Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-05
and he postponed taking the oath until

and he postponed taking the oath until
the following Monday
President Hayes. however. took pre-
cautions against any opportunity for
charge or irrcEularity The final vote
of tho tribunal which gave to him the
nigh office and thus ended the Tilden-
Hayes controversy was announced on
Saturday. March 3. 1877. MIR. Hayes mt
once took the oath in the Red Room
OF tho White House. General Grant
and other notables were present The
oath was administered by Chief Jus
ticc Waite.
FORM LARGELY DEVISED
BY GEORGE WASHINGTON
The form OF Presidents inaugural
was largely devised by George Wash
ington, and. like most all his work
has stood the test OF time. The cere-
mony was conceived when the fore
fathers were In the throcs OF great
revolution. and they intended il to be
distinctivcly American. Through the
lapse Of more than n century virtually
no change has bccn made In tho actual
ceremonies. although elaborate and
beautiful Accomplishments have been
added.
Washington was inausurated in New
York in 1889 for his first term, and
travelled from Mount Vernon by horse
back and horsc-drawn coaches. lie
crossed streams on cight-oared barges
For his second term. Washington was
inaugyratcd In Philadelphia in 1873
The oath of Office was administered
by Chancellor Livingston. and the
ceremony was about tho same as it
is now. The President was driven to
tho Capitol In a handsome coach sur
rounded by an escort. There was a
procession. and at night a display of
fireworks.
John Adams was inauGurated for his
ono term in Philadelphia. In the mean
time, the District OF Columbia was
created. the capital was named Wash
ington. and Thomas Jefferson was
elected. lie was inauEuratcd here
after II bitter contest in the House OF
Representatives, which exercised Its
constitutional prerogative of choosing
tho President. Accompanied by few
friends. jefferson rode to Washington
on horseback from Monticello. and was
escorted into the city by n troop OF
cavalry. Alone he rode in a carriag &c
To his inauguration ut the Capitol.
studllS, clslbltltitu w lnG SoHltONSiSS
in the House. had left tho city. His
torians say about thousand people
viewed his Inauguration. in contrast TO
more than n half-million to SEQ the
second inauguration OF President Will
son. Washington in those days was
almost inaccessible to travellers. and
inauguration celebrations were held
throughout tho country in many viii
lagos and towns.
The next inauSuration--that OF
President Madison. is said TO have been
attended by 10000 people, and con-
temporancous accounts express the
greatest amazcmcnt at the size OF the
crowd.
MONROE FIRST TO TAKE
OATH our or DOORS
President Monroe was tho first to
take his oath OF Office out of doors
on platform built over the plaza at
tho east front of the Capitol as is now
the custom lie had intended TO take
the oath in the hall of tho House. but
the Senate claimed the honor. \ wran-
gle followed and a compromise was
made by which the ceremony was con-
Quoted in the open air. It Is recorded
that while Monroe was taking the
oath American eagles. birds now prac-
ticaliy extinct. few majestical!y over
the dome Of the Capitol.
John Quincy Adams was not inau-
Euratcd on March 4. because another
election contest In the House post
poned tho ceremony until late that
month. When finally held. 1t was the
most elaborate ceremony OF it's kind
The inauguration of Andrew Jack
son. in 1929. probably would have been
even more elaborate had not the in
coming President been in mourning for
his wife. He rode 10 the Capitol in
carriage constructed from tho hull OF
the gallant old frigate Constitution.
lr was an elaborate ceremony, never
thcicss. In comparison with present
day inaugurals. Daniel Wchstcrs COM
ment is interesting. lie said:
Never has such crowd been seen
here before. There must have been
fully 5000 people along the line OF
march. Persons came 500 miles 10 sec
the President inaugurated."
Crowds kept on growing. however.
as the country expanded, and il is said.
President Van Burcn's Inauguration