hat in no essential particular did the inaugural
attending the assumption of Office by
Thomas Jefferson on the 4th of March, 1901, differ
rom those of his hlustrious associates in the
presidency.
At his second inauguration, on the 4th OF March,
1905, the first Inauguration ball" ever held in
Washington took place at Davis Hotel, but we
ind no record that the President honored it by
his presence.
JAMES MADISON.
Mr.. Madison, who had been elected TO succeed
Jefferson had been for eight years the Secretary
# State of his administration, and performed the
iuties of that Office until called upon to assume
he functions of Chief Executive. On the morn
ng of Saturday, the 4th day of March, 1893, pro-
,ession composed of the volunteer troops of the
District, under the command of Captain Brent,
proceeded TO the residence of Mr.. Madison, where
was Joined by the carriage of the President
.lect, who was accompanied by his late associates
the Cabinet, and at half past eleven took up the
inc ofmarch for the hall of Congress. Precisely
It twelve N. the party entered the Hall of Repre-
entatives, whence Mr.. Jefferson had already pre-
,eded them, and where were assembled both
Houses of Congress, the Supreme Court, and the
diplomatic corps, and in their presence received
he oath of Office and delivered his inaugural ad-
iress. On leaving the Capitol he was escorted by
he militia to his residence, where, together with
drs. Madison, he received the congratulations of
lis fellow citizens, Mr.. Jefferson being among the
Gllers In the evening ball was held at Longs
Hotel, at which the President and ex- President
ttended, and where some four hundred guests
the festivities until after midnight