Evening star., 1951-03-04

cheers for Jefferson. the friend
of the people" The National In
telligencer says. He entered the
Capitol under a discharge of
artillery"
The outgoing President, John
Adams, at this moment was lum-
bering northward in his coach
on the Baltimore road. A defeated
President and heartbroken by the
recent death of beloved son, he
probably could not find the cour-
age to witness Jefferson's triumph.
The National Intelligencer noted
that Jefferson's dress was, as
usual. that of a plain man. with
out any distinctive badge Of Of
f1ce." Actually. Jefferson wore a
blue coat with brass buttons, green
homespun breeches, yarn stockings
and shoes tied with leather strings.
On this day he was nearing So
years old. He was a widower. and
I'of his six children only two daugh-
ters were left.
On entering the Capitol Jeffer-
son was greeted by a Senate COM
mittee and escorted to the Senate
chamber which was packed to the
walls. Lawmakers and visitors
rose as he entered. Walking to
the rostrum Jefferson shook hands
with the new Vice President. Aaron
Burr, who had already taken the
oath. Waiting to greet him was
also the tall, black-haired Chief
Justice of the United States, John
Marshall (Jeferson's cousin) +.
whom he had asked to administer
the oath prescribed by the Con-
stitution. Facing the audience.
Jefferson bowed and then sat
down in the Vice Presidents chair.
which he had occupied until two
days before. On the clerks table
in front lay a Bible.
It was an amazing scene in a
great drama, with a remarkable
political trio playing the leading
roles. On Jeffersons right now
sat Aaron Burr: on his left, John
Marshall. Before long jefferson
would charge Burr with treason;
and Burr would be tried before
John Marshall with whom Jeffer-
son would have already come to
grips in the struggle between the
judiciary and the executive.
Surprised Audience
A deep hush fell over the Senate
chamber. At a signal from the
sergeant at arms, Jefferson rose
and, in a low. clear voice, began
reading his inaugural address.
which he had written out on
four sheets of paper now to be
seen in the Library of Congress:
Friends and fellow citizens:
Called upon to undertake the
duties of the first executive
Office of our country i. declare
sincere consciousness that the
task is above my talents. ;.
Let us, then fellow citizens,
unite with one heart and one
mind. Every difference Of
opinion is not a difference of
principle. We have been called,
by different names. brethren of
the same principle. We are all
Republicans; we are all Federal
lists. If there be any among us
who wish to dissolve this Union,
or to change it's republican form,
let them stand undisturbed, as
monuments of the safety with
which error of opinion may be
tolerated where reason is left free
to combat it. Let us, then,
with courage and confidence,
pursue our own Federal and Re
publican principles, our attach
ment to our Union and repre-
sentative government"
Jefferson's audience could hard
ly believe their ears. Instead of
threats of reprisals against his
political enemies, instead of plans
to overthrow the work of his
predecessors, here was the dan
gerous demagogue." Thomas JEFF
ferson. holding out the olive