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


executive chair, and had long been resident o
Washington in the highest official capacities.
Friday, the 4th ofMarch 1875, was among the mos
beautiful of the season, and many strangers wer'
present at the Capital, attracted by the importan
and exciting incidents attending the election o
the President by the House of Representatives.
eleven o'clock on the morning of that day pro
cession of military and citizens, under the chic
marshalship of Tench Ringgold, the marshal o
the District of Columbia, received the President
elect at his residence on, street Composite tht
present Ebbitt House,, and escorted him to tn,
Capitol. At about half past twelve he was intro
dueed TO the assembled Congress by President
Monroe and, theoath of office having been admin
istered by the Chief Justice he read his inaugural
address. He was then escorted back to his resi-,
denee, where he held a reception, Mr.. Monroe re-
turning to the White House, where he also received
during the afternoon.
In the evening ball was held at Csrusis Assem-
bly, rooms
ANDREW JACKSON.
General Jackson left Nashville about the 18th Of
JanuaFy, 1879, proceeding down the Cumberland
to the Ohio and up the Ohio to Pittsburg via Gin
cinnati, arriving at Washington On the 18th Of
February. where he put up at the Indian Queen
Hotel (now Natisnall and where he remained IN
til the day of his Inauguration
Wednesday, the 4th of March, 1929, was pleasant
and balmy, an immense crowd filing the streets,
butnoespecial ceremonies attended the assumption
of the Office by the President elect, which were
particularly marked by the absence Of President
Adams, and following which the new President
proceeded to the White House and held a recep-
ton.
Concerning this, the only public observance OF
the OCCASION a writer says:
"a profusion of refreshments had been provided.
f,11
walters opened the door TO bring it out rush
would be made, the glasses broken, the pals OF
liquor upset, and the most painful confusion pre-
vailed. To such a painful degree was this carried
that wine and ice cream could not be brought out
to the ladies' and tubs of punch were taken out OF
the lower story into the garden to lead OF the
was extremely difficult to keep anything like
order but it was notifying to see men with boots
heavy with mud standing On the damask-covered
chairs and tramping around the ROOM"
Iii. Adams retired TO house on Meridian Hill,
which he had rented from Commodore Porter, and
where he remained several months
At his second inauguration On Monday the 4th
of March, 1888, even less ceremony was observed.
The President entered the House of Representa-
tives at noon of that day, renewed the oath of
Office, delivered short address, and returned TO
the White House.
MARTIN VAN buren,.
Among the infiexible purposes of the admins
tration of General Jackson none were more promi-
nent than the determination of the President that
Mr.. Van Buren,, and none other, should succeed
him. To that end he had served for some two
years Secretary of State; them having been sent
to London Minister to the Court of St. James, had
been recalled TO acceptth Vice Presidency during
the second term of Jackson's administration, and
was accordingly present at the seat of Government
on the morning of Saturday, the 4th of March, 1887
when "Old Hickory" relinquishcd the reins of
government to younger hands.
Concerning the OCCASION" We quote from Mr.
n. P. Willis, who among the man. distinguished
citizens from other States, lent their presence to
the ceremonies:
THE republican procession consisting of the
Presidents and their families, escorted by small
volunteer corps, arrived soon after twelve. The
General and Mr.. Van Buren, were in the 'consti-
tutional phseton,' drawn by four grays, and as it
entered the gate they both rode uncovered. De-
scendng from the carriage at the foot of the steps,
q passage was made for them through the dense
crowd, and the tall white head of the old chief
TAIN still uncovered went steadily up through the
agitated mass, marked by its peculiarly from all
around it. The crowd and diplomats and
Senators in the rear of the columns made way, and
the ex-President and Mr.. Van Buren, advanced
with uncovered heads. murmur of feeling rose
up from the moving mass below, and the infrm old
man, emerging from a sick chamber, which his
thought it impossible he could leave,
bowed to the people and, still uncovered in the
cold air, took his seat beneath the portico. Mr..
an BuTen then advanced, and, with voice re-
distinct and with great dignity, read his
address to the people. The air was elastic and the
day still, and it is supposed that twenty thousand
people heard him from his elevated position dis
tinctly."
After the ceremonies the procession escorted Mr..
Van Buren, to the White House, and at q ball in
the evening at Carusis both Presidents attended.
General Jackson left Washington On the 18th of
March, 1887.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
General Harrison" says Mr. Thurlow Weed in
bis "Recollections," was feeble, broken down
nan at the time of his election
He was far advanced in years, and the usual
lions and suferfngs of an arduous course of life
during his long services in the field. The journey
from his home on the banks of the Ohio to Wash
ngton amid the rigors of severe winter bore
heavily upon him, and when he reached the seat
Of Government about the middle of February he
had the appearance of confirmed invalid. He
number ofcitizens met him at the depot and he
walked in procession with head uncovered down
he Avenue to GadSby's Hotel, exposing himself to
he falling snow in the most imprudent manner
he interval between the time of his arrival and his
The ceremonies on that occasion
1rate and fatiguing, and he became so exhausted
hat OH his arrival at the Capitol he taken into
he Viee-P Presidents room and had his temples
Oathed in brandy, preparatory TO taking the oath
If Office. The weather was inelement and bolster
1us, cold northeast wind blowing with much
force. He stood on the east front of the Capitol in
leLyerlng ms inaugural address and his enfeebled
condition was the subject of sorrowful remark of
hose who were near enough to observe his weak
ness and prostitution"
The escort, consisting of the District militia and
he Philadelphia Grays, William L. Brent, esq.,,
thief marsh al, formed on Pennsylvania avenue
md proce eded to Browns Hotel where the Presi-
lent-eleet was taken up, and, joining the process
,Ir. Van Buren, does not appear to have been pres
mt at any stage of the ceremonies. After deliver
ng his address, he returned in like manner to the
White House, where he held a reception and at
ended several balls in the evening, notably one
It the Assembly rooms, at Louisiana avenue and
i1th street,
JOHN TYLER.
President Harrison died at Washington on the 4th
# April, 1871, during the absence of Congress The
Ulcers of the Cabinet, of whom Daniel Webster
vas at the head, took charge of the Government
or the moment, Immediately sending a special
with an announcement to Vice Presi-
lent Tyler, then at his home a. Williamsburg Va,
f the melancholy fact On the morning of the 9Th
f April Mr.. Tyler arrived in Washington, and the
anne day, before Judge Cranch, of the District of
took the oath of Office without public
ceremonial.
JAMES K. POLK.
Mr.. Polk arrived in Washington on the 18th of
February, 1915, and went directly to his quarters
t the National Hotel, where he remained confer
ing with the leaders of his party, and the recpi
Mt of social courtesies at the hands of the cit-
ems until the morning of Tuesday, the 4th of
larch.
At eleven o'clock of that day, the weather being
yet and lowering, q procession both military and
ivic, Of which John NJ. MeCalla, esq, was chief
narshal proceeded to the quarters ofthe President
lect, and, receiving him with honors continued on
the Capitol, Mr. Polk and President Tyler riding
1gether in an open carriage. Arriving at the
enate Chamber, the President and President
lect entered together. and procession being ar
anged, moved to the east portico where the
resident delivered an address remarkable prin-
ipally for its length. The new President then re-
>ined his escort, which returned by a circuitous
quite 10 the White House where he receiund the |