The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1916-02-22
WASH|NCTON'S
INAUGURATION

With our present facilities for trans
portation it is hard for US to realize
with what difficulty our forefathers
went about the country on their Off
cial business. To the present genera
tion it reads like romance, the jour
ney of George Washington from his
quiet home at Mt. Vernon to New
York City to be inaugurated the first
President Of the United States
After Washington had bid farewell
to his army and retired to the seclu-
sion afforded him at his beautiful home
on the Potomac, this quiet was to be
interrupted by his being chosen the
first Chief Executive of the new ma
tion on the first Wednesday of Febru-
ary, 1889. He did not have very much
time to prepare for his Inauguration,
which was supposed to take place the
first Wednesday in March, and only
two days elapsed after he was notified
of his election before he set out from
Mount Vernon.
His first stop was at Alexandria,
where he was given a public dinner by
his friends and neighbors. As he con-
tinued his journey from this small Vir-
ginia village, the road was lined with
people to see him and cheer him as he
passed. In every village the people
from the farm and workshop crowded
the streets to watch his carriage, and
the ringing of bells and firing of guns
marked his coming and going.
At Baltimore cavalcade of citizens
escorted him and cannons roared well
come. Finally Chester, Pa, was reach
ed, and here Washington mounted a
horse, and in the midst of troop of
cavalry he rode into Philadelphia be-
meath triumphal arches, the day of his
arrival being given over to public re-
joieing and festivities.
At Trenton, instead of snow and
darkness, and sudden onslaught upon
surprised Hessians, as on the Christ
mas night of 1776, there were mellow
sunshine, an arch of triumph, and
young girls walking before him strew-
ing flowers in his path and singing
songs of praise and gratitude.
At Elizabethtown Point, Washing
ton was met by committee of Con-
gress and then was rowed to New York
followed by a long procession of
barges with music and song, while the
flag bespangled ships in the harbor
nred SaiuteS In MS honor.
When Washington arrived in New
York, accompanied by Governor Clin-
ton, he was dressed in the familiar
buff and blue uniform. He walked the
entire distance from the boat landing
to the house where it was arranged he
should reside. 1t is noted that "as the
people caught sight of the stately fig
ure and beloved colors, hats went of
and the crowd bowed and cheered as
he went by.''
Owing to the length of the journey,
and the delay caused by the citizens of
the new republic to pay their first
Chief Magistrate appropriate honors,
instead of its being the first Wednes-
day in March, as set by Congress,
Washington did not reach New York
until April 30th. He Immediately re-
paired to his home, dressed himself in
a suit of dark brown broadcolth of
American make, with white six hose,
silver r-buckled shoes, and dress sword
and, accompanied by military escort,
he went to Federal Hall, and, in the
Senate Chamber, where both houses
were assembled, was received by Vice.
President John Adams, who had been
inaugurated few days before.
The oath of office was administered
to Washington by Chancellor Living
ston of New York, after which the first
President bent and kissed the Bible
that Otis, the secretary of the Senate,
had brought forward "Long live
George Washington, President Of the
United States!" shouted Livingston,
turning to the sea of upturned faces.
At the signal glad huzza rent the air
and the cannons at the Battery near by
thundered the first of Presidential sa-
lutes. The President then withdrew to
the Senate Chamber and there read his
inauuural addrocS