The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1889-03-08

large concourse Of citizens, entered the
senate chamber and in the presence of both
houses Of congress, heads of the departments
foreign ministers and as many spectators al
could find room, he rose and said:
"Fellow Citizens: am called upon by the
votes Of my country to execute the functions
Of its chief magistrate When the occasion
proper for it shall arrive, shall endeavor TIC
express the high sense entertain of this dis.
tinguished honor and of the confidence which
has been reposed in me by the people Of the
United States of America. Previous to the
execution of any official act of the president,
the constitution requires an oath Of office.
This oath am now about to take in your
presence, SO that if it shall be found during
my administration of the government have
in any instance violated, willingly or know.
ingly, the injunction thereof, may, besides
mourning constitutional punishment, be sub
ject to the upbraiding Of all who are now
witnesses of this solemn ceremony"
JOHN ADAMS.
1t would seem that the young republic ex-
hausted its taste and capacity for ceremonial
display at the first Inauguration, for the con-
trast between that and several succeeding
was almost ludicrous. Furthermore, great
deal of the pomp and pageantry of Washing
toms administration, the gilded coach with
coat of arms on the panel, the six white
horses, the half court dress and all that sort
of thing rapidly disappeared. The country
was rapidly growing more democratic
On the Sth Of February, 1897, John Adams,
acting as vice president, opened and counted
the votes which made him president, an
nouncing that there were for him n, for
Thomas jefferson 60, for Thomas Pinckney-
late minister to Great Britain-59, for Aaron
Burr 30, Samuel Adams Is, Oliver Ellsworth
II, George Clinton Z, John James Ireden 3,
George Washington Q, John King Q, Samuel
johnson 2, and Charles c. Pinckney 1.
On the 4th Of March Mr.. jefferson was
installed as vice president early in the morn
ing, and took his seat as president of the SEN
ate. With them he proceeded to the repre-
sentatives' hall, attended by the members
and large audience of ladies and gentlemen
In front Of the speakers chair sat Chief JUS
tice Ellsworth and Justices Cushing, Wilson
and Iredell Soon loud cheering was heard
rolling along the street announcing the ap-
proach of Washington and the president
elect. As they entered the hall the audience
arose and greeted them with enthusiastic
cheers Washington, when they had reached
their seats, read brief valedictory. All
the writers of that time described the scene
as singularly impressive and affecting.
After Washington Mr.. Adams arose,
took the oath of Office, and at once de-
ivered his inaugural. It was &AAd that
when he concluded and Washington left the
hall, nearly all the vast audience, and even
the members, followed him, and the new pres
ident was left almost alone. And that even
ing the merchants of Philadelphia testified
their love for Washington by splendid
banquet and other entertainments
THOMAS JEFFERSON.
and so fully described as the Inauguration of
Thomas Jefferson should have been the sub
ject of so much discussion. We now know
that it was the intention that he should pro-
coed in the usual state-that is, in carriage
with four or six horses-to the Capitol, pre-
coded by the marshal and followed by
whatever civic societies should volun-
teer; but as matter of fact his
carriage did not arrive, and so he rode on
horseback, with only moderate state, and en-
tered the senate chamber attended by the heads
of the departments, the marshal of the District
of Columbia, his officers and other officials.
In the last year of John Adams administra-
ton Washington city had become the seat of
government. Early in the morning on the
18th of March, 1901, Aaron Burr took the oath
of Office as vice president and acted as such
when the senate and house assembled to re-
ceive Jefferson. He vacated the chair before
Mr.. jefferson and occupied one on the left,
Chief Justice John Marshall sitting on the
right Mr. Jefferson then delivered his in
augural, after which the oath of office was
administered by the chief justice, and with
out further ceremony the crowd dispersed
and congress adjourned.
The second Inauguration of Mr.. jefferson
differed little from the first
JAMES MADISON.
On the 4th of March, 1909, there was q
large assemblage to witness the Inauguration
Of James Madison, and some circumstances
with it attracted attention, among
others the fact that Mr.. Madison was clad in q
plain suit of black, all of which was of Ameri-
can manufacture. He went through the cere-
monies of the day with solemn dignity. The
officers were seated as before, the vice presi-
dent on his left, the chief justice on his right,
Mr.. Jefferson accompanying him to the door,
The second administration of Mr.. Madison
began with almost exactly the same ceremo-
MES
JAMES MONROE.
The Inauguration of James Monroe, on the
It'll of March, 1917, attracted a very large
crowd, especially from Virginia and the bor-
Ter states Of the north. The ceremonies were
the same as before. As the 4th
If March, 1921, fell on Sunday, the second in
of Mr.. Monroe took place the next
lay The hall of the house was packed with
and spectators; the city was crowded
With visitors from all parts of the country,
md the procession from the White House to
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