Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-22

utes before II. Then l spoke ten min
utes my self. leaving fifteen minutes for
him. He got up. spoke till Il o'clock in
a rambling. incoherent way that aston
was drunk At IL o'clock tried to stop
him. Pulling at his coat-tail I told him
that the legal existence OF the old Sen
ate had expired. and that he must swear
In the new senator's.
He turned around and in an under
tone said: Why don't you swear them
in yourself?' then went ON with his
speech. Everybody was amazed and
mortified at the exhibition he was max
ing Of himself President Lincoln was
and many officers of the army. the Su-
preme Court and other dignitaries. and
all were blushing with shame.
Administering the Oath.
'Interrupting his speech. I said that the
hour had arrived when it was necessary
for me to administer the oath Of office to
my successor. and at once proceeded to
ask him to hold up his right hand. He
I read the oath to him. AS concluded,
he made bow, and then, turning around.
was about to go on with his speech,
when interrupted him again and or
dered the clerk. Mr.. John w. Forney, TO
call the roll Of senator's, three at time.
Then j asked the three whose names had
been called to come forward to take the
oath. Johnston, still standing, and suppos-
ing that his speech was only interrupted
for the moment, looked at me with sur
prise, as well he might. for my official
term had expired. and I was private
citizen present only by courtesy like any
other spectator.
. LAS the three senators stood before the
desk waiting I told Johnson to swear
them i'm. He muttered something that
wildered. Then in an audible tone he
asked:
what shall do now?''
Swear them in l said.
But he did not seem to understand me,
and, leaning over the desk to the secre-
tary Of the Senate. I said:
"Forney, for Gods sake. swear those
men in. Don't you see Mr.. johnson Is
drunk"
and continued to call up the new sem
ators, three at time, until he had sworn
them all in, Mr.. Johnson standing in the
meantime as II he did not comprehend
what was going on.
procession was formed to march to the
east front of the Capitol, where the oath
was to be administered to President LIN
coin. While the latter was delivering his
address Johnson turned around to me and
remarked:
"'Hamlin, this Is a magnificent audi
ence; suppose you make q speech when
Lincoln is done. I never heard you speak
outside the Senate. When you have done
I'll say something myself
II told him that neither OF US would
be expected to do So but after Mr.. Lin
coin had taken the oath Johnson got up.
took off his overcoat, and, pressing for
ward, was ready to make another spec
tacle Of himself, when Senator Collamer
whirled him around and led him to his
place in the procession that was forming
to return to the Senate chamber
Series of Condolences.
Mr.. Hamlin also at the same time relat-
ed curious series of condolences involv-
ing a single vote. which eliminated in
the annexation of Texas and the Next
can war.
1.-The first treaty for the annexation OF
Texas" he said. (which was negotiated
by John C. Calhoun, was rejected by the
Senate June 8, 1874 In the meantime
there was a change in the. Indiana dele
CATION by the election Of Edward f. Han
negan. He was brilliant man. a fine
orator and a genial companion, but. like
johnson, was given to his cups. and after
he retired from the Senate murdered d
election gave the annexationiSts ma jor-
ity in the Senate, and Texas was admit.
ted to the Union in February, 1915. But
the circumstances. which preceded 1t in
Hannegans case were very strange.
During the campaign in Indiana a
young man in Switzerland county shot a