Rensselaer Republican, Volume 17, Number 21, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 January 1885 — PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATIONS. [ARTICLE]

PRESIDENTIAL INAUGURATIONS.

How They Were Conducted in the Early 1 Days of the Republic. Thomas Jefferson was the first President inaugurated at Washington. The city was then a country village scattered over an immense territory, and Pennsylvania avenue was a muddy country road. There was a fence about the Capitol grounds, and it is said that Jefferson rode there on horseback, and jumped from his horse and tied him to the bars while he went up to the big white building to be sworn in. He was dressed very plainly, and only a few fritnds accompanied him. The inauguration took place in what .was then the Senate chamber—now the Supreme Court room—and only 1,000people were present. Of these, 150 were ladies. As the President-elect , came in the Senators stood up and Aaron Burr gave the President’s seat to Mr. Jefferson. John Adams, the retiring President, was not present. It is reported that he said that he did not propose to grace the inauguration of the party opposed to him, and that he left the White House on the night of the 2d of March, at midnight, and that before day he had departed from Washington forever. Jefferson’s second ihauguration was even more quiet than his first The oath was taken in the Senate chamber, and after it there was a procession formed at the Navy yard, which marched through the city to martial music. Washington’s first inauguration took place in New York, in the Federal Hall, on the site of the present SubTreasury building, on the 30th of April, 1789. He was sworn in in an open gallery adjoining the Senate chamber, and a great crowd of people were present. His second inauguration took place in the Senate chamber of Independence Hall, Philadelphia, and Judge Cusl* ing, of the Supreme Court, administered the oath of office. The hall was crowded, and his short address •was closely listened to. As he left there was a cheer, and this was about the whole of the ceremony. Washington’s first inauguration was. however, a great event. He left Mount Yernon about the 16 of April, and was escorted first to Alexandria,»where he attended a public dinner. The Alexandrians escorted him to Georgetown, where he was met by citizens of Maryland, and so all along the line of his march to New York he was wined and dined and cheered and serenaded with bands. Philadelphia was illuminateljg in his honor and the bridge over the Hchulkill across which he rode had an arch of laurel. As be passed under this a crown of laurel was let down by machinery, without his seeing the action, so that it rested on his head, and as it fell the people burst into long, loud cheers. The Philadelphians escorted him to Trenton, and here another hr dge decoration was prepared for him. It was a triumphal arch of laurel and flowers supported by thirteen pillars entwined with wreaths of evergreen. On the front was written in large golden letters, “The defender of the mothers will lie the protector of the daughters;” and the women jo ned with the men in welcoming him. It was the same at Princeton, where Tie ■was met by a band of ladies leading their daughters dressed in white, carrying baskets of flowers, and singing *n die in his honor. At Brunswick he was met by the Governor of New Jersey and a committee of Congress, who accompanied him to the water, and he went the rest of the way to New Y< r; in a boat. John Adams was inaugurated in Philadelphia,and Washington delivered his farewell addre-B to the same audience which wi’ne-sed the swearing in of ’ Adams. Cbiet Justice Ellsworth administered the oath, and a discharge of artillery closed the proceedings. That night ,a big dinner was given to

