The times., 1901-03-17
JEFFERSONs INAUGURATION.
The Changes Brought About In 81
Ceufury

Century.
To TEE EDITOR OF THE TINES: One hun
dred years ago Thomas jefferson was
in the Old Capitol on
Second Street northeast building OF
no great pretsnsion. which was burned
and destroyed by British soldiers in 1Sit
\ true account. and probably the only
true record. Of the inauguration was
written by the wife OF the editor Of the
National Intelllgeucer." Mrs. Samuel IL
Smith. and was published in Mrs Hale
in 1851. II is as follows:
The sun shone bright on that morn
ing The Senate was convened. Those
members of the Republican party that
remained 1T the seat OF government.
the Judges OF the Supreme Court, some
citizens and gentry from the neighbOr-
ing country and about dozen ladies'
made up the assembly in the Senate.
who were collected TO witness the GER
emony Of the Presidents inauguration.
Mr.. Jefferson had not yet arrived
He was seen walking from hiS iOdg-
ings. which were not far distant, at
tended by five or six gentlemen, who
were ms feliow-lodgers soon after
ward ne enter0 accompanied by H
committee of the Senate and. bowling
TO the Senate. VINO arose to receive
him. he approached a table on which
a BlOIe lay and took the oath, which
was administered 10 MIN by the Chief
Justice. He was then conducted by
the President of the Senate to his
chair winch stood on a platform
raised some steps above the floor.
After a pause OF a moment or two. he
arose and delivered that beautiful in
augural address, which has since be-
come so popular and celebrated with
a clear distinct voice, in a firm and
modest manner. On leaving the chair
he was surrounded by his friends. who
asr#HHN II nd
congratulations and by some, though
not many, of the more masnanimous
of his opponents. most OF whom, how
ever. silently left the Chamber. The
new President walked home with two
or three of the gentlemen who lodged
in the same house. At dinner he took
his accustomed place at the bottom of
the table. his new station not eltcitinS
from his Democratic friends any new
attention or courtesy. \ gentleman
from BaitimOre-an invited gueSt-whO
accidentally sat next to him, asked
permission to wish him JOY / would
advise you answered Mr.. Jefferson.
TO follow my example on nuptial oc-
casions, when I always tell the bride
groom L will wait till the end OF the
year before Offering my congratula-
tions' And this was the only soli-
tarv instance of any notice taken OF
the event of the morning.
The writer of the above was doubtless
one of the dozen ladies' present In tn
Senate Chamber But it contradicts il
some essential particulars a brief repor
of the proceedings as printed at the tim
in the National IntelIigencer, who's
editor was the writer's husband III
probably was not in the Senate Chambe
and the report itself is grossly Inaccurate
not to say false.
Mr. Smith says that jefferson enteret
the Capitol under a discharge of cannon
Mrs. Smith says nothing about any fir
ing of cannon.
Mr.. Smith says that Jefferson delivered
his inaugural address and afterward wa
sworn in
Mrs Smith says he was first sworn IL
and then delivered the address
Mr. Smith says the address was de
livered before the largest concOurse Oi
citizens ever assem- bled in Washington
and speaks as if all the members of the
House of Representative were present
Mrs Smiths description implies not a
very large assembly. nor could the old
Senate Chamber have contained probably
more than about 20 persons densely
Mr Smith SAYS that Jefferson returned
TO his lodging accompanied by Vice Pres
tdeut Burr, Ch1ST Justice NldESIdlif ditu
the heads of the departments.
Mrs Smith says he was accompanied
by two or three acknowledges
Mr. Smith says that on JeffersOn's re-
turn to his lodgings he was called upon
bv a number of DISTINGUISHED citizens.
Mrs Smith says that his new station
elected no new attention or courtesy
and adds that only one gentleman, and
he a guest who happened to sit next to
him at the foot OF the dinner table, ven
4 Il lar m
But a falser account of the proceedings
was written and published by the editor
Of the Philadelphia Aurora, VINO was
in Washington at the time He also SAID
that several discharges of artillery took
place at the Inauguration. Granting the
possibility of the CannOn-hriug, Editor
Duane lied when he said that besides
members of Congress, there were as
sembled in the Senate Chamber LID per-
sons. OF HON 15i were ladies' That mum
Der Of females would have well nigh NIL
ed the Chamber, and Mrs Smith tells
us there were about dozen, Of whom
she was doubtless one.
But there is one little final pr
in Editor Smiths report, which IS moi
only true. but significant of the state o
political feeling at the time:
Neither Mr.. Adams (the outgoinG
PrsStdent) nor Theodore Sedgwick
Sneaker Of the House of Representatives
was present at the Inaugural ceremonies
both these gentlemen having left at day
light on that morning
Another reported incident of the day
is worthy of notice The National In
says that 'at night there was
a pretty general illumination. And q
Federal editor in New York, few days
later, adds Il report that Editor Duane
of the Aurora" with d JacObin gang. as
sembIed on the eve of the Fourth oi
March and compelled the Federal inhab-
itants of Washington TO illuminate thetl
windows, threatening TO break them un.
less they complied This the editor OF
the Aurora contradicts by saying. II
is asserted as a fact that no Illumination
took place at Washington on the eve OF
the Fourth of March
The Office of the National Intelligence
err was doubtless lighted that evening
as usual and that may have been the ex-
tent of the pretty general illumination
except perhaps. upon compulSiOn by EdE