Evening star., 1913-03-02
JEFFERSON WALKED
TO CAPITOL BUILDING
Military Escorts in the Early Days
OF Nation Were Small.
LINCOLN EXERCISES IMPOSING
Great Pageants Have Marked Events
In Recent Years-Blizzard Mars
Tatt's Incoming.

The inausurations of the Presidents,
which occur quadrennially on March !,
came to fan on that day because the first
Wednesday of March. 1880. was fixed by
the old Continental Congress the day
for commencing proceedings under the
Constitution OF the United States, that
being the 18th of the month. This Con-
stituton was adopted by the convention
over which George Washington presided
on the 18th of September, 1883, and was
To become effective on the acuuiescence
Of nine of the thirteen original states.
by July, 1ISS. ten of the states had rati-
fed the Constitution and September Is.
lISS the Congress of the federation Sc
lected the first Wednesday i'm. January
for appointing electors. the first We'd
nesday In February for casting their
votes and the first Wednesday in March
for commencing proceedings.
Congress that year met March ,. but
owing to various causes adjournments
were made from day to day until edch
house had quorum. In April quorums
were secured and the election was pro-
mulgated. Washington being the unani-
nous choice. The first Inauguration was
-\nril so. This took place at the federal
hall in New York. and il was attended
by a military procession and illumina-
tions.
Second Inauguration.
The second Inauguration of Washington
took place March !. 1893. in Philadelphia
The inauguration of Mr.. Adams in 1897
took place al Philadelphia. each of them
being much like the first with military
displays and other festivities
When the government moved to Wash
ington and Mr.. jefferson had been elected
President, the building of the Capitol was
in progress. and but one wing. that of
the Senate, was occupied. In fact, the
condition of the Avenue precuded any
extensive ceremonies. Mr.. jefferson then
resided al Conrad & McMunn's. New Jer-
sey avenue and e street southeast. and
when the time came walked to the Capt.
toi building in company with a number
of friends and In the Senate took the
oath of office. Alexandria rifiemen pa
raded in front of his quarters. and a
Washington artillery company, under
command of Capt. Burch. also being
there. salutes were fired. At his second
from the White House by a deta achment
of the District militia
Escort of Madison.
I'm 1899 Mr.. Madison. who had been
elected, having served in Mr. Jefferson's s
cabinet as Secretary of State, lived on NJ
street above sd. in Georgetown, and was
escorted therefrom by Washington and
Georgetown company to near Lafayette
Square, where the body of the District
militia had formed and thence was es
corted to the Capitol. where the inaugu-
ration took place, the oath being admin
istered by Chief Justice Marshall.
Mr.. Monroe, the Secretary of State un-
der Mr.. Madison, lived at 2Gl9 | street
and on his inauguration was escorted by
large Cavalcades from O'Neales Frank
lin House, 2lst and i streets. to dhe tenn
porary Capitol. 1st and A streets. 1t is
estimated that there We're about 5000
present in and about the building. After
witnessing the administration of the oath
10 the Vice President. ID. ID. Tompkns,
Mr.. Monroe appeared on "A platform over
looking the street and delivered his in
augural. and took the oath of office at
the hands of Chief Justice Marshall. In
the evening "a ball was given at Davis
Hotel. now the Metropolitan. Mr.. Mon
Ioe's second inauguration was in inclem-
ent weather. and snow was falling March
i. Outdoor exercises We're Impossible.
and the ceremonies, therefore. took place
in the hail of the House, and there We're
about 1.o00 persons in and about it.