West-Jersey pioneer., 1881-03-03
From the Washington Republic.
HOW WASHINGTON WAS INAU.
GURATED.

1t may not be uninteresting, as the time
for the inauguration of the twentieth Pres-
dent of the United States approaches, to re-
call the ceremonies and the surroundings
| when his first and most illustrious prede-
cessor took his oath Of Office.
! The Congress of the United States then
occupied Federal Hall, which stood on the
site of the present Sub Treasury, at the cor
ner of Nassau and Wall streets, and front
| ing Broad street. The building, which had
been built for city hall, was reconstructed
under the direction of Major L Enfant who
afterward planned this metropolis and whose
memory should be hoEored here. 1t was in
the classic style of architecture, with en-
blematic designs within and without. The
hall of the House of Representatives was
octangular, about sixty feet in diameter,
with an arched ceiling forty-six feet high in
the CENTRE 1t had two galleries for specta-
tors, the Speakers chair was on platform
and each Representative had his separate
desk and chair.
The Senate chamber, on the second story
of the building, was forty feet by thirty in
dimensions, with an arched ceiling thirty
feet high in the centre, painted sky-blue,
with sun and thirteen stars. 1t had sew
eral large fire places, with mantepieces OF
American marble, and there was canopy
over the Presidents chair and window-cur-
tains of crimson damask. The desks and
chairs of the Senators were arranged in SEM
icircles and the chairs were upholstered with
crimson leather. The three windows on
Wall street opened out on balcony, twelve
feet wide. with an iron railing in front of it.
This balcony faced one end of Broad street
and was visible from nearly every part of
that wide thoroughfare.
The 4th of March, 1889, was the day ap-
pointed for the meeting of the first Congress,
but only eight Senators and thirteen Repre-
sentatives appeared-not enough for quo
rum in either House. There were but few
lines of stages, and the roads were almost
impossible at that season of the year. The
members-and by members mean Senators
and Representatives-came slowly along at
intervals of day or two. New York was
then, as it is now, very attractive city, and
Wall street was then the fashionable prom
enade. Canal street formed the upper
boundary of the city.
When quorum was obtained, on the 9th
of April, the first business was to open and
count the votes for President and Vice Pres
ident. Secretary Thompson was started
for Mount Vernon that afternoon on horse
back to inform General Washington that he
had been elected President, and messen-
ger was sent to Braintree, now Massachu-
setts, to communicate to John Adams the
announcement that he had been elected
Vice President.
Vice President dams left his home on
the 18th of April, and was escorted into
Boston by the Roxbury troop of horse, Cap
tain John Tyler. He was received by the
Governors aides, and federal salute was
fired on his arrival and departure by Major
Johnsons artillery. After he had lunched
with the Governor he left, escorted by the
Roxbury troop, commanded by Captain
Fuller. Arriving at Charleston, he was sa-
luted by Major Calder's artillery, and thence
throughout his journey he was escorted by
successive local troops, entering New York
under the escort of the City troop, Captain
Stakes. General Malcolm, with the mount
ed officers of his brigade, had also accom-
panied HIM from Kings brigade into the
city.
On the 21st of April Mr.. Adams was es-
corted by Senators Strong and lizard to the
Senate chamber, where he took the chair
and delivered brief address. He was the
guest of John Jay, but he soon removed to
Richmond Hill, where he had leased what
was then a country house, although now the
location is ''down town."
General Washington left Mount Vernon
on the 10Th of April and arrived at New
York on the 23d. His journey was one con-
tinued triumphant procession, and he was
almost all the way escorted by volunteer
troops of horse, while large bodies of uni
formed volunteer infantry paraded to honor
him. On his arrival at New Y ork Governor
Clint IN formally received him, and he was
escorted from tile wharf to his residence by
|
music. That night the city was Illuminated
there was a display Of fireworks-and the
volunteer corps marched about, drums beat
ing and colors flying.
The six days between Washington's ar
rival and his Inauguration as President were
passed in perfecting the arrangements for
the ceremonial which were directed by Cen
eral Knox, the Secretary of War. People
aocked into the city by every available con-
veyance, filling the taverns and exhausting
private hospitality.
The 30th of Apri-inauguratio day
was ushered in by federal salute fired from
the battery. All business and labor was
suspended, and the various military COM
panies paraded at their respective places of
rendezvous at an early hour and marched to
Cherry street, opposite the Presidents house,
where they were formed in line under the
command of Colonel Morgan Lewis. When
the President-elect came out on the steps of
his residence the troops presented arms, the
officers saluted, the cOlors were dropped and
the drums were ruffled. Washington raised
his hat in acknowledgement, and the troops
then wheeled into platoons and moved off
Washington followed in his chariot, with
the various civilians who accom- panied him
in other carriages. The order of procession
was as follows:
Colonel Lewis, commanding, accompanied
by two officers.
The City Troop of Dragons, commanded
by Captain Stakes.
A Band of Music.
A Battalion of Artillery, commanded by
/ Major Van Horn.
The New York Grenadier Corps, command
ed by Captain Harsin.
The German Grenadiers, commanded by
Captain Serbia.
A Band of Music.