Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-09-29
THE NEW PRESIDENT.

members of the Cabinet, Justices Of the Su-
preme Court, few Senators and members of
the House of Representatives. who could
be notified on that morning to be present.
also, Gen. Sherman, Gen. Grant, Rear Ad.
miral Nichols, Hon. Hannibal Hamlin, Gen.
Beale and others. Forty people in all were
present at the time the oath was taken. This
step was taken after conference between the
President, Secretary Blaine and the Attor.
ney General. Very few persons knew the
oath was to be administered until the ceremo.
ny was over. The President and The mem.
bers of the Cabinet assembled in the marble
room shortly before twelve o'clock. A few
minutes before twelve Chief Justice Waite, in
his full robes of Office, accompanied by the
Associate Justices, proceeded from the Su.
preme Court room to the marble room. The
doors were Immediately closed, and without
any formality, President Arthur arose, and
standing upon one side of the centre table
Chief Justice Waite on the other, took the
oath of office. The Presidents manner was
calm and composed, and his response, $50
help me God," was in firm tone and without
tremOr.
After the oath of Office was administered
President Arthur read from manuscript notes
the following
INAUGURAL ADDRESS
"For the fourth time in the history of the
Republic its Chief Magistrate has been re.
moved by death. All hearts are filled with
grief aud horror at the hideous crime which
has darkened our land, and the memory Of
the murdered President, his protracted suf
ferings, his unyielding fortitude, the example
and achievements of his life and the pathos
of his death, will forever illume the pages Of
our history.
"For the fourth time the officer elected by
the people and ordained by the Constitution
to fill vacancy SO created is called to as.
sumo the Executive Chair The wisdom Of
our fathers, foreseeing even the most dire pos.
sibilities, maLe sure that the Government
should never be imperiled because of the un.
certainty of human life. Meu may die, but
the fabric of our free institutions remains un.
shaken. No higher or more assuring proof
could exist of the strength and permaneDce
of popular government than the fact that
though The chosen of the people be struck
down, his constitutional successor is peaceful
ly installed without shock or strain, except
the sorrow which mourns the bereavement.
All the noble aspirations Of my lamented
predecessor, which found expression in his
life, the measures devised and suggested dur
ing his brief administration to correct the
abuses and enforce economy, to advance pros
perity and promote the general welfare, to
ensure domestic security and maintain friend
ly and honorable relations with the nations
of the earth, will be garnered in the hearts of
the people, and it will be my earnest endeav-
or to profit and to see that the Nation shall
profit by his example and experience
"Prosperity blesses our country. Our is.
cal policy is fixed by law, is we'll grounded
and generally approved. No threatening is
sue mars our foreign intercourse and the Wis
dom, integrity and thrift of our people may
be trusted to continue, undisturbed, the pres.
ent assured career of peace, tranquility and
welfare.
"The gloom and anxiety which have en-
shrouded the country must make repose espe-
cially welcome now. No demand for speedy
legislation has been heard. No adequate
reason is apparent for an unusual session of
Congress. The Constitution defines the funo-
tons and powers of the Executive as clearly
as those of the other two Departments Of the
Government and he must answer for the just
exercises of the discretion it permits and the
performance of the duties it imposes.
"Summoned to these high duties and re-
sponsiblities and profoundly conscious of
their magnitude and gravity, l assume the
trust imposed by the Constitution. relying
for light on Divine guidance and the virtue,
patriotism and intelligence of the American
people,"
After the reading of the address by the
President, Secretary Blaine stepped forward
and grasped the Presidents hand, and after
him the other members of the Cabinet and
the others present shook hands with the Pres.
ident. Ex-President Hayes arrived at the
Capitol soon after the ceremony of taking the
oath was concluded, and in company with
General Grant shortly afterwards left the
Capitol.
PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT.
A meeting of the Cabinet was held imme-
diately after the ceremony of administering
the oath was concluded, and the following
proclamation was prepared and signed by
President Arthur:
Whereas, In His inscrutable wisdom, it has
pleased God to remove from US the illustrlous
head of the Nation, James A. Garfield, late
President of the United States and whereas,
it is fitting that the deep grief which fills all
hearts should manifest itself, with one accord,
toward the throne of infinite grace, and that
we should bow before the Almighty and seek
from Him that consolation in our affllctlon
and that sanctifcation of our loss which He
is able and willing to vouchsafe: Now, there
fore, in obedience to a sacred duty, and in &C.
cordance with the desire OF the people, /,
Chester A. Arthur, President of the United
States Of America, do hereby appoint Mon
day next, the 26lh day of September, on
which day the remains of our honored and
beloved dead will be consigned to their last
resting place on earth, to be observed through
out the United States as day of humiliation
and mourning, and earnestly recommend all
the people to assemble on that day, IN their
respective places of Divine worship, there to
render alike their tribute of sorrowful sub.
mission to the will of Almighty God, and OF
reverence aud love for the memory and char
acter of our late Chief Magistrate
"In witness whereof, have hereunto set
my hand, and caused the seal of the United
States to be affixed.
"Done at the City of Washington, the 22d
day of September, in the year of our Lord,
1881, and Of the Independence of the United
States, the one hundredth and sixth.
.--, CHESTER A. ARTHUR.
By the President,
h D. JAMES G. BLAINE,
I, Coorotarv of State