The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-25
BUCHANAN AND LINCOLN.
IceneS Attendant Upon the Inauguration Of
the Last Democratic President.
sonrp." in Cleveland Leader.

sCarp." in Cleveland Leader.
The Inauguration of the last Democratic Pres
dent is of especial interest at this time When
Buchanan was inaugurated on the 4th of March,
1857, Washington was hardly more than vii
lage, scattered over territory large enough Tor
m immense city 1t contained less than $1,000
Inhabitants, and what were then considered the
finest houses were just below the Capitol and
above the avenue The fashionable northwest
part of the city was swamp, and even the negro
huts which later sprang up had not yet APP
peared The whole country contained less than
10000 900 of population. Still the records
state than 100 900 strangers came to see the in
Ruguration, and on the night of the Sd OF
March thousands walked the streets to keep
warm being unable to procure lodgings. Sew
eral of the different hotels, small as they were
then, had 800 guests registered, and every
boarding house was packed, halls, cellar, ard
garrett.
March was bleak winter day, and the
President-elect rose before daybreak, at his
home, at Wheatlands Penn, and had nnlshed
breakfast.befor he started for Lancaster In his
carriage He had written and rewritten his
inaugural message, and he made only one
change in it after he got to Washington. A
crowd of Lancaster citizens came to Wheat
lands to escort him to the depot and band OF
music played while he rode into town with his
private secretary, Mr. Henry, Harriet Lane,
anu announcer young lduyi III MS Carriage.
At the Lancaster station he found special
car waiting for him. built for the occasion by
Robert Magraw railroad friend of his This
car had painted windows, and these represented
the scenes about Wheatlands, President Buchan-
ans home. All along the road from Lancaster
to Washington ovations were given the Presi-
dent-eect, but he arrived in Washington two
hours earlier than was expected and the pro
gramme of his reception here was rather thin
He was driven at once to the National Hotel,
which still stands at Pennsylvania avenue half
way between the Capitol and Treasury, and here
he crowded with visitors. Nearly everybody
was admitted, and politicians Office seekers and
DISTINGUISHED parties pushed this way and that
to get at him. That night he received invita-
TONS says Gohight to dine with President
Pierce, Stephen A. Douglas, and others, but he
declined all invitations
All night of the Sd Of March. 1857, Congress
was in session. The Attn broke bright and sun
ny, with an atmosphere full Of the biandness OF
spring. As it did so hundreds of people were al
ready at their stands to get an early watch point
for the procession, and the City Hall steps,
whore it was to organize, were crowded. At II
o'clock the procession was formed, and it
iched to Wizards Hotel, at the head of Penn
Rylvania avenue, near the Treasury, where the
two Presidents, Pierce and Buchanan, were to
meet and to go to the Capitol in the same
carriage President Pierce a few
minutes late He came in a private carriage,
and the crowds cheered. as he and Buchanan
shook hands at the Fourteenth street door of the
hotel and entered the open barouche prepared
for them With them rode Senators Bgler. of
Pennsylvania, and Foote of Vermont Tho
procession was a long one. 1t was made up
military organizations, citizens, and clubs
and in it two Pennsylvanians who, it is said,
had walked sixty miles to be present at the in
augura.io of ''old Buck as they called him.
One wagon represented peace. war, commerce.
and agriculture, and bore a liberty pole in the
center running up seventy feet with gorgeous
liberty cap on its top The Presdentelect was
near the head of the procession. and near him.
throughout the ceremonies was physician
ready to administer medicines should the little
touch which he had caught OF the National Hotel
disease prove dangerous AT the Capitol So 600
people were present, and it is recorded that Beau
Hickman was among them passing from one to
another and soliciting small loans. The
inaugural address delivered on the
east portico of the Capitol, and the
President was duly in. As the
oath was administered it is said it was as still as
death, and at the close of the Inauguration there
were cheers salvos of artillery and music by
ceeded to the White House. which ex-President
Pierce had vacated and here Buchanan
ceved the people. The Inauguration ball that
night was held in room prepared for it in con
neetion with the City Hall and thousands
present AS Buchanan came in at $780,
the band struck up Hail to the Chief
and here another reception was held
about midnight He took supper before he went
away, and it is said that the feast on this occa-
sion was very fine. Good wine flowed like wa
ter, and there were five hundred gallons of oys-
ters and eight hundred chickens. So closed the
Inauguration. Of course, the city was crowded
with the usual sights of such an event The
toy balloon man and the peanut vender We'd with
the popcorn seller in making the day hideous
There was a balloon ascension, and Dan Rices
circus was also in the field.