Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-30
THE FIRST PRESIDENT
INAUGURATION OF GEORGE
WASHINGTON IN NEW YORK.
Description Of Memorable Event, April
80, 17so-Crowd in Broad
and Wall Streets.


and Wall Streets.
From the New York TrbuEes
Circumstances which are beyond human
control attach to certain days in the year
a significance and Importance which causes
them to be regarded by peoples of the
various nations and races almost as being
sacred, and are consequently observed by
them as national holidays. The paramount
red letter day in American history is the
Fourth of July, with Washingtons birth
day a close second. Another day of deep
historical import to this country is April
30. 1t Is the day on which George Wash
ington was inaugurated as the first Presi-
dent of the United States. This important
event took place in this city on Thursday.
April 80, 1879. 1t was on April 30, also,
that the Louisiana purchase treaty was
signed between the representatives of Ma
poleon I and the American republic.
New York expected that it would be the
capital city of the nation. Congress. feeble
gathering as it was, had held its sessions in
this metropolis from 1855. In anticipation
of being the chosen spot New York felt an
impulse In business of every kind that sent
her far on the road to the conspicuous
position she now enjoys With liberalty
that to this very day distinguishes her citi
zens. $4,000 was contributed to enlarge and
beaut1fy what was then the city hall for
the occupation of the new government,
where the subtreasury now stands. Con-
gress did not meet until more than a month
after the time appointed to count the votes
that had been cast for the first President
and Vice President of the United States.
1t was not until April that this business
was accomplished. and that John Langdon,
the president pro tenn. of the Senate, Of
ficially declared the result. OF course. no
cept Washington, but for the second in
Importance John Adams had no less than
ten competitors.
Adams in New York.
On the day following the arrival in New
York of Mr.. Adams, on April 20, he was
conducted to the Senate chamber by Caleb
Strong of Massachusetts. and Ralph lizard
of South Carolina. where he quietly took
the oath of office and made brief address.
On the same day the mayor and aldermen
or the city called upon him and presented
MN with an address, in which they prom
iseo TO contribute whatever might be in
aole his person respected and his office
dignif1ed."
Mr.. Adams chose as his residence the
Richmond Hill house, about a mile and a
half from the city Of New York" which In
the revolution was the Headquarters of
General Washington
New York was now ready for the incident
that overshadowed all others of the time
the arrival of President Washington It
took the messenger Of Congress- Charles
Thomson. just week to reach Mount Yer
non, and he delivered his official notifica ton
to the President-elect on April IA. The
second day after that Washington began a
Journey, every step of which Is memorable.
from the moment when he left the gates of
Mount Vernon until, seven DAVIS afterward
he was met at Elizabethtown in New Ter
sey by the deputation from Congress II
was one continuous triulnphai march.
Arrival Of Washington.
On Thursday. April p, Washington ar
rived at Elizabethtown, where he was met
by the Congress deputatton and other digni-
taries These ALL with General Washing
ton embarked in the barge manned by thir-
teen pilots in white uniforms, commanded
by Commodore Nicholson, and with John
RandaH acting as coxswain. In this wise
the floating procession reached Murray's
wharf now the foot of Wall street, where
a crimson carpet had been laid from the
water up the ferry stairs to the carriage
that awaited the general
Here Governor Clinton met Washington
and welcomed and congratulated him. AS
he landed all the bells In the cfty rang a
welcoming peal, all the cannon saIuted
him, and the multitude in attendance
cheered. Arm in arm with Governor CIin-
ton. and followed by the throng, they went
20 the house that had been selected for the
president On his arrival at his residence
he was waited upon by the foreign minis
ters ana numerous persons of distinction
and received their congratulations A week
elapsed before the Inauguration took Mace
IL was the most imposing and important
ceremonial that had yet been observed on
the western continent, and the day appoint
ed Tor 1t. Thursday, April 30 was bright
A national salute ushered in the morning
BUSINESS of every kind was entirely sus-
pended. At o'clock all the bells in tba
steeples rang and invited the people to
gather in solemn religious services To in
woke the divine blessing on the new ma
ton and Its chosen President At noon
the procession to escort General Washing
ton from his residence to Federal Hall was
FORMED In Cherry street. Colonel Morgan
Lewis acted as marshal. The Joint COM
mlttee OF Congress having charge of the
matter were Senators Ralph lizard of South
Richard Henry Lee of Virginia. and Mem.
bers Egbert Benson Of New York, Charles
Carroll of Maryland and Amos Fisher of
Massachusetts
Inaugural Parade.
The procession was made up of various
regiments. the joint committees of Con-
gress, the heads of departments, the for
eign ministers and long train of distin-
gu1shed citizens. 1t marched through Pearl
and Broad streets to Federal Hall, where
congress was assembled. Vice President
Adams met Washington at the door. led
him to the chair of state and introduced
him formally to the august body In whose
presence he stood. After a moment or two
the vice President announced that the Sem
ate and House were ready to attend while
the oath required by the Constitution of the
United States was administered by the
chancellor of the state of New York WASH
ington gravely replied: II am ready to pro-
coed. and. led by the Vice President and
accompanied by the senators. the chancellor
In his robes and other men of distinction, he
passed upon the balcony that overlooked
the throng filling Wall and Broad streets
The Oath Of Office.
Washington was dressed in a "suit of
deep brown. of American manufacture.
with metal buttons having an eagle in re-
lief stamped upon them. white stockings,
low shoes with silver buckles. his hair DOW
dered and gathered behind in bag, and he
wore sword" There was large Bible
laid on table on the balcony resting on a
crimson cushion. This was taken up and
held up between Washington and the chan