Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-01-01
THE LAST DEMOCRATIC PRESI-
DENT.
The Ceremonies and Incidents At
tending His Inauguration

CfatiC pTtSIuGH6 Is Ol especial interest
at this time, writes a Washington
corrs spondent of the Cleveland Lead
| er. When Buchanan was inauc urat-
ed on the 4th of March, 1857, Wash
ington was hardly more than a vii.
lage, scattered over territory large
enongh for an immense city. 1t con-
tanned less than $4,000 inhabitants,
and what were then considered the
finest houses were just below the capt.
toll and above the avenue. The fash
lonable northwest part Of the CITY was
a swamp, and even the negro huts
which later sprung up had not yet
appeared. The whole country con-
tanned less than 80, 600, 900 of popu-
$50, 600 strangers came to see the in
auguration, and on the night of the
I'd of March thousands walked the
street to keep warm, being unable to
procure lodgings. Several of the diff
ferent hotels, small as they were then,
had 800 guests registered, and every
clearinghouse was packed, halls,
cellar, and garnet.
March Sd was bleak winter day
and the president elect rose before
day break at his home at Wheatiands.
PennSy lvania, and as soon as he had
finished breakfast he started for Ian
caster in his carriage. He had writ
ten and rewritten ais inaugural mes
sage, and he only made one change
in it after he got to Washington. A
crowd of Lancaster citizens went to
Wheatlands to escort him to the
depot and band of music played
while he rode into town with his pri-
vate secretary, Mr.. Henry, Harriet
Lane, and another young lady in
his 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 represent
ed the scenes about Wristbands.
President .Buchanan's home. All
along the road from Lancaster to
Washington ovations were given the
president elect, but he arrived In
Washington two hours earlier than
was expected, and the programme Of
his reception here was rather thin.
He was driven at oEce to the Ma
tional hotel, which still stands GA
Pennsylvania avenue, half way be-
tween the capitol and the treasury,
and here he was crowned with visitors
Nearly everybody was admitted, and
politicians, office-seekers, and disIn-
terested parties pushed this way and
that to get at him. That night he re-
ceived invitations, SAYS Gohight, to
din" with President Pierce, Stephen
A. Douglas and others, and declined
all invitations.
All night of the Sd of March, 1857,
congress was 10 session. The 4th broke
bright and sunny, with an atmosphere
full OF the blandness of spring. AS it
did so hundreds of people were
already at their stands to get an early
watch point for the procession, and
the city hall steps, where it was to
organize, were crowded. At 10
o'clock the procession was formed,
and it marched to Wizards hotel, at
the head of Pennsy lvania avenue,
near the treasury, where the two pres
idents, Pierce and Buchanan, were to
meet, and go to the capitol in the
same carriage. President Pierce was
a few minutes late. He came
in private carriage, and the crowds
cheered as he and Buchanan shook
hands at the Fourteenth street door of
the hotel, and entered the open ba-
ROUGH prepared fer them. With them
rode Senator Bilger, of Pennsylvania,
and FOOte, of Vermont. The process
sion was long one. It was made up
of military organizations, citizens,
and clubs, and in it were two Pean-
sylvanians who, it was said, had
walked sixty miles to be present at
the Inauguration of ''Old Buck" as
they called him. One wagon repres-
ented peace, war, commerce, and
agriculture, and bore a liberty pole in
it's center running up seventy feet,
with gorgeous liberty cap on its
top. The president-elect was near
the head Of the procession, and near
him, throughout the ceremonies, was
a physician ready to administer medi-
cines should the little touch which he
had caught of the National MOTEL dis
ease prove dangerous. It the capitol
fifty thousand people we're present,
and it is recorded that Beau Hickman
was among them, passing from one
to another and soliciting small loans.
The inauguration address was de-
livered on the east portico of the CAPT
toll, and the president was dueiy
sworn in. AS the oath was admins
tered 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 the Marine band. The
president then proceeded to the white
house, which ex-President Pierce had
vacated. and here Buchanan received
the people.
The Inauguration ball that night
was held in a room prepared for it in
connection with the city hall, and
thousands we're present. AS Buchanan
came In, at $50 the band struck up
Hail to the Chief, and here another |
reception was held for several hours,
when the president left at about mid |
night. He took supper before he
went away, and it is said that the
feast on this occasion was very fine. |