Port Gibson Herald

The city had been filling up for days, even for weeks approaching Inauguration, with a singular appearance rank in life and every much crowded and as the to private be compelled boarding houses were speedily coming into the same condition. Halls and bar-rooms, dining-rooms, ay, and dining-tables, might at night be seen covered with beds and pallets for the accommodation of such as could no longer gain admission into the over-crowded chambers. Country people from vicinity, on horseback, on foot, and in vehicles of every variety, flocked in on Monday, besides loads of passengers in every train of cars, regular and extra; and every line of boats. Many strangers, of noble port and dignified appearance were from time to time to be met on our great thoroughfares, recognising each other, as after a long separation. Ex-Judges, ex-Senators Heads of Department, former members of the Houses of Congress in great numbers, Governors of States, and other distinguished individuals from all parts of our country, seemed drawn together, as by a spell to one common centre of attraction. Office-seekers and office-expectants, political speculators and party leaders without number, and of every caliber, crowded our streets and especially near the hotel where Mr. Polk the President Elect, had lodgings. Among other worthies, the members of the famous "Empire Club," conspicuous from their flame-colored uniform, blazed like meteors among the throng The fairer sex must not be forgotten. There too, in all their grades, from the jewelled lady to the modest country girl in her new bonnet and riband, appeared to diversify the rude multitude. The city was swarming like a hive, and the slow moving stream of people traversing the pavements of Pennsylvania avenue in the morning of yesterday seemed itself a procession upon some sad or solemn occasion, rather than a joyous gathering for the purpose of common gratulation.

The hopes of the morrow, which had kept many an eye waking through the preceding night were all sadly dashed by the unrelenting, indiscriminating sky, which, after a transient smile began to lower. and frown. and threaten, and finally to pour down rain outright. Could any peering eye, any lurking open ear, have witnessed the corresponding frowns in many a boudoir where laces were ready to be donned, and all the artillery of Beauty lay, like the arms of Achilles all ready for fields of victory. how sad, yet how instructive, might not the lesson have proved However, the appointed cannons roared; and the national flags, (displayed, be it remembered, from every Whig as well as every Democratic staff. though somewhat damped by the unpropitious heavens, did their best to wave in triumph; and the bands played martial airs. The programme had promised a splendid procession; something must be done; and, accordingly, such a display of umbrellas as darkened the city by their shade was never probably witnessed by "the oldest inhabitant."

The procession, being formed, proceeded to the Capital in the order described in a following column; considerably lessened in the brilliancy of its display, however, by the rain which fell during its march.

Within the Capitol a more interesting scene presented itself than on the approach to it. The avenues to the building had all been closed and carefully guarded till the hour appointed in the plan of proceedings. But, when that hour did arrive, the rush was fearful. No limbs, happily. were broken, though injuries both to clothes and persons certainly were sustained. The gentlemen's gallery in the Senate chamber was crowded as in a moment, while the stairs leading to it and a large space about the door long continued to be occupied by a struggling mass, vainly hoping to work their way in. The circular gallery opposite to the gentlemen's gallery was given up to the Ladies, on condition, however, that beaