The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-01-29
of the soldiers nearly persisted with the

of the soldiers nearly persisted with the
cold
| There have been four presidents whose
| inaugurations have been private. and at a
I time of sorrow. When word was sent to
John Tyler that President Harrison was
dead, he was al his home in Richmond.
| He Immediately took the oath OF office
| and went to Washington City. entered the
White House. and assumed not only the
| functions but the character of president.
| There had been dispute for many years
about the nature OF the relations which
| the vice president would bear 10 the presl-
| dental Office IN case he was called upon
! by virtue of the constitution to exercise
| its functions. Some of the ablest LAWYERS
! had claimed that all that the vice presi.
| dent could do would be to exercise these
| functions while still retaining his capacity
| as vice president. The opportunity did
| not come to test this matter until the
| death of President Harrison. President
! Tyler held the view that he not only ex-
| ercised the functions OF the office but he
| became in fact president. and by that act
| the vice presidential office was vacated
| The precedent thus established has never
been questioned.
Mr.. Fillmore received the oath of office
within few hours after the death of Gen.
Taylor, taking IL in the rooms OF his hotel
After some weeks he went to the White
House to live.
Among those gathered around the diving
bed of President Lincoln was Andrew
Johnson, who had escaped attempted as
sassination because he was not at his
rooms at his hotel on the evening of that
fatal 14th of April, 1850. Upon his return
10 the hotel, hearing OF the assassination
OF Lincoln he went Immediately to the
little house on Tenth street, opposite 10
Ford's tneater, TO which the dying presi-
dent had been carried. anu there with the
,.
Justice Chase and Mr.. Lincolns family,
he remained until the president expired
An hour or two later Mr.. Johnson, IN his
room with one or two friends rs witnesses
received the oath from Chief Justice Chase
and soon AS Mr.. Lncoln's family
Quilted the White House entered i, as un-
tremendously rs though he had gone
there 10 pay call.
Perhaps the most pathetic of all these
sad inaugurals was that of Gen. Arthur.
lie had renamed AZ his house at l23 Lex
ington avenue. New York city, Tor some
weeks, having been privately assured that
Gen. Garteld's wound was mortal, al
though the country had been led to be-
lieve that the president would recover
During all this time Gen. Arthur was
never out OF call. On the evening of Sep
TENDER - he went out with some friends
10 get some oysters at a restaurant which
was popular with men OF wealth. He
seemed sad, depressed. aud was not, as
WAS usually the case with HIM, the life of
any party III which he was a member.
lie returned home about midnight. and
had been there bAt a lev moments when
4 telegram came from Mr. aine announc-
ing Garfield death. Arthur had mace up
his mind what 10 do II case he received
report OF the presidents death. He be-
lleyei IL his duty - take the oath without
delay, ami = messenger was sent TO Judge
john IL. Brady 5 house. who was lifelong
friend of zen. ArthUr'S In a few mo-
ments Judge Brady came To Gen. Arthurs
parlor, aud then III tue presence of oniy
one other person excepting Arthur's son
Alan, the oath was administered. As
soon as Arthur received i he turned to his
son and embraced him. and both men were
convused with SobS. Gen. Arthur after
wards took the oath pub icly in the capitoi
at Washington City, Chief Justice Waite
administering it. l. has been the impress
sion that II was necessary that the nresi-
dental oath be administered by the chief
Justice. but that IS not 50. ANY one COM
petent 10 administer an oata can swear IN
the president.
President Hayes took the oath twice.
once III private as a matter o. precaution.
since the 4th OF March a. that time fell
upon sunday and the public ceremony was
not 10 take place until Monday. There
mas always been a tradition thar SamneI
J. Tllden, also as matter OF precautlon.
took the oath IN private. not because he
intended 10 demand the office OF president.
hui 80 that ii ever dispute arose II could
nor BE- said that he had through his own
negligence waived his rights.
Ii has been the habit OF presidents-elect
llonfi.utl on loge 10