The Indianapolis journal., 1889-03-03
THE INAUGURATION OF 1851.
The Journey from Harrisburg to Washington
The Ceremony at the Capitol.

March, 1861. As is the custom, he and his
family and friends went to Washington
some days prior to inauguration day.
Difficulty was rumored. Danger was
tended his departure from the. little, town
OF springfield, ILL.,, where, Immediately
preceding the departure OF the train, he
made farewell address to the friends and
neighbors who had known him all his life,
in which in noticeable degree. as fire.
auently thereafter Oh the trip to Washing
ton, he threw himself with all his burdens
upon his Heavenly Father, l was par
ticularly touched, for i was with the party
by the parallel he drew M between t the diff,
cmlties and enbarrassments that beset
Washington and those with which he was
weighted, and it was interesting to hear
him say that ''as Washington could not
(Lincolnl was quite conscious that as q
man, an individual. the representatives of
the people, he could not attain desired ends
unaided and alone.
Great curiosity was manifested, and anx-
iety. too, by the people along the route to
know how the President-elect felt toward
the turbulent elements in the South, and
how he would act under certain circum-
stances, the people hoped to forecast by
such utterance as he might make upon this
trip. which was the target for every eye in
the civilized world. 1t was in Trenton,
think, in the presence OF the Legislature,
by which he was rendered q reception, that
Mr.. Lincoln said if it was necessary to
put his foot down hard" he was prepared
to do so.
In Philadelphia word was conveyed to
the confidants of the President-elect that
trouble was apprehended between Harris
burg and Baltimore. Nevertheless, the line
marked out was adhered to, and on the fol-
lowing morning. with cheers and shouts
and cannon roar, the party was sent OFT by
special train to Harrisburg, where very
interesting and enthusiasts reception was
awarded them. In the evening, about 8
o'clock, Mr.. Lincoln, attended by his aids,
by circuitons route, made connection with
the regular Washington train at Baltimore,
leaving his family and friends to go on by
the regular train from Harrisburg the fol-
lowing morning. At 10 o'clock of the morn
ing Lincoln arrived in Washington, New
York city, and therefore the Nation. was
startled by Times extra, announcing the
safe arrival of the President-elect in
Washington"
This extra told the story of anticipated
trouble, of the strategic movement on the
part of Mr.. Lincoln and his friends and the
successful result attending such movement:
In this connection it may be well to tell
and explode the record of the Scotch cap
coin was historically dressed, and which,
with illustrations, made interesting read
ing in the comic weeklies for months there
after. Mr.. Stephen Fiske, now the ac-
Times, was then correspondent of the
New York Herald. We had been constant
companions and roOmmates during the trip,
and on the night of the arrival in Harris
burg were busily engaged in preparing our
dispatches, whom detective Burns entered
the room and informed us we could send no
dispatches that night. After a long and
excited discussion. during which he in
formed us we would not be permitted to
leave our room until the following morn.
ed
danger and Mr.. LincOln's departure "in
disguise" were given. He also told us that
the wires had been cut and that COM
munication with New York was o physical
impossibility. The interview terminated
pleasantly, and he retired. we resuming
our work, to be wired the following morn
Ing;
is safe in the city of Washington" and
followed with the story. of threatened
violence, and so forth, to the train between
Harrisburg and Baltimore, forecasting a
feared disturbance in Baltimore. and wind
ing up with the record of Mr.. Lincoln's
my mind was what disguise MI. Lincoln,
or any other man, could obtain in the little
town of Harrisburg at 9 o'clock in the
evening, in the. year Of our Lord 1861.
knew that his chief attendant was Colonel
military cloak, so, IN my minds eye, saw
the President-elect arrayed in Summers
long military cloak. knew, too, that Mr..
Lincoln carried q small travelling cap, but
tbs hsFe Hohas so II SGn
cap, and with the same minds eye saw that
jauntily placed upon his dear old head.
Under ordinary circumstances a mans
apparel would have but little to do with
such significant action as this of the Presi-
evading, eluding conspiracy and possible
assassination; so, with jaunty thoughtless-
ness. that became part and parcel of the
record ana to this day thousands are
sneaked out of Harrisburg, but went dis
gnised in a Scotch cap and q long military
cloak. The fact, as / subsequently ascer-
tanned, is that he wore his ordinary hat
and top coat without the faintest attempt
at disguise.
But to resume. Washington was packed
by direction of President Buchanan,
through the general in command, Winfield
Scott, with ell the available troops Of the
regular army, and all the militia of the
March, 1861. President Buchanan, the per-
sonifcation of old-time courtesy-I don't
know why old-time courtesy should be
different from any other courtesy, but il
together in an open carriage. they rode
| along Pennsylvania avenue, from Willard'e
Hotel to the Capitol, soldiers everywhere
| touching up. with bits of color and vith
uaSnlIg Steet, tue VdSJ OackgTOuuQ anu
surrounding of men and women, anxious
| interested, apprehensive, delighted.
After perfunctOry service in the Senate
| Chamber the procession formed.
The judges of the Supreme Court, looking
| like so many old women in their black silk
| gowns, the diplomatic corps gorgeous in
| their raiment. plumes. decorations, buttons
our own sOmber-clad Senators and Repre-
| sentatives distinguished men from every
| cline. with correspondents and reporters
| galore, moved on ahead, followed by three
| men destined to form a historic group in
| the presence of an assembled multitude.
There it seems to me was subject tit fol
| cleverest artist.
| On the left stood President Buchanan
| degree. On the right Abraham Lincoln
| taller than Buchanan, with a somber
solemn look, his great dark eyes looking
| quietly and mournfully, even in this houl
| of significant triumph, upon his fellow
| men, so soon to be face to face with bloody
| a shorter and an older man, Chief-jus
| Taney.
He presented q venerable appearance
leonjne head, O face scared and seemed
| with deep lines of thought, with eyes thai
4 seemed to penetrate ones very soul, and
dignity withal so natural, so unaffectedly
| significant, as to impress every onlookel
| of opinion. A nightly cheer rose from th,
| people as Mr.. Lincoln stepped to the from
| and delivered his memorable address, and
| then, having finished, he turned, and in th,
| presence of that great audience took tn,
oath of his majestic office.
| After Elijah.
Chicago Mail.
1t is just about this time when some thou