The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1881-03-05
Presidential Inaugurations.

ApiOpoS VI OAo eAteuSlVo preparations
for a grand civic and military display
upon the occasion of the inauguration of
President Garfield, our Washington cor
respondent furnishes the following rem
iniscences of the installation of Presi-
dents elect i'll the earlier days of the Re-
public: aF W
Eighty years ago thoronghfare was
opened through the alder bushes from
the White House to Capitol Hill to ac-
commodate the procession OIL the way to
the laying "f the cornerstone of the old
Capitol. Through this prin,eval path
way, now Pennsyls ai,ia Avenue, the
+" Father Of his Country" clad in his
Masonic paraphernalia, with other great
men Of that day, passed to aid i'll laying
the cornerstone Of the National State
House. Washington was inaugurated in
New York, April 30, 1889, in the Federal
Building, standing OH the ground now
occupied by the Custom House.
Thomas Jefferson, having dislike for
pomp and ceremony, rode unattended
to the Capitol from his lodgings on an
old horse, dismounted and tied him to
the fence and N the plainest homespun
entered the little legislative hall, pro
ceeded to the chamber of the Senate and
with somewhat ridiculous stateliness of
the olden time, accepted the chair prof
fered to him with grand flourish 10y the
graceful President of the Senate, Aaron
Burr. Political brethren did not always
dwell together in unity in those early
times. as his predecessor, Adams, refused
to be present at his Inauguration. The
Inauguration of Madison, an immense
affair, was witnessed by 10000 persons,
including various military companies,
who were his escort over the dirt road
way of Pennsylvania Avenue
1t is a matter of history that when An
drew jackson was inaugurated, i'll 1929,
thousands of persons. military organiza-
tions of numerous kinds, marched down
the historic avenue to the Capitol. This
Inauguration was the most disorlerly
that the capital city has ever known.
The great political excitement which
resulted in the success of s Old Hickory y
gave itself full vent. Democracy was
rampant and Pennsylvania Avenue the
scene of the widest confusion. Whisky,
the emblem of "pure Democracy in
those days as it still continues to be in
various portions of the country, literally
flowed upon every street corner. The
scene at the White House beggared de-
scription. Orange punch was made by
the barrel, and pals full of Wine stood
OH tables. Ice cream was served in buck
cts, and besmeared the dresses of fashion,
able ladies. The toughest characters
filled the White House, civil dignitaries
and ambassadors were trampled under
foot, furniture was broken, carpets orna-
mented with cigar stnmps, tobacco juice
and lemon peel, and the removal of the
liquors to the garden by the head waiter
was the only means Of relieving the
President of his noisy, besotted guests.
Martin VanBuren rode with the retir-
ing President to the Capitol in carriage
made from the frigate Constitution.
William Henry Harrison was the log
cabin and hard cider candidate, and
fond Of military pageautry. He rode to
the Capitol on a splendidly caparisoned
white charger. A feature Of the process
sion was log cabin on wheels, drawn
by thirteen white horses, and a spinning
jenny on a truck, which rolled along
with six white steeds from "MaryIand.
my Maryland" harnessed to the front. A
month afterward the dead body of the
President was moved slowly in funeral
procession over the same avenue
Things did not improve with the in
auguratien of Polk. The city was liter
ally filled with people; the toughest
characters, the lowest elements of poll
tics were fully represented, and respecta-
Bile people were happy if they escaped
insult and abuse in the streets. 4 wri-
ter says: Snch n spectacle was never
seen as the procession. The Empire Club,
Jewell and the notorious Rynders We're
the features OF the day. In the proces-
sion was white man painted like an
Indian, with a ring in his nose, and
drunk. 1t was impossible to go through
the streets without being ins,iltea by
some drunken ioafer"
The hetter time so long proplesiet;
came ut last, and suci, scenes are now
kn own as the relics ai the buried past.