Year: 1869

suit of black.


The new Senators came forward IN
groups of three and were sworn, ana
then the Vice President directed the
officers to lead the way to the rotunda
and platform. The persons on the
floor went out in accordance with the
order of the day, except as this was


varied by the failure of the House of
Representatives to get into the Senate
Chamber.


The members who were going out
looked very quiet. Some looked as II
relief from a life of drudgery were
lust at hand, but most had an air of
marked regret, n formal and subdued
air which the House does not often
wear. And so, while its routine of
uninteresting business was going on,
with a few to watch and none outside
TO mourn its death, it died with the
/ falling stroke of the speakers ham
mer as the bell of the clock sounded
twelve.


Pending these preparations inside


the Capitol building, the spot termed
the other end of the avenue was surg
ing with a new life. 4 new man was
at that end, and instead of the rabble





the White House since Abraham
Lincoln died, a score of loyal organi-
cations were forming to escort Gen.


Grant to the Capitol. The head OF the
column halted in front of the executive


mansion. General Grant, with his
chief OF staff, General Rawlings, were
in one carriage, Mr.. ColfaX in another,


and others were prepared for Mr..


johnson and his cabinet. y staff
officer went in to invite these latter,
but the late President choose to refuse,
and sent curt word that neither him
self nor his cabinet would join the


procession or 30 to the Capitol. Thus


was a dead weight TO the march and


great ovation removed by the only
man who could rid the line of it.
From this moment the line moved on


without hindrance.


When all had reached the platform
. n scene was presented never equaled
at any previous Inauguration. The
platform was the central spot, with a
/ floor much longer than the Senate
chamber, and easily accommodated all
who were intended to be upon it,


while the steps and porch in the rear
gave room for all who came the from


Senate galleries.


General Grant advanced TO the front


and centre, followed by the justices of


the Supreme Court, and seated him
/ self by the side of Mr.. Chase. Back


of them was crowded the Senate, back
of them such of Grants old officers as
Sherman, Thomas, Howard, his own


staff, Sickles, Hancock, and dozen
others whose names the country
knows well. On the steps in the rear


was a large delegation from the diplO-


matte corps, the largest which has
ever appeared in public on one Occa-
sion. Back of his right was the old


House of Representatives, and fifty


members sOfthenew. Representatives
of all the leading papers in the coun-
try, including artists of the pictorials,


were grouped on each side of General
Grant along the front of the platform.
The marine band, with full members,


was placed within the square on the


north side of the broad central flight.
Here, in scarlet dresses and with


bright instruments, they looked like
a great vase of flowers set in the back


ground. Such was the platform and
I its occupants, lifted ten feet above the
level area.


Chief Justice Chase rose, holding
Washington's Bible in his hands, and


walked toward General Grant, who
rose, and at an intimati1n from Mr..
Chase held up his hand and repeated


the oath of office after the chief JUS
/ tice. As his hand was lowered, that
grand shout of tile thousands rang


out again, thrilling all hearts with
emotion that few will ever forget, and


with it came the fast following thun-


ders of the artillery. To this many
| tongued welcome the President, for


he was President then, only mOdestly
bowed his thanks, and sat down with
I the chief Justice. In a few minutes
/ more he was standing alone before
! that vast audience, reading to them,


and through the telegraph to all the
land, the brief words which were to
I he the corner stone of the new admin
/ istTation which had began. Few of
/ course could hear, but those near him


never before gave such heed to human
words. The supreme court drank
them in eagerly. The Senate bent,


personal partisan and opponent alike,
! to catch their import. The House
strained every nerve to hear, while
/ the upturned faces along the front
I line of the great cOncOurse were fixed
/ by an intense attention. There was a
dead silence around the reader, and
no applause till he had finished, and
/ then these waves of sound rolled and
/ beat fiercely on all sides again.


GRANTS INAUGURAL.


! Citizans of the TTnited States: Your


suffrage having elevated me to the
I Office of President of the United
I States, have in conformity with the


constitution of our country, taken the


oath of Office prescribed therein. l


have taken the oath without mental


reservation, and with the determine


ton to do to the best of my ability all


that is required of me. The response


bilities of the position l feel, but ac-
cept them without fear. The office


has come to me unsought. COM
. mence its duties untrammelled. l


bring to it a conscientious desire and


determination to fill it to the best OF


my ability and to the satisfaction OF


the people. On all leading questions
agitating the public mind l will al


ways express my views to Congress
and urge them according to my judg-
ment, and when | think it advisable
will exercise the constitutional privi-
/ lege of fnterposing a veto to defeat q
measure which oppose, but all laws
will be faithfully executed whether
they meet my approval or not. !
shall on all subjects have a policy tC
recommend-nOne to enforce against
the will of the people. Laws are tC


govern all alike-those opposed to as
well as those who favor them.
, know no method TO secure the repea
! of bad or obnoxious laws so effective
as their stringent execution.


The country having just emerged
from a great rebellion many question:
will come before it for settlement IL
|, the next four years, which preceding
administrations have never had t.
deal with. In meeting these it is de
sirable that they should be approached
= calmly, without prejudice, hate, o.
I sectional pride, remembering that thu
greatest good TO the greatest numbe
is the object to be obtained. This re


quires security of person and proper
! ty, and for religious and pOlitica
! opinion in every part of our common
q country without regard to local preju


dice. Laws to secure these will re
ceive my hest efforts for their enforce