Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 December 1884 — WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON. [ARTICLE]

WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON.

A I’eti-I’lcturjß of His Inauguration as President, Forty .three Tears Ago. Gen. Harrison was inaugurated President on Thurslay, March 4, 1841. The city had filled up during the preceding night, and the roar oftthe morning salutes was echoed by the band of the military, as they marched to take their places in the line of the procession. The sun was obscured, but' the weather was mild and soft, sufficiently so as not to require an overcoat. The streets were perfectly dry—the frost being entirely out of the ground. From 9to 11 o’clock the ooncourse of people directing their course to and up Pennsylvania avenue was continuous and immense. I never saw a greater number of human beings traveling one road. Every avenue and aisle was crowded and all were well dressed and orderly. The doors of the capitol were kept closed till 10, when the assemblage of ladies and gentlemen was immense; but, by a judicious arrangement" of the marshals, all the ladies w ere admitted and the gentlemen excluded. Erom the steps of the building, it was an interesting sight to witness the immense crowd that were winding their course up through every avenue to the great height on which the’Capitol is placed. Tho ladies assembled in the rotunda, as the reception room; they were soon ualiered into the gallery of the Senate chamber, where they were provided with comfortable seats. The east door, leading to the Senate gallery, was soon opened, where at least 5,000 persons rushed to that point. Less than 1,000 were enabled to reach the seats provided above. The galleries presented an array of beauty seldom seen in this country. Soon after the galleries were filled, the foreign embassadors, wearing the court dresses and insignia, were introduced on the floor. The members of the Senate soon took their seats, after which the Senate was called to order by the clerk, and Senator King was appointed president pro tem. The newly-elected senators were sworn. Vice-President Tyler, of Virginia, entered with ex-Vice-President Johnson, and was attended to his seat by Mr. Preston. When the oath of office was delivered he took his seat and called the senators to order. The new senator, Mr. Mooreliead, from Kentucky, arrived late with his credentials, and took his seat. It was quite amusing to see the groops of senators, particularly Messrs. Wright, Buchanan, and Benton, the former of whom was heard to say in an undertone: “Well, gentlemen, we are at last in the majority.” The crowd which filled the aisles were soon cleared when the President, William Henry Harrison, was ushered into the room by the committee, of which Mr. Preston was chairman. The judges of tho Supreme Court, wearing their black silk robes, had taken their seats in front below the speaker’s chair. The President-elect shook hands cordially with a number of the senators and judges, and appeared much younger than many who were his junior in years. The programme of the procession was carried out to the letter. The military, particularly that from Philadelphia, with the fine band, made a most splendid .appearance. The military from the District and from Baltimore made a fine appearance. The Tippecanoe clubs were out in lull force, a platform drawn by four horses, on which was placed a machine with spindles for cotton-3pin-ing, in full operation. But the great point of attraction was the President, who rode a white horse. On his right was Major Hurst, on another white horse, who was his aid at the battle of Tippecanoe —a fine-looking man, from the West. And on his left Colonel Todd, his aid at the battle of tlie Thames. There were few men in the procession that looked better than the General; he wore a plain suit of black, and had the appearance of a man not over fifty years of age. As he passed down Pennsylvania avenue, which' was crowded on both sides, the President bowed gracefully as he was cheered, and as the ladies waved their white handkerchiefs. In the procession was a gentleman dressed in a Western hunting-shirt, marching at the head of about twenty of his comrades. It was the brave General Combs, of Kentucky, who served in all the Western campaigns of 1812 and 1813, and conducted the vanguard of Dudley’s defeat when marching to relieve Fort Meigs. The shirt worn was similar to that worn by General Harrison in his Western campaigns. Of the eighteen soldiers that, on this day, L chose General Combs as their commander, there was not one who had not two wounds to attest his bravery. At 12:30 p. m., the signal was given, and the president of the Senate, senators, judges of the . Supreme Court, embassadors, etc., formed in procession, and proceeded to the eastern front of the capital, where a platform some fifteen feet high and large enough to accommodate an immense crowd, was entered. It was filled with the dignitaries of the land and ladies. The President elect took his seat in front, Chief Justice Taney and his associates by his. side, the senators and embassadors on the left, and the ladies on the wings and Sides. The large space below was filled with the immense multitude, not less than from 40,000 to 50,000 persons. When quiet was secured the President took off his hat, rose, and, advancing to the front of the platform, commenced reading his inaugural. All were perfectly astonished at the power and compass of his voice. He spoko until 2p. m.—one and a half hours—with a clearness that was truly surprising. So distinctly were his words heard that he was^

cheered at the closing of every sent!-' ment, particularly where he said that he would qarry out the pledge be had made, that, under no circumstances, would he run for another term. Just before the close of the inaugural he turned to Chief Justice Tonev, who held the Bible, and in a most clear and,distinct voice repeated the oath required.—Ben: Perley Poore,in Boston Budget.