Washington, and four hundred covers of the choicest viands were served. When Madison was inaugurated Washington City had not more than 8,000 population, and the reports of the day say that it was “strained to its utmost” to accomodate the guests. The day opened with a Federal salute, gnd 10,000 people were unable to gain admittance to the Capitol. The House Of Representatives, and Jefferson was present. The President elect was escorted from Georgetown by a troop of cavalry, aud he came into the Capitol attended, by Cabinet officers. Chief Justice Marshall administered the oath, and after another band of .militia escorted him to the White , House, where Jefferson aided him in his reception. At this ceremony MadisOn wore an entire suit of clothes of American, sheep. His second inauguration was also a grand event, and he Was given a dinner at one of the leading "hotels of Washington. Monroe's two inauguration oaths was administered by Chief Justice Marshall, and his first oath was announced to the people by firing of a single gun. At this ceremony the day was mild, and the address was delivered and the oath taken out of doors. Monroe was the first President inaugurated in the open air. His second inauguration took place in the House of Repre-entaiives, as there was snow on -the ground, and not over 2,000 people could be present. John Quincy Adams’ inauguration took place inside the Capitol on March 4,1825. It was in what is now Statuary Hall, and seats were reserved for ladies. Mr. Adams was led to the Capitol by troops of horsemen, cavalry, and marshals, and the diplomatic corps were present ip costume. Mr. Adams came into the hall a little jifter 12 o'clock, and was iniroduccd by the presiding officers of Congress. He was dressed in a suit of plain black. Behind him came President Monroe and his family. As soon as silence was secured he read the inaugural address, 40 minutes long, and thi n taking the law book containing the oath from Chief Justice Marshall, lie read it in a loud, clear voice. As he closed the audience cheered, aud au artillery salute followed. As the crowd was dispersing Mr. Adams held a sort of a reception. , He shook hands with President Monroe and also with Andrew Jackson, who was to prove in the future his bitterest enemy. , The inauguration of Jackson was attended by thousands, aqd Daniel Webster in speaking about it said : “I never saw such a crowd. People have come 500 miles to see General Jackson, and they Tegslv seem to think that the country is rescued from some dreadful danger.” Jackson came into Washington quietly. He had seen’ the corpse of his wife a few weeks before dressed in the white satin dress prepared forheruse at Washington, and his honors were mixed with sadness. There were more people in Washington than ever before, on the day of the ceremonies “King Mob reigned triumphant.” The address was delivered on the east portico of the Capitol, and to keep the crowd' back a ship’s cable had to be stretehed across half way up the steps. At their close Jackson rode on a spirited horse from the Capitol to the White House, where the motley throng followed and took possession. Refreshments were then serve 4 and the wildest confusion prevailed, in which the guests fought for the victuals. Barrels of orange punch were made, but as the waiters brought it in a rush was made for it and glasses were broken and pails of liquor upset upon costly carpets. Men with heavy, muddy boots stood upon the satin covered chairs, and furniture was broken and curtains torn in the effiorts of the crowd to get a view of the new President. There were a number of pickpockets in the throng, and it is recorJed that one man lost S9OO. The crush was in fact so great that at one time Jackson, who had retreated until he was against the wall, was protected from injury only by a number of his intimate friends, who, linking their hands together, thus made • a living H>pe to keep the people back. Tubs of punch were finally taken down into the gardens of the White House grounds to lead the people off, and the waiters stopped bringing in wine and ice cream to be thrown upon the carpets. Jackson’s second inauguration took place in the Capitol in the presence of Senators and Representatives, foreign ministers, and a number of prominent ladies and gentlemen, and Chief Justice Marshall administered the oath. _ V Martin Van Buren did not make a speech on the day he was inaugurated Vice President with Jackson. His inaugura ion as President was attended bv Jackson, and the foreign representatives made a farewell address to General Jackson on the occasion. Yan Buren read his inaugural address in the open air. and that so distinctly that N. P. Willis says, “Twenty thousand people heard him distinctly.” There was no confusion and everything passed off quietly. General Harrison, when he arrived in Washington to be sworn in, walked from the depot to the City Hall. It was a stormy day in February, and it is said he carried his hat in * his hand and saluted the people who lined the sidewalks at the time. Hero he was addressed by the Mayor and a number of citizens.' Harrisons inaugural ad-, diess had Deen written in Ohio. ltf> was penned on large sheets of foolscap paper, and he showed it to Daniel Webster before he read it. Harrison bad put in a number of allusions td the Greeks and Bomans. which Webster wanted cut out, but the President would not hear to it. He was a gri at admirer of the classics, and in going to the Capitol he preferred to ride on a charger, as the Roman emperors did along the Appisin way, to accepting the carriage giv&n Ijiim by the Wuigs of Baltimore. . The inangnral day *\vap ushered in by the salute of as many (fans as there were States in the Vnion. It was cold and chilly, but the General scorned an overcoat, and rode with his hat in his hand. Behind him came clulw and labor organizations of various kinds, and among them were og cabins covered with inscriptions, cider-barrels, coon skins, and other emblems of the campaign and the frontier. At 12 o’oldck John Tyler entered the Senate and took his oath of office and .delivered his address. As he closed Harrison came in and the crowd ad-

journed to the east portico, i where Harrison, bareheaded and without an overcoat, delivered a flowejrv address. It was bitter'cold and the rest of the people were uncomfortable in overcoats. As the president closed. Chief Justice Taney administered the oath and the thousands dispersed, Harrison going to the White House on horseback as lie had come. Here he received the people in crowds, and that night he visited the three inaugural balls which. were given in his honor. The fatigue and exposure of his inauguration must have had much to do with hastening President Harrison’s death. At any rale he fell sick before the close of the month of his inauguration, ahd on the 4th of April he died. His last words weie: ‘Sir, I wish you to understand the true principles of government; I wish them carried out. I ask nothing more.” And with that he died. , It was a bad day when Polk was inaugurated. Still there was a grand procession, and thousands of military men marching to the music of many bands. The President rode to the Capitol in a carriage, the Mar.ne Band played, and silk banners waved on every side. Taylor’s inauguration took place on a cloudy day, but it was otherwise pleasant. Old Zacli rode up to the Capitol dressed in plain black in a carriage drawn by four gray horses. As he did so, the roofs of the houses along the iine of march were crowde I, every window was full, and the streets were lined with sightseers. Polk and his Cabinet were present at the inauguration, and General Taylor delivered his addressin a remarkably distinct voice from the east front of the Capitol. When Frank Pierce was sworn in it was cloudy and snowy. 'I he President spoke his_ inaugural from memory to 20,000 people from the east portico, and Chief Justice Taney administered the oath. Bucliannan was inaugurated on a bright and sunny day, and a full description of the ceremonies described them as grand in the extreme. The President attended the inaugural ball and his entrance upon his offic al career showed no signs of the disturbances which were to close it.—Washington Letter.