THE INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT JOHNSON.
On Saturday morning, April 15th, immediately after the death of President Lincoln, the following communication was addressed to Hon. Andrew Johnson, hitherto Vice-President of the Republic:
Washington City, April 15, 1865.
“Sir:—Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, was shot by an assassin last evening at Ford’s Theatre, in this city, and died at the hour of twenty-two minutes after seven o’clock. About the same time at which the President was shot, an assassin entered the sick chamber of the Hon. W. H. Seward, Secretary of State, and stabbed him in several places in the throat, neck and face, severely if not mortally wounding him.—Other members of the Secretary’s family were also dangerously wounded by the assassin while making his escape. By the death of President Lincoln the office of President has devolved under the Constitution upon you. The emergency of the Government demands that you should immediately qualify according to the requirements of the Constitution, and enter upon the duties of President of the United States. If you will please make known your pleasure, such arrangements as you deem proper will be made.
Your obedient servants,
Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury.
Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War.
Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy.
William Dennison, Postmaster-General.
J. P. Usher, Secretary of the Interior.
James Speed, Attorney-General.
To Andrew Johnson, Vice-President of the United States.”
ANDREW JOHNSON.
Mr. Johnson requested that the ceremonies should take place at his rooms at the Kirkwood House, in Washington, at ten o’clock on the morning of the 15th.
The Hon. Salmon P. Chase, Chief-Justice, of the United States, was notified of the fact, and desired to be in attendance to administer the oath of office.
At the above-named hour the following gentlemen assembled in the Vice-President’s room to participate in the ceremony: Hon. Salmon P. Chase, the Hon. Hugh McCulloch, Secretary of the Treasury; Mr. Attorney-General Speed; F. P. Blair, sr.; Montgomery Blair; Senators Foot of Vermont, Yates of Illinois, Ramsay of Minnesota, Stewart of Nevada, Hale of New Hampshire, and General Farnsworth, of Illinois.
After the presentation of the above letter, the Chief-Justice administered the following oath to Mr. Johnson:
“I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”
After receiving the oath and being declared President of the United States, Mr. Johnson remarked:
“Gentlemen: I must be permitted to say that I have been almost overwhelmed by the announcement of the sad event which has so recently occurred. I feel incompetent to perform duties so important and responsible as those which have been so unexpectedly thrown upon me. As to an indication of any policy which may be pursued by me in the administration of the Government, I have to say that must be left for development as the Administration progresses. The message or declaration must be made by the acts as they transpire. The only assurance that I can now give of the future is reference to the past. The course which I have taken in the past in connection with this rebellion must be regarded as a guarantee of the future. My past public life, which has been long and laborious, has been founded, as I in good conscience believe, upon a great principle of right, which lies at the basis of all things. The best energies of my life have been spent in endeavoring to establish and perpetuate the principles of free government, and I believe that the government, in passing through its present perils, will settle down upon principles consonant with popular rights, more permanent and enduring than heretofore. I must be permitted to say, if I understand the feelings of my own heart, I have long labored to ameliorate and elevate the condition of the great mass of the American people. Toil and an honest advocacy of the great principles of free government have been my lot. The duties have been mine—the consequences are God’s. This has been the foundation of my political creed. I feel that in the end the government will triumph, and that these great principles will be permanently established. In conclusion, gentlemen, let me say that I want your encouragement and countenance. I shall ask and rely upon you and others in carrying the government through its present perils. I feel in making this request that it will be heartily responded to by you and all other patriots and lovers of the rights and interests of a free people.”
At the conclusion of the above remarks the President received the kind wishes of the friends by whom he was surrounded. A few moments were devoted to conversation. All were deeply impressed with the solemnity of the occasion.