The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-03-12
1t may be added that while these events were

| the last humiliation to his party. He had not
| the courtesy te stay in Washington even for a
! few hoars. and lead his presence to the inaugu-
ration of his successor Tradition reports that
| he ordered his carriage to be at the door of the
White House at midnight. Whether this be
| strictly true or not, before the dawn of the
| 4th of March he had left Washington forever.
Since that time the custom has changed. Al
| though the Sd of March expires, by calendar
and clock, at midnight, that is
AN UNsEENLY HOUR
| for inaugural ceremonies Noon of the 4th was
| fixed az the hour when the old Administration
should end and the new one begin. This Is in
accord with the rules of Congress which, IN de-
| fiance of the almanac, fix each legislative day
| from noon Of that day to noon of the next.
Business Is often done on Tuesday, for instance,
| that the Record shows TO have been done on
| Monday. Congressman are I" q law unto them
| selves in this respect. Sometimes one of the
houses Of Congress will meet in the morning.
| continuing the session Of the previous day, and
| extend it through that entire day without adj
journment, and then the whole appears as of
the previous day, the following one being a
blank in the Record. Any business that may
have beer set for this day is horeesSly cut off.
This is way factions in Congress have of play
| ing parliamentary tricks upon each other.
The change from Republican to Democratic
supremacy in national affairs was made last
who went in had good and sufficient reasons
for rejoicing, whiie those who went out grace
fully
ACCEPTED THE INEVITABLE.
So it was that spirit Of "grace, mercy, and
peace" shed its benign influence over those
who bat yesterday were immersed in the strife
Of heated political contest. Mr.. Hendricks
was the first TO enter into the possession OF his
heritage, beyond the stormy banks Of last
H.. . l,o,
cheated out of 10 minutes of his time as Vice
President. The Senate was in its last mo-
ments. The tangled and struggling threads of
business were being gathered up "a rapidly as
possible, preparatory to final adjournment.
The passage by the House Of the bill to retire
the Hero of Appomattox had been announced,
and the walls of the Senate Chamber still
echoed the cheers. The hands upon the face
Of the big marble clock were dangerously near
to the hour of IL. The stately Senators and
the eager throng that crowded the galleries
eagerly awaited the message from President
Arthur nominating Ulysses S. Grant for the
position provided for in the BILL The situa-
ton was one of the most thrilling interest,
rarely equaled in the century of that body'5
history The venerable Capt. BaSSett with
long, flowing gray hairs and beard, who has
performed the functions of Assistant Door
keeper Of the Senate for moro than 80 years,
passed up the aisle with long rod in his hand,
and stepped upon a chair in front Of the clock.
All the Senators knew what he was going 10
do for he has done the same thing many times
before. The frosty Edmunds, who presided,
turned his head and the Senators all kept their
eyes TO the front, that they might not see the
old functionaTy SIS he reached up and
TURNED BACK TEN MINUTES
the hands of the clock moment later the
message from the President came in and was
read. The nomination of Gen. Grant was con-
frmed without a dissenting voice. The nine
Senators who voted weeks before, against the
passage Of the bill, had experienced needed
change of heart. or prudently held their peace.
The great shout that went up, prolonged for
several minutes in which Senators from North
and South heartily joined, was almost without
a parallel. Mr.. Edmunds although the author
of the BILL and though none were more glad
than he for the consummatiOn of this long
DELAYED act Of justice, scowled at such an out
rage upon the proprieties of that dlgnified
body, and pounded yiciousIy with his gavel,
but it was not in human power to check that
outburst of popular feeling
But, strictly speaking, although the Senate
clock beHed the fact, it was now past twelve
o'clock, and Mr.. Hendricks was
WAITING TO BE SWORN IN
as Vice President. The Justices Of the Supreme
Court entered in solemn procession. The MEM
bers of the Diplomatic Corps followed, resplend-
ent In gold lace and knightly decorations, and
then came those famous soldiers, Sheridan and
Hancock, drawing hearty applause. When all
was ready, Senator Ednunds administered the
oath to Mr.. Hendricks, who signed his name to
the obligation with a somewhat tremulous
hand Then Mr.. Edmunds delivered brief
valedictory, and graciously bowed his successor
into the chair. Mr.. Hendricks seized the gayel
and gave his first rap upon the marble table as
Vice President OF the United States aud Presi-
dent of the Senate.
Mr.. Hendricks had worn his honors for more
than one hour, and was getting quite used to
it" before the senior member of the new Pres
idential firm in the presence of that mighty
gathering at the east front Of the Capitol had
received the oath OF Office from the lips OF Chief
Justice Waite, and was clothed with the
FULL PhNoPLY OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE.
Mr. Arthur, now ex-PTesident was the first
to offer his congratulations 10 President Cleve-
land. This he did with that blandness and
snavity of manner which have made Mr.. Ar
thur the very Chesterfield of Washington
ciety. Together they rode through that
enormous multitude. that for more than a
mile, from the Capitol 90 the White House,
filled Pennsylvania avenue as it was never
filled before on any similar occasion; together
they received the plaudits of the people, and
together they reviewed the almost endless COL
umn as il swept past the Executive Mansion.
were invited to an elaborate luncheon which
Mr. Arthur had prepared. Thus, with the ut
most hospitality, and with the kindliest feeling
on both sides, the new occupant of the White
House aud the members of his family were vel
coined. Mr.. Arthur's household goods and gods
had all been packed preparatory to removal.
Early in the evening he withdrew to the house
Of his steadlast friend Secretary Freipghuy-
sen, leaving President Cleveland in full posses
Sion No nation upon which the sun shines
ever changed its ruler more gracefully and
easily.
TURNING OVER THE DEPARTMENTs.
The new Cabinet ministers having been duly
confirmed by the Senate on Friday, took formal
possession of their several Departments on the
following day. The services Of Justice Field,
of The Supreme Court, were called into requisi-
ton to administer 70 each in turn the oath of
Office. Beginning at precisely II o'clock, Sec
rotary Bayard received and subscribed the oath
at the Office OF the Secretary of State, in the
presence of number of distinguished gentle
men, The party Immediately repaired TO the
offices of the Secretary OF the Navy and Secre-
tary OF War, and Mr.. Whitney and Mr. EudicOtt
were duly installed. The party then took car
riages and proceeded TO the Department of JUS
tice, the Treasury, the Department of the Iu-
terror and the General Post-Ofcc, and their
new chiefs-Mr. Garland, Mr.. Manning. Mr.
Lamar and Mr. Villas, respectively -were
qualified and assumed their duties. Except the
administration of the oath in each case by JUS
tice Field, there was 80 formal ceremony. In
fact. but for the change OF faces the advent OF a
new regime would have been almost imper-
ceptible, so quietly, and without any fuss, was
il cousammatcd. The new heads of Depart