The Portland daily press., 1881-03-02
Lincoln's First Inauguration.
Gen Scott's Fear OF Assassination and His
Plans to Prevent It-Mr. Lincoln's Pre-
ference. llHI ..dr4 ..a 15bqs
National Republican,.


Speaking OF inaugurations and inaugural
committees" remarked Lewis Clephane to o
Republican reporter, "there was a little Incl
dent connected with the first Inauguration of
President Lincoln, which is interesting, If YOU
would like to hear it. Those were tlcklish
times, you know. The President-elect was
threatened with assassination, and there was
considerable uncertainty regarding the inau-
gural ceremonies. The Republican organiza-
tions, however, determined to carry out the
programme they had prepared. b. B. French
and l were appointed a committee to make
arrangements, and we called upon General
Scott to confer with him in regard to the
procession. He protested against having
procession, and became rather excited about
it. 1t would never do, he said; the President
was likely to be assassnated. We said that
was all fol-de-rol-perfect nonsense. do you
think SOP" retorted the general warmly; 'then
look at these" and putting his hand around to
his coat-tail pocket, feat which he performed
with difficulty on account of the rotundity Of
his figure, he drew forth big batch of letters
threatening the Presidents life. At this juno
ture it happened that Gen. Gaines of New
York, who had been attending the peace con- d
vention at Willard Hall, came into Gen.
Scott's room. Gen. Gaines fell upon Gen.
Scott's shoulder They wept and otherwise
showed great emotion. This diversion ap-
peared TO mollify Gen. Scott very much, and
resumlng the conference with us he said we
could have the procession, but there should be
no wide-awakes in it. He would, he said, sta
tion artillery at the cross-streets, and place
picked men on all tho high houses. Under
these conditions we could have q procession.
Before we left he inquired If we had seen Pres
ident Buchanan yet. Wereplied that we had
not. He said that he wished we would So
down we went and saw President Buchanan.
After we had explained our business the Presi-
dent said: Il don't see any reason for depart
ing from the general usage. Have you seen
Gen. Scott yet?" We told him the substance
OF the interview with Gen. Scott. WELL re-
piled the President, i think the general is un-
necessarily alarmed, but it is best TO defer to
his opinion Before We left the President said:
Now it will afford me pleasure to tender my
carriage to Mr.. Lincoln and accompany him
to the capitol to be sworn in.' We told him
that We had no doubt Mr.. Lincoln would ac-
cept the offer .i lilg u5tL
From the White House we went to Will
lards hotel, where Mr.. Lincoln was stopping
Mr.. Lincoln received US in his ROOM and we
told him what President Buchanan had said.
Mary, Mary, come hereP called the President
elect, calling to his wife, and when Mrs. Lin
Win dppOdlCuy no ldlu Inc udtLer before her.
saying, Mary, the President has rendered to
me the use of his carriage, and agreed to ac-
company me to the capitol when am sworn
in Mrs. Lincoln said she thought that was
very kind, and, OF course Mr.. Lincoln would ac-
cept the offer. AS she was retiring Mr. Limo n
called out, Mary, by the way, see some one
mas presented you with a carriage referring
to some notice which had appeared in the pa
pers. When thissscene was oyerwe detailed to
the president-elect what our business was and
asked him what his wishes We're. Mr.. Lincoln
rising from his seat threw one leg over the
back of his chair, and rested his chin on his
palm, and stopping moment to consider,
When was practicing law in Illinois, client
OF mine, peculiar sort OF fellow, was brought
before the court, and the judge asked him,
"Doi you swear, or affirm" ''Mr. judge"
We supposed that we were to take that for an
answer: So we left. Tho result was that We
had a fine Inauguration.