Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-11-18
A CENTURY AGO.
The Memorable Inauguration
of General Washington.
GREAT PROCESSION AND BALL.
The Peculiar Agreement Signed by
the First President and
Vice-President.


Action has been taken by the citizen
of New York regarding proposed cen
tennial celebration on April 80, 1889, Q
George Washihgton's Inauguration a
President, and as this matter is now be
fore the public some details of that his
toric ceremony may be interesting.
On September 13, 1888, the adoption 0
the Constitution was publicly declared
and this city was selected as the seat O
the general Government. The City Hal
in Wall street, in which the Continenta
Congress had been accustomed to meet
was falling to decay. There was no
money enough in the city treasury t,
make the needed repairs. SO a numbe
of wealthy gentlemen, under the direc
ton of Major L'Enfant, subscribed
the necessary funds. On Marcf
4th, 1889, the day appointed
for the assembling of Congress, bells
were rung and canon fired, but when the
hall was thrown open on that day only q
few members appeared. This was due
to the bad travelling, which kept away
the rural Congressman. and not until
April 9th were there enough present to
form quorum. The votes for President
and Vice-President were counted, and
George Washington and John Adams
were declared elected to those offices.
Adams, who arrived in New York on
April 21st, was escorted by Governor
Clinton and staff and regiments to Kings.
bridge. There he was received by Con-
gressmen and escorted to the City Hall,
where he delivered his inaugural ad.
dress.
Washington reached the city two days
later. His journey from Mt. Vernon
was characterized by ovations all the
way. He had wished to travel privately
and quietly, but he found this impossible
without harshly repelling the heartfelt
welcome that was everywhere accorded
to him. Everywhere he was met with
enthusiasm, and he could not escape the
public expressions of gratitude of the
people for his noble achievements. AT
Alexandria, Georgetown, Philadelphia
and other places they burst forth in un-
restrained rejoicings. The bridge at
Trenton, over which Washington re-
treated before CORVALLIS to fall upon the
. lOlCC6 dU IluC6UUl, WAS BUT0WQ
with flowers by young ladies'.
A committee of both houses of Con-
gress met the great General at Elizabeth
town Point, where the party took a
barge for New York. Landing at the
foot OF Wall street, Governor Clinton,
his staff, militia and large concourse of
citizens received the President with the
widest enthusiasm.
Washington was escorted by big pro-
cession to No. Cherry street, formerly
occupied by Samuel Osgood, which had
been prepared for his reception, and
thence proceeded to the residence of the
Governor, where he dined. The same
evening the city was illuminated, and
there fireworks from the Battery to the
farthest uptown building.
The Federal Hall was not ready for
use, and week elapsed before the ar
rangements for the Inauguration were
completed. The outer balcony, looking
down Broad street, was chosen for this
great ceremony. At 9 A. NJ. on April
30th religious services were performed in
all the churches. Shortly after noon a
procession was formed at the house of
Washington, consisting of the city
cavalry, heads of departments and Con-
gressmen in carriages, followed by the
General alone in a carriage, his aid-de-
camp and secretary, Colonel Humphreys
and Tobias Lear, with the resident
foreign Ministers in carriages bringing
up the rear. Upon reaching the Senate
Chamber, Vice.P President Adams took
his seat, and after saying that everything
was ready, rose and proceeded to the
balcony, followed by the Senate and
House of Representatives.
Adams, Knox, Steuben and Hamilton,
his old companions in arms, were
grouped around Washington as Chancel-
ior Livingston administered the oath,
and as he ended with "Long live George
Washington, the first President of the
United States," the spectators broke out
in tumultuous shouts Of rejoicing.
Returning to the Senate Chamber,
Washington delivered his inaugural ad.
dress. He then proceeded on foot, fol-
lowed by crowd, to st. Paul's Church,
where prayers were said by Bishop Pro.
vost. In the evening the city was bril-.
liantly illuminated.
A month later Mrs. Washington ar.
rived, and was received at the Battery
with the Federal salute of thirteen guns
During the first session of Congress the
President lived at the house on Cherry
street where he was first received upor
his arrival in the city. The new Presi
dental mansion was not ready unit
after the removal OF Congress, when i
became the residence of Governor Gin
Aon and afterward became the Custom
House.
1t is related that President Washing
ton and Vice-President Adams signet
the following at Philadelphia in Decem
ber, 1887:
/, G.. W., President of the United
States of America, or I, j. A., Vice
President OF the United States OF Nortl
America (nautatis mutandis), do hereb
pledge my honor that whenever per
FORM the functions of my office l will b
dressed properly in the manufactures c
the United States: and do promise t
pay to the Federal Clerk of the Assembl
one silver dollar for every day that
shall be discovered during the tim
aforesaid to be dressed in hat, Goa
waistcoat, breeches, shirt, stockings c
shoes of foreign manufacture.-[N.
Press.
THE NEW YORK FASHIONS
As Reported by the Fashion Edito