Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-01

cesson. The ceremony was concluded
with reception at the White House,
at which former President Jefferson
was 4 prominent figure.
President Monroe was the first to
take the oath OF office on a stand in
the east front of the Capitol, midway
between the Senate and House of Rep
raSentativeS. He had announced that
he proposed to have the obligation ad-
niinistered in the hall of the House, but
the Senate objected. The result of the
Wrangle that ensued was that the GER
enlony took place in the open air, as it
takes place now. 1t was regarded as
ali omen Of good that American eagles
flew Enthusiastically over the Capitol at
the time of Monroe's inauguration.
The struggle over the election of
John Quincy Adams by the House OF
Representatives was SO long that the
Inauguration had to be postponed I'M
til the latter part of March; but it
was the most elaborate ceremony that
yet had been held in Washington.
The Inauguration Of Andrew Jack
son in 1929 was a notable ceremony. 1t
ID ODStDly WOulO lldNC DCCl SNCIl hAOA Z
spectacular than it was had the Presi-
dent not suffered the loss of his wife
shortly before. AS it was, however,
Washington gave evidence of its ap-
probation and patriotism and hospital
ity with demonstration which called
from Daniel Webster this comment:
"Neveh has such a crowd been seen
here before. There must have been full
ly 5000 people along the line
of march. People came 500 miles
to see the President inaugural
ed" The President that day occu-
pied a carriage constructed from part
of the hull of the frigate Constitution.
Twenty thousand spectators were
banked along the line of march at the
Inauguration of President Van Buren,.
The ceremony attendant upon the inau-
guration, however, had no specially
distinctive features.
At the inauguration of President
William Henry Harrison, for the first
time, citizen soldiery from the various
states participated in the ceremonies.
In the inaugural parade elaborate
campaign devices We're used, the log
cabin being a prominent feature. The
pfOleCllNe uOClilIlc, oll WHICH,
Harrison had conducted his campaign.
was illustrated by working looms and
other machinery illustrative Of the
progress of American industries. Cen
eral Harrison rode on horseback to the
Capitol and returned to the White
House in a coach presented to him by
the Wings of Baltimore. 1t was esti-
mated that $4,000 people witnessed the
ceremony
Scarcely a month later Vive-Presi-
dent Tyler was called upon to take the
oath of Office at President, President
Harrison having passed to his reward.
The ceremony of Inducing President
Tyler was conducted in his own home
i'll Washington without pomp or dis
play of any kind in view Of the grief
stricken city and country.
The inauguration of President Polk
was, to an extent, a personal disap-
pointment to him. as the weather was
eXecrable. Polk was fond of display
although his tastes were not specially
military. The inaugural procession,
therefore, was somewhat heterogeneous.
1t included not only the military, but
members of his Cabinet, the clergy of
sors and students of Georgetown Col
lege and what was known as the Fair
fax cavalry, kid glove Virginia Regi-
ment. representatives of the best fam
lilies in the Old Dominion.
President Zachary Taylor was not
inaugurated on the fourth of March,
that day falling oil Sunday. The old
fighter was fond of pomp and cere-
nicny and The inaugural procession
was one of the finest, up to that time,
that lad been seen in the country.
Fillmore, through the death of Presi-
dent Taylor, came into the Office of the
President, without special ceremony,
the oath of Office was admin
istered to him in the usual way before
the Congress.
Pierce and Buchanan were inaugur-
ated in no distinctive fashion, although
the ceremonies in both instances were
attended with great demonstrations.
When Lincoln came into the Prcsi-
dency, the country throughout was
trembling with apprehension. For the
first time in the history of the United
States. regular troops had been order
ed to Washington, not for display, but
for protection. Although Lincoln him
self expressed no fear, extraordinary
We're taken to preserve his
personal safety. When he delivered
his inaugural address on the east
front OF the Capitol in the presence of
an immense thrOng, his rival Stpehen
A. Douglas, stood at his side and held
his hat. Following the formal inau-
gural ceremony, Lincoln rendered To
the populace an elaborate reception at
the White House. His second inaugll-
ration followed the greatest civil
conflict known to history. Elab-
crate precautions were taken to insure
the Presidents safety. yet many were
the misgivings as to the outcome
The induction of Andrew johnson
into the office of President, following
upon the assassination of
Lincoln, was conducted IN the private
room OF hotel. No ceremony attend
ed it.
The greatest spectacular display
made up to that time was at the inau-
guration of President Grant 1t was