Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1889-03-06


lands right, the audience rising to
their feet. The same ceremony was re-
peated with vice-President-elect Nor
ton.
Senator ingalls, Immediately vacated
his chair, giving it up to Mr.. Morton,
and delivered short and impressive
address of farewell as president of the
Senate, at the close of which he admin
istered the oath of Office to the vice
president-elecr. TIE new presiding
officer then called to order the Senate Of
the Filty-frst Congress. The Rev. DR..
Butler, chaplain of the Senate offered
prayer, after which Mr.. Morton rose
and said:
Seadtrs-I shall enter on the discharge of the
delicate and at times important duties OF the
position 10 which I have been called by the peo-
pie Of the United States without experience as
presiding officer, and. therefore, bespeak in adj
voice, the indulgent consideration which you
have been always ready to extend to the
occupant of the chair AS presiding officer of
rules of procedure with entire fairness and to
treat every senator with the courtesy and consid-
Grafton due at al times to the representatives of
great states in a legislative body. I hope that
our official and personal relations will prove
mutually agreeable, and that our duties will be
discharged in manner to maintain the dignity
of the Senate and to add to the prosperity and
happiness of this great nation.
The next thing on the programme
was to read the proclamation conven-
lug the Senate in extra session, and
when that was done the new senators
were called up in squads of four to take
the oath of office. which was read to
them by Mr.. Morton in an impressive
manner. Then a procession was formed
to march out into the rain to the plat
form of the east portico of the capitol.
1t was proposed to have the oaths ad-
min Icfn 4l,n
dress delivered in the Senate
chamber. This has never been
done-not since the time of James
Madison-but it looked IS if the pour
ing rain was sufficient excuse for the
violatian of precedent to-day and
change of programme was suggested to
Gen. Harrison, but he would have none
of it. He said that the 10000 or 10000
people who had been standing out there
before the capitol in the rain for four
or five hours should be rewarded for
their patience and insisted that the
original programme should be followed
out, rain or no rain, and 80 it was. The
sergeaDt-at-arms of the Senate and the
marshal Of the District of Colum bla led
the procession.
When the cheering. which began on
the appearance of the party on the por-
tico, mad partially subsidized, Chief JUS
tice Fuller arose, and barring his abund-
ant white locks to the rain, held a Bible
IN his hand ready to administer the
oath OF office. Gen. Harrison and Ser
geant-at-Arms Canaday also removed
their hats. 1t was most impressive
scene. Standing with uncovered heads,
in the midst of pelting rainstorm, the
chief-justice and the President-elect,
surrounded by high officers of state,
and in the presence of an immense mrl-
titude of citizens, faced each other with
bowed heads, while the former read the
oath of office in a low tone of voice. The
oath recited is in the following words:
"I do solemenly swear that I 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"
At the conclusion of the reading of
the oath the President, with his right
hand clasping the Bible, bowed his
head in assent. A silence, almost pain
ful, had marked this pl oceeding, and
when it was ended there was another
tremendous burst of applause. The
Bible on which the oath was admin
istered was black flexible morocco
bound volume about ten by eight inches
in size. It is the latest New York and
Oxford edition, printed on thin paper
with gold hinges, and is designed for the
use of teachers, with supplementary
notes and maps. In accordance with
his custom, Mr.. McKenney, clerk of the
to Mrs. Harrison as precious memento
of the occasion. Mr.. Harrison then read
his inaugural address.
70
wing, the new President and ex-Presi-
dent Cleveland, accompanied by the
committee of arrangements, were driv-
en- at the head of the procession to tho
Executive Mansion, whittier Mrs. Har-
rison and her friends had preceded
them. Then formal adieus were ex-
changed. and moment later the ex
President was being whirled away to
the mansion of ex-Secretary Fairchild.
The browning glory of inauguration
day was yet to come. This was the pa
rade, upon which ex-Gov. Beaver, of
Pennsylvania, and his sta had spent SO
many weary days and nights. Iele-
graph stations had been erected at short
distances along the line of route, SO that
there were no breaks OF delays. and the
Capitol the signal to move was given.
IICSluCuC 11dII1SOu TCN1cWCo OAO p1O
cession from the stand erected in front
of the White House.
The procession, which was fully five
miles long, was headed by Gen. James
A. Beaver, chief marshal, and Gen.
Daniel III. Hastings, chief of staff, and
special aides as follows: Maj. Frank w.
Hess, U. S. A., and Lieut.-Col. Alexan-
der Krumbhaar, A. A. G., Pennsvlva-
mia, and the aides-de-camp. Then came
the presidential party in carriages. pre-
ceded and followed by escort of surviv-
ors of the SEVENTEEN Indiana Volun-
teers, Col. Samuel Merrill, command
ing.
The First Division consisted of Brig
Gen. j. Ell. Gibson and staff, the Third
Regiment, seven batteries of artillery,
battalion of artillery, five batteries of
artillery, one battalion, one battalion
and two troops of cavalry. Then came
Capt. Mead, U. S. N, and staff, and
marines, apprentice seamen, Light Bat
terry seamen, Third Brigade, District of
Columbia National Guard, Signal Com
pany, Ambulance Company. First and
Second Regiments, Sixth and Seventh
Battalions, Light Battery A, and Cavalry