St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-02
ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO.
The Story Of the Inauguration of
WaShin ptON

On April b, lIS9. ten. washington
was declared elected to the presidency.
Every vote of the siXty-nine members
constituting the senate and house OF rep
resentatiyes was given for him. The
following is 4 contemporary account OF
the proceedings:
quorum of both houses met, and on
counting The votes for president and vice
president, they appeared TO be:
For President-His excel. gen. Washing
ton, 90.
For Vice President-Hon John Adams, 81;
John Jay. 3; X. r. Hanson, 8; John Rut-
ledge, q; John Hancock, 4; George Clinton,
): Samuel Huntington, =: John milton,
James Armstrong, l; Edward Telfair, l;
BENJAMIN Lincoln, l.
Upon which his excellency George Wash.
ington. esq, was announced president, and
the honorable John Adams, esq, vice presl-
dent of the united states.
Charles Thompson, secretary of the
OLD congress, was the commissioner APP
pointed to notify the hero of his cleo
ton. and he accordingly repaired to
Mount Vernon in discharge OF this
duty. Eight days were consumed in
the Journey from Washington's home
l6, when Gen. Washington left Alex
andria for Baltimore, arriving on
the afternoon of the 18th. This was on
Friday. Not before the next Monday
morning did he arrive at Philadelphia.
where he was met by Gov. st. Clair,
Gen. Miffiin and other prominent per-
sons. The people were moved by an
intense enthusiasm, exceeding, If posi-
ble, that seen in Baltimore, where
cavalcades, the booming of cannon and
civic feasting testified the public re-
ioicing. Twenty thousand Phila
delphians assisted in the display that
lined every fence. field and avenue be-
tween Gray's bridge, OH the Schuykill,
and the city. A contemporary writes:
1.-The bridge was highly decorated with
laurel and other evergreenS and III such
style as to display uncommon taste.
AS our beloved Washington passed the
bridge lad beautifully ornamented
with sprigS Of laurel, assisted by GER
tain. machinery. let drop above the
hero's head. unperceived by him, civic
crown of laurel"
Gen. Washington spent one day and
night in Philadelphia, leaving on Tues
day. April q, and arriving in New
York on Thursday, April %. Congress
was then in session in the building now
occupied by the United States custom
house, on Wall street, and had sent a
deputatiOn together with the chancellor
of the state, the adjutant general and
the recorder of New York, in a finely
appointed barge to meet the father OF
his country at Elizabethport, and bring
him to New York in the vessel. Thir-
teen men rowed the splendid craft,
which was attended by two others, one
occupied by the board of the treasury
and the other by the minister of foreign
affairs and the secretary of war.
Washington embarked at Elizabeth
port on the morning of April %, the
booming of the artillery announcing his
departure. AS the procession OF barges
emerged into New York bay it was
direction and gay with decorations to
which the beauty of sunny morning
gave full effect. Murry's wharf had
been carpeted for the landing of the
man whom the people delighted to
honor. The graphic words OF one who
participated in the scene enables its
realization to some degree:
There never, perhaps, was a scene
in which more universal pleasure APP
peared than on his approaching the
battery and Murray's wharf. Tie
Spanish packet, which lay with her
colors only displayed to salute him as he
passed. on firing of gun, displayed in
moment every flag known in foreign
nations. The ship North Carolina was
decorated in like manner, and all the
vessels in the harbor had their flags fly
ing. On the barge's passing the packet
she fired salute of thirteen guns,
which was returned by the same num-
Der from the battery, after which she
advanced to the stairs erected and
for his eXcellency's reception. His
landing, without doubt, was beyond
description; universal joy diffused it.
self through every order Of the behold
ers; there was no contest in rank. The
only thing in which they tried to sue
coed was who could appear the most
pleased"
Gov. Clinton received the hero, a dis
charge of artillery preceding the cere-
mony, in which the principal officers Of
the state and the mayor and corporation
of New York participated. A civil and
military procession conducted the presi-
dent-elect to the quarters of Gov.
Clinton on Pearl street. The officers and
clergy of the city. the foreign ambassa-
doris and vast number OF citizens were
in the procession, in which Washington
walked with Gen. Clinton. Quoting
our long departed observer once more:
1.-The column swelled beyond credibility
itself; and, having conducted the man
of our hearts to the city tavern, he was
introduced to very grand and plenti-
full banquet, which was prepared for
patriotic tOasts were drank. The pleas
ures and festivity of the day being
over. they were succeeded by hand
some display of fireworks in the even
ing"
The Inauguration of Washington took
place on April 30, 1879. At nine on the
morning of that day all the churches of
the city were thrOnged with devOut
wOrshippers. A procession was formed
at noon under Colonel Lewis, consisting
of the body of State troops which had
received the president-electO OH his land
ing at Murray's Wharf. 1t started at
the presidents house, situated Oh Cherry
street, few doors from Franklin Square
and halted in front of Federal Hall, be-
fore which, on level with the second
story of the building, was an open space
so situated as to be commanded by spec
tatOrS on both Broad and Wall streets.
The procession separated into two parts
facing inwardly and General Washing
ton marched between the lines of men
with John Jay. General Knox, Chancel-
lor Livingston and other eminent people
building he assembled to the second
story, where was situated the
Senate Chamber, in which both branches
of Congress were assembled to greet
him. The ceremoney of introduction
over, the President-elect stepped out in
to the open space before mentioned, in
full view of the assembled multitude,
interspersed with which were military
companies more or less distinguished
for picturesqueness of uniform and all
for their proud and martial bearing, con-
scious of the great results of their pa
triotic valor. Senators and representa-.
tives filled the balcony and the space
behind 1t. Washington wore suit of
brown cloth. his stockings were of