New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-09-23

apart Monday next as day of fasting and
prayer on account of the National bereave-
ment.
! TAKING THE OATH OF OFFICE.
j''ifi'hSslVE SCENE IN THE vICE-PREsmENT's ROOM
Al THE CAPITOL-AN INFORMAL CEREMONY
THE PRESIDENTS INAUGURAL ADDRESS
I WASHINGTON, Sept. 22-The scene and tho cir
custances attending the administering of the oath
W PRESIDENT Arthur at the Capitol to-day were ex-
eeeoihgly interesting. This ceremony was almost
INFORMAL IN Its cha acter. 1t took place in the Vice
fresideni's chamber anl the composition of the an
uiehce which was assembled as witnesses was in great
part accidental. 1t was decided in discussing the
"i'.er iast evening, after President Arhur's ar
iVa', that, as he had been sworn in In New York
ny state magistrate, and as no National rec
ora or the fact existed, il wonld he better tc
nave inc oath administered again by the Ch'ef-Jus-
o'ce ol TIE United States that the official evi.
uchce that the NiccIIesdent had taken the oath of
o,"cc as PRESIDENT would appear in the records ot
inc supreme Court of the United States at the Ma
iional Capitol
lhe informality attending so great an event vii
pest appear from the simple method of gatherin .
'i'e audience which witnessed IT. The Chief-Jus-
oice' before proceeding to the Capitol had called to
pay ms respects to Mrs. Garfield and there met
senator Sherman and cX-President HAYES He in
Vted them TO come little later to the Vice-Presi
dents chamber to witness the ceremony On
1 ther way to the Capitol, Senator Sherman
and Mr. Hayes called upon General Grant anu
President Arthur, and were again invited by both
to accompany them to the Capitol for the purpose
Indicated On arriving few Senators were found
ABOUT the building and some members of the House
The Justice of the Supreme Court with ex-Justice
Strong and the Cabinet, were also in atteniance
General sherman invited and stood by his
brother. the Senator, throughout the proceedings
These were very brief, but impressive The Chief
Justice in his robes read the oath to President Ar
THUR The latter. after having aSseuted it, read
/ the following brief address assuming the Office:
For the fourth tmfin the history of the Republic
its Chief Magistrate has been removed Inv Hath
All hearts filled with grief and horror nj the
hideous crime which has darE Eencd land and the
memory of the murdered President, his protractcd
suitrrngs unyielding fortitude the example and
5acnlV"ments oi hs lie and the pathos of his death
viii forever llumnc he pages of our history
For the fourth time the officer elected by the peo-
Dle ana ordained by the Constitution to fill va.
cancy SO created is called to assume the Executiv,
am9sLdre po tles Uale sure that the Government
Snnuid never 10 lmperilIed because OF the uncer
tanty oi human lie. Men may die, hut the fabric
OF our free institutions remains unshaken No higher
or more assuring proof could exist of the strength
and permanence OF popular government than tho
act that though the chosen of the people be struck
down. his constitutional successor is peacefully in
stalled without shock or strain except the sorrow
which mourus the bereavement All tie nohIc
aspirations of my lamented predecessor which
fonud expression in his liie the measures devised
and suggested duiing lis brief administration to
correct abuses and enforce economy, e. advance
prosperity and pronote the general welfare to insure
domestic security and maintain friendly and hon
orable relations with the nators of the
earth, will he garnerrd in the hearts of the people
aud 1T Will be my earnest endcavor to profit
and to see that the nation shall profit by his
3ampe and experience: Prosperity blesses our
country, fiscal yOlicy is fixed by law is we'll
grounded and generally approved No threatening
Issue mars our foreign lntcrconrsc, and the wisdom
integrity and thrift OF people may be trusted To
continue undislrDcd the pr sent assured of
peace, tranquility and welfare The gloom and
anxiety which have eashrouded the country must
make repOse especially welcome now. No demand
for speedy legislation has been heard, adequate
occasion is apparent tor unusual session of Con-
gress. The Constitution defines the functions and
powers OF the Executive clearly those Of either
OF the ether two departments OF the Government,
and he must answer for the just exercise of the dis
crcion it permits and the performance Of the duties
il imposes. Summoned to these high duties and re-
spOnsibiIiies, and profoundly conscious of their
magnitude and gravity, l assume the trust i'm
posed by the Constitution, relying for aid on divine
guidance and the virtue, patriotism and Intelligence
Of the American people
Tho President deeply affected, and his
voice tremblel pcrccptbly Those present then
paid their respects to him President and after
some informal conversation the assembly dispersed
There present, besides Mr.. Arthur and the
Chief Justice, the Cabinet, eY-Prcsients Grant
and Hayes Senator Sherman and his brother
The General of the Army, cx-Vice-President
Ilamlim Senators Garland. Dawes, Hill, Ed
munds and Blair, cx-Speaker Randall, Repre-
seutativcs McCook. Townshend, Hiscock
and Thomas Sharp and George Bliss of Ncw-York
Thus in the same building at the same moment
funeral honors were being paid 10 the memory OF
the President who was gone: and the new President
was being salutcd in his Official capacity by the few
VINO stood around him. Thus an occasion marking
grave crisis passed almost quietly as if it were
an event of ordinary occurrence.