Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1909-03-17


relate his recollections of the shame
full scene in the senate chamber on the
morning of March, 1865, when
Andrew johnson was inaugurated vice
president of the United States. I
made careful notes, and this is the
story:
Some time previous to Inaugural
tion day in 1861 said Mr.. Hamlin,
81 met Daniel Clark, who was a
senator from New Hampshire at that
time, and he told me he had heard
that Mr.. johnson was an Incorporate
man. I was much surprised, as
had been more or less intimate with
Mr.. johnson for several years and had
never seen him take glass of liquor.
I convinced Mr.. Clark that the story
was untrue, although he had it flom
reliable authority, but it made an inn
preston on my mind, and I thouhgt
of it a good deal during the next few
weeks.
''When the Sd of March came
went to see Mr.. johnson to talk over
the order of ceremonies for the in
auguration. He said he should make
a speech after taking the oath of
Office, but would not talk more than
five minutes. also desired to say
something, and allowed twenty
minutes for both of us. 1t was ar
ranged that Mr.. Johnson was to go to
the vice presidents chamber on his
arrival at the capitol about halfpast
eleven and wait there until he was
summoned by the usual committee of
senator's
Half an hour before twelve O'Clock
left the chair and went to the vice
presidents room, where [ found Mr..
johnson waiting. As | entered the
first thing he said was that he felt
weak and wanted some whisky |
had prohibited the sale of liquors at
the capitol restaurants but / knew
that several senators kept private
bottles in their committee rooms, and
as Mr.. johnson would not listen to
my advice not to take anything, l
sent for a messenger, who soon found
bottle Mr.. johnson poured out
nearly half a glass. [ demonstrated
against his taking so much, parti-
cularly as he had told me that he had
not been able to eat any breakfast.
He replied that he was accustomed
to it and did not feel the effects at
all. When he had taken his drink
put the bottle away in closet and
went back to the senate.
"As left the room. met the COM
mittee appointed to escort Mr.. John
son to the senate chamber, headed by
Mr.. Dolittle. l learned afterward
from him that when had gone John
son got the bottle down again and
took another large drink. and all
that whisky-there must have been
nearly half pint of it-oD an empty
stomach.
AS Mr.. johnson entered the senate
chamber, escorted by the committee,
l suspended proceedings twenty five
minutes before twelve. Then I spoke
ten minutes myself, leaving fifteen
minutes for him. He got up, spoke
until twelve clock in a rambling,
incoherent way that astonished every
one. I saw that the man was drunk
At twelve o'clock tried to stop him.
Pulling at his coat tail I told him
that the legal existence of the old
senate had expired, and that he must
swear in the new senators.
HE turned around and in an
undertone said, why don't you swear
them in yourself -then went on with
his seecb. Everybody was amazed
and mortified at the exhibition he was
making of himself. President Lin
coin was there, with all his cabinet,
General Grant and many officers of
the army, the supreme court and other
dignitaries, and all were blushing
with shame.
"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 looked a
little beildered, but did so, and /
read the oath to him. AS | con-
cluded, he made bow. and then
turning around was about to go on
with his speech, when I interrupted
him again, and ordered the clerk,
John W. Forney, to call the roll Of
senators, three at a time. Then
asked the three whose names had been
called to come forward to take the
oath. johnson still standing, and
supposing that his speech was only
interrupted for the moment, looked at