Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1889-02-27

morning and soon after noon the committees
of congress and heads of departments waited
upon Washington and a grand procession
was formed, the military in advance, the
committees next, then the president in coach
accompanied by his aid-de-camp, Col. Hum
phreys, and his private secretary, Tobias Lear
After them We're various civil officers and
citizens. Arriving at Federal hall, they were
conducted by Marshal Webb to the senate
chamber, at the door of which the president
was formally received by Vice President
Adams, previously inaugurated, and con-
Quoted to his seat. Both houses Of congress
occupied the senate chamber before him.
Then the vice president, addressing Washing
ton, said:
"Sir, tho senate and house of representa-
tives OF the United States are ready to attend
you to take the oath required by tho constitu-
ton, which will be administered by the chan
cellor of tho state of New York"
Washington responded: II am ready to
proceed" Then they passed to the open porch
at the south end of the hall, where Chancellor
Livingston, of New York, pronounced the
oath, and Washington, holding up his right
hand reverently, in clear, strong voice,
said:
II, George Washington, do solemnly swear
that will faithfully execute the Office Of
president of the United States, and will, to
the best of my ability, preserve, protect and
defend the constitution of the United States. I"
Then kissing the book which Marshal Webb
held up to him, he added, $50 help me God"
The chancellor then, turning to the people, ex-
claimed in loud voice: Long live George
Washington, president Of the United States"
A roar of applause went up from the SO, 900
or 1000 people present, which was followed
Immediately by shouts in all the adjacent
sections and the thunder of cannon. Wash
ington bowed to the assembled multitude and
returned to the senate chamber, where, both
houses and the officials being seated, he de-
| iyered his Inauguration speech. Then the
new president and the members of both
houses proceeded to st. Paul's church and
joined in the prayers which were offered by
DR.. Provost, lately ordained bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal church in New York
and appointed chaplain of the senate.
It is scarcely possible to describe the con-
trast between this scene and Washington's
second Inauguration. At the first the young
republic exhibited all the display that it
could muster. The second was very quiet.
| The French revolution and the negotiations
with Great Britain, the whisky instruction
then beginning in western Pennsylvania and
the i'll fortune that had followed the opera
tions against the Indians had reused furf
GUS party spirit in the congress. On the one
hand many public persons were vehemently
charged with a monarchical bias, and tho
opposition naturally going to the extreme,
fought against every form of state ceremony.
Mindful of these signs and the necessity Of
being complacent even to the prejudices Of
the people, Washington asked the opinions of
his cabinet concerning the forms to be used.
jefferson and Hamilton, who seldom agreed
in anything, agreed in advising him
that he should take the oath Of Office
privately at his own house, and that
certificate Of that fact should be de-
posted in the state department. Knox and
Randolph protested, insisting that the cere-
mony should be in public, but without any
ostentatious display. At the cabinet meeting
on the LIST of March it was decided that the
oath should be administered by Judge Cush-
ing of the supreme court Of the United States
in the senate chamber exactly at noon, and
''that the president shall go without form, at
tended by such gentlemen as he shall choose,
and return without form, except that he be
preceded by the marshal" the responsibility
being thus largely thrown upon Washington.
| He rode from his residence to the congress
drawn by six horses, preceded by the mar
shall, as proposed, and, accompanied by a very
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 as
could 6nd room, he rose and said:
''Fellow Citizens: am called upon by the
Of its chief magistrate. When the occasion
proper for it shall arrive, shall endeavor to
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, 1877, John Adams,
acting as vice president, opened and counted
the votes which made him president, an
nouncing that there were for him II, for
Thomas jefferson GO, for Thomas Pinckney-
late minister to Great Britain--50, for Aaron
Burr 80, Samuel Adams IS, Oliver Ellsworth
II, George Clinton Z, John James Eedell 8,
George Washington Q, John King Q, Samuel
johnson 2, and Charles c. Pinclney l.
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 sem
ate. With them he proceeded to the repre-
sentatiyes' hail. 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 IredeH Soon aloud cheering was heard
rolling along the street announcing theap-
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 a brief valedictory. All
the writers Of that Time described thesce