River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1897-03-11

When James X Polk assumed the duties
OF chef executive Chief Justice fancy re-
sumeG rs duty of swearing IN presidents,
and performed the same service for Zach
airy Taylor Vice President Fillmore in
formed congress on July 10. 1850. OF the
death of the president. and closed his COM
munication with these words.
Having announced to you, follow citi-
zens. this most affecting bereavement, and
assuring you that IL has penetrated no heart
with deeper grief than mine, II remains for
me to say that | promise this day. at u
o'clock. in the HAN of the house of repre-
sentatives, in the presence of both houses
Of congress. TO take the oath OF office pre-
scribed by the constitution. 10 enable me
to enter on the execution Of the Office
which this event has devo.ved on me-
Judge William Cranch administered the
oath Of office 10 President Fillmore, and
with this service his connection with the
duty of swearing in presidents ceased.
President Pierce was sworn in by Chief
Justice fancy, and. at the same time that
this ceremony was taking place, United
States Consul Rodney, stationed in Cuba.
administered the oath of office on planta-
ton above Matanzas TO William r. King.
vice president Chief Justice fancy pre-
sided in the oath administering ceremony
/ OF Buchanan's and Lincolns first inaugu-
/ ration. His death in 1864 caused the ap-
| pointment of Salmon p. Chase TO the chief
/ justiceship, and this official administered
I the oath to Lincoln at the latter's second
| Inauguration.
Lincoln was assassinated on April "A. and
/ on the following morning Solomon Foote.
president pro tempore of the senate. &C
companied by Senator Stewart. went to
| the residence of Chief Justice Chase. Sem
ator Foote explained the reason for his
call. and thereupon Mr.. Chase entered the
! carriage of the Vermont representative and
| the three gentlemen drove 10 the KirkwOod
| hotel located on the corner of Twelfth
nd De-, IL
we want to see Mr.. Johnson" Senator
Stewart said to the clerk. There is no
| need of sending up cards; just tell US where
his rooms are and we viii find him.
Johnson's apartments. located at the head
| OF the stairs. were pointed out TO the cali
/ ers. The sharp rap of Chief Justice Chase
/ brought the vice president to the door.
4 I'VE have come to administer the oath
/ of office 10 you as president of the United
/ States" said the chief justice. Johnson
made a reply inaudible to his visitors. and
/ then disappeared In the direction of his
bedroom. from which he shortly appeared.
| clad in his trousers and vest. and putting
| on his coat. Solemnly the chief justice adj
4 ministered the oath of office to him. john
/ son apparently did not know what TO do.
/ and appeared 10 be disconnected when ad-
/ dressed by the title Mr. President" The
/ chief justice advised him to go at once
/ TO the white house. and in accordance with
| the advice he promised to do so.
At both of Grants inaugurations Chief
/ Justice Chase administered the oath. A
prophecy made by a Boston astrologer con-
/ corning Henry Wilson. vice president dur
| Ing the war presidents second term. was
fulfilled during the administration Of the
| oath at the second Inauguration. The pre-
| diction was to the effect that on March T.
1873. Wilson would assume the second place
| in the political dignity OF the United States
The oath at this Inauguration was read by
| the chief Justice. Gen. Grant repeating
| the words spoken. The sergeant at arms,
! wi iout design, opened he Bible and hand
co II to the chief justice. who held II to
1 the lips of the new president. The verses
! touched by Grants lips were from the
| eleventh chapter of Isaiah, second and
| third verses, which read:
And the spirit OF the Lord shall rest
upon him; the spirit of wisdom and under
| standing, the spirit of counsel and might.
the spirit of knowledge and of the fear OF
! the Lord
"And shall make him of quick understand
| ing in the fear of the Lord. and he shall
| not Judge after the sight of his eyes.
| neither reprove after the hearing of his
ears"
Chase's death caused the appointment
| of Chief Justice Morrison X. Waite. who
| administered the oath to President Hayes
| and subsequently TO President Garfield.
| President Hayes took the oath twice. once
| privately and the second time publicly
| President Arthur took the oath of office
| administered Dy JulSe J. II ffIatiS' u tAie
| New York supreme court. at his nome.
| No. 123 Lexington avenue. New York, ne
| being there at the time of the ASA sslnation
| Of the president. Chief Justice Waite ad-
ministered the cath to President Cleveland
after the latter gave his assent TO the pro-
posed ceremony in these words:
81 am now prepared to take the oath pre-
scribed by law and the constitution"
Chief Justice Fuller succeeded Chief JUS
tice Waite. and performed his first duty In
the matter of swearing in presidents at
the Harrison inauguration. He performed
a like service for Cleveland at that official 5
| second inaugura ton, and repeated the cere-
| rnony when William Mckinley appeared at
the apitol on March 4.