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


The administration Of Andrew jackson was
an epoch in American history There never
had been in Washington anything like so
large crowd as that which was present at
the Inauguration Of jackson.
Gen. jackson delivered his inaugural and
took the oath Of office at the east front Of the
Capitol The procession both to and from
the Capitol was the longest ever seen down to
that time in Washington. From there the
president went to the White House, where all
the doors were open and no one was refused
admittance. Orange punch by barrels was
made, and in serving 1t pals would be up
set, glasses broken and painful confusion
caused. The opposition writer's declared that
tubs of punch were carried from the lower
story into the garden to lead off the crowd
from the room, and that men with boots
heavy with mud stood on the damask satin
covered chairs in their eagerness to see the
president. At subsequent levee the scene
was still more remarkable A prominent
dairyman had honored the occasion by send
ing Gen. jackson an enormous cheese, the
largest that could be manufactured and
transported; it's weight was l,4OO pounds
The cheese was cut up and distributed to the
crowd, who struggled for it, dropped it, trod
it into the carpets and thereby ruined them
The condition of the White House is described
by writer of the day as that Of republican
palace which had just passed through an OBJ
stinate and protracted siege and been sacked
by the victorious enemy. The events OF
Jackson's first administration, the furious
contest of 1889, the notification excitement
of the next winter and the proceedings OF
that winter in congress, made the beginning
of his second administration as exciting and
interesting as the first. Not quite SO large
crowd was in attendance and the ceremonies
were almost identical with those of 1929.
MARTIN VAN BUREN,.
The Inauguration of Martin Van Buren, on
the 18th of March, 1887, was comparatively
tame affair, but he, like all subsequent presi'
dents, followed the example of Jackson in
speaking from the east front of the Capitol.
The oath of office was administered by Chief
Justice fancy.
WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.
The political revolution of lS4O, which
ranks with 1900 and 1882 as the hardest
fought contest before the civil war, resulted
in the election of Gen. William Henry Har-
rison, which excited so much enthusiasm
among his supporters that the crowd on the
4th of March, 1s41, was very large and the
procession and ceremonies very imposing.
Officially it was like the preceding.
JAMES KNOX POLK.
The Inauguration of James Knox Polk,
eleventh president of the United States, on
March 4, 1916, was not remarkable in any
way. The day was rainy, but the crowd was
large
ZACHARY TAYLOR
On the 5th Of March, 1s49 for the 4th fell
on Sunday, Zachary Taylor was inaugurated
without special incident, except that the
civic display and procession was very large
and admirably arranged. In the presence of
at least 10000 people he delivered his inaugu-
raj and took the oath of Office.
FRANKLIN PIERCE.
In like manner the Inauguration OF Franklin
Pierce, on the 4th Of March, 1853 was without
special incident, though the crowd was large
and the procession a fine one.
JAMES BUCHANAN.
On Wednesday, March 4, 1857, the presi-
dent-elect, James Buchanan, was the center of
q procession which reached almost from the
White House to the capitol The closing OF
Mr. Buchanan's administration may be re-
garded as the closing Of one system of admin
istering the government, his successor coming
in at the beginning of the civil war, and with
him, as was fitting, began what may be called
the system of military display at Inaugural
lions.