The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-17
JEFFERsoN's INAUGURATION.
The Changes Brought About in
Century,

The Changes Brought About in 9
Century.
To TEE EDITOR OF THE TIMES: One hun.
bred years ago Thomas jefferson wa.
inaugurated in the Old Capitol OF
Second Street northeast-a building OF
no great pretsnsicn. which was burned
and destroyed by British soldiers In isii
a true account, and probably the only
true record. Of the Inauguration was
written by the wife Of the editor of tbs
National Intelligeneer," Mrs. Samuel II.
Smith, and was published in Mrs. Haie's
magazine 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 at 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 coIlec. ed to witness the GER
emony of the Presidents inauguration.
Mr. Jefferson had not yet arrived.
He was seen walking from his lodg-
ings. which were not far distant, at
tended by five or six gentlemen. who
were his feliow-lodgers. Soon after
ward he enterO. accompanied by It
committee of the Senate. and, bowling
to the Senate. who arose to receive
MIN, he approached a table on which
BlOie lay and took the oath. which
was administered TO him 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
n clear. distinct voice. in firm and
he was sur ounded by his friends. who
pressed forward with cordial and eager
congratulations. and by some, though
not many, of the more magnanimouS
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 eliciting
from his Democratic friends any new
attention or courtesy. A gentleman
from Baitimore-an invited guest-who
accidentally sat next to him. asked
permission to wish him joy. L would
advise YOU answered Mr. Jefferson.
to follow my example on nuptial oc-
casions when / always tell the BRIDE
groom 1 will wait till the end of the
year before Offering my congratula-
tons And this was the only soli-
tary 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 the
Senate Chamber. But it contradicts In
some essential particulars a brief report
Of the proceedings as printed at the time
In the National Intelligencer, whose
editor was the writer's husband. He
probably was not in the Senate Chamber
and the report itself is grossly Inaccurate.
not to say false.
Mr.. Smith says that Jefferson entered
the Capitol under discharge of cannon.
Mrs. Smith says nothing about any fir
ing of cannon
Mr.. Smith says that Jefferson delivered
MS inaugural address and afterward was
sworn in
Mrs Smith says he was first sworn In
md then delivered the address.
Mr.. Smith says the address was de-
ivered before the largest concourse Of
,itizens ever assembled in Washington.
md speaks as If all the members of the
House of Representatives were present
Mrs. Smiths description implies not a
Tery large assembly. nor could the old
senate Chamber have contained probably
more than about 200 persons densely
acked.
Mr. Smith says that Jefferson returned
o his lodging accompanied by Vice Pres
dent Burr, Chief Justice Marshall, and
he heads of the departments.
Mrs Smith says he was accompanied
y two or three acknowledges.
Mr.. Smith says that on Jefferson's re-
urn to his lodgings he was called upon
" a number of distinguished citizens.
Mrs. Smith says that his new station
licited no nc% attention or courtesy.
nd adds that only one gentleman. and
1. s.s. 80.
i'm at the foot of the dinner table, VEN
ured to ask to congratulate him.
But 6 falser account of the proceedings
'as written and published by the editor
f the Philadelphia Aurora who was
Washington at the time He also said
hat several discharges of artillery took
lace at the inauguration. Granting the
disability of the cannon-firing. Editor
,uane lied when he said that besides
lembers of Congress, there were as
embed in the Senate Chamber lilo per-
ons. of W HON 154 were ladies' That num-
er of females would have well nigh fill
d the Chamber, and Mrs Smith tells
S there were about dozen, OF whom
he was doubtless one.
But there is one little final para graph
n Editor Smiths report, which is not
My true, but significant of the state Of
Official feeling at the time:
Neither Mr. Adams (the outgoing
'residenD nor Theodore Sedgwicl.
peaFer of the House of Representatives,
Tas present at the Inaugural ceremonies,
9th these gentlemen having left at day
gkt on that morning"
Another reported incident of the day
worthy of notice. The National In
.lligencer" says that ''at night there was
pretty general illumination. And a
ederal editor in New York, a few days
tier, adds n report that Editor Duane.
the Aurora" with Jacobin gang, as
embed on the eve of the Fourth Of
Iarch and compelled the Federal inhab-
ants of Washington to illuminate their
indows. threatening to break them I'M
IS they complied. This the editor of
lie Aurora" contradicts by saying. 1t
asserted as fact that no Illumination
'ok place at Washington on the eve of
lie Fourth of March
The office of the National Intelligence
:" was doubtless lighted that evening
usual. and that may have been the ex-
mt of the pretty general illumination
,cept. perhaps, upon compulsion by Edt-
II Duane and his "Jacobin gang
". IL. BURR.