Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-03-11


all the members Of the House. The chaplain
offered prayer, after which the proclamation
convening the Senate in special session was
read by the secretary, and Immediately after
ward Vice President Arthur called up the
newly elected Senators and administered TO
them the oath. The scene was then changed.
All prepared to enter the procession and go
TO the east front of the Capitol, to take part
in the inaugural ceremonies.
Outside the Capitol.
While the ceremonies described were going
on inside the capitol, the visiting regiments
of military, the civic organizations, political
clubs, and associations Of all kinds, took up
positions in front of the grand inaugural
stand, which had been erected upon the east
plaza. The space nearest 10 that upon which
the new chief magistrate was to take the oath
of Office was left free for the people, and it
was filed by one of the most representative
crowds ever assembled. On either side, as
far as the eye could reach the great space
which has been the scene of 30 many similar
ceremonies, but none so imposing as this,
was densely packed with human beings. In
the crowd were men and women, blacks and
whites, people of high and low degree, mill
ionaires and paupers, representatives from
every section Of the country. Il was partic-
ularly noticeable that the black men and wom-
en- many of whom had come from Virginia,
Maryland, and other points, on foot, to be
present at the ceremony were greatly i'm
pressed with its Importance
At the head Of the presidential party came
Frederick Douglass, the ex-slave, who is now
the United States marshal Of the District of
Columbia. Following the president and pres
ident-elect, came Mrs. Hayes-genial, smiling,
and maturely handsome as ever, and near her
was Mrs Garfield, supporting her husbands
A IL. "a
Waite in the flowing robes OF his office, upon
one side, took position at the front Of the
platform, cheer after cheer echoed and re-
echoed about the capitol from the 90, 600
men and women who stood upon the plaza or
thronged the roofs and windows. Immediate
ly behind Gen. Garfield and Mr. Hayes came
the vice president aud vice-p -president-elect,
followed by the senators of the United States,
justices OF the supreme court, members Of
the lower house, and the diplomatic corps in
glittering uniforms, which had already been
displayed to full advantage in the senate
chamber.
The Inaugural Address.
After be had taken his seat upon the front
Of the platform beside President Hayes, and
with the chief justice of the United States on
his right, Gen. Garfield sat for several mo-
ments, until those behind him on the plat
form had settled into their places. At once
there was hush all about, and then, in clear,
ringing tones, which penetrated 10 q great
distance and could be heard distinctly by sew
eral thousand persons, he delivered the fol-
lowing inaugural address:
FeiIOlo Citizens /: We stand to-day upon
an eminence which overlooks q hundred
years Of national life, q century crowned
with perils, but crowned with the triumphs
of liberty and law. Before continuing the
onward march let us pause on this height for
a moment to strengthen our faith and renew
our hope by glance at the pathway along
which our people have travelled.
1t is now three days more than hundred
years since the adoption Of the first written
constitution Of the United States, the articles
OF confederation and perpetual union. The
new republic was then beset with danger on
every hand. II had not conquered place in
the family of nations. The decisive battle OF
the war for independence, whose centennial
anniversary will soon be gratefully celebrated
at Yorktown, had not yet been fought. The
colonists were struggling not only against the
armies of great nation, but against the set
tied opinions Of mankind, for the world did
not believe that the supreme authority of gov
ernment could be safely intrusted to the
guardianship of the people themselves. We
cannot overestimate the fervent love of iber-
ty, the intelligent courage and the saving
common sense with which our fathers made
the great experiment of self-government.
When they found, after a short trial, that the
confederacy of the states vas too weak TO
meet the necessities of vigorous and ex-
panding republic, they boldly set it aside, aud
in its stead established a national union
founded directly upon the will of the people,
endowed with future powers of self preserVa-
ton and with ample authority for the accom-
pGshment of its great objects. Under this
constitution the boundaries OF freedom have
been enlarged, the foundations Of order and
peace have been strengthened, and the growth
in all the better elements of national life has
vindicated the wisdom of the founders and
given new hope TO their descendants Under
this constitution our people long ago made
themselves safe against danger from without
and secured for their mariners and flag equal
ify Of rights on all the seas. Under this con-
stitution twenty five states have been added to
the Union, with constitutions and laws framed
and enforced by their own citizens to secure
the manifold blessings Of local self govern
ment. The jurisdiction of this constitution
now covers an area fifty times greater than
that Of the original thirteen states and a pop
ulation twenty times greater than that of
1880. The supreme trial of the constitution
came at last under the tremendous pressure
of civil war. We ourselves are witnesses that
of that conflict purified and made stronger
for all the benefcent purposes of good gov
ernment.
And now, at the close Of this first century
of growth, with the inspirations of its histo-
ry in their hearts, our people have lately re-
viewed the condition Of their nation, passed
| judgment upon the conduct and opinions of
political parties and have registered their will
concerning the future administration of the
III 4 L..
will in accordance with the constitution is the
paramount duty of the Executive. Even
from this brief review it is manifest that the
nation is resolutely facing TO the front, re-
solved to employ its best energies in develop
ing the great possibilities of the future. Sa-
credly preserving whatever has been gained
to liberty and good government during the
century, our people are determined to leave
behind them all those bitter controversies. in
Guiding things which have been irrevocably
| settled, and the further discussion of which
can only stir up strife and delay the onward
march.
The supremacy of the nation and its laws
should be no longer a subject Of debate
| That discussion which for half q century
threatened the existence of the Union was
closed at last in the high court of war by a
| decree from which there is no appeal that
the constitution and the laws made in pursu-
ance thereof are and shall continue 70 be the
supreme law of the land, binding alike upon
the states and the people. This decree does
not disturb the autonomy of the states nor in
terfere with any Of their necessary rules of
local self-goyernment, but it does fix and es-
tablish the permanent supremacy Of the Un-
ion. The will of the nation speaking with
the voice of battle and through the amended
constitution has ful6lled the great promise Of
1776 by proclaiming Liberty throughout
the land to all the inhabitants thereof"
The elevation of the negro race from slave
ry to the full rights Of citizenship is the most
important political change we have known
since the adoption Of the constitution of 1881.
No thoughtful man can fail to appreciate its
benehcent effect upon our institutions and
people. 1t has freed us from the perpetual
danger Of war and dissolution. II has added
immensely to the moral aud industrial forces
of our people. 1t has liberated the master
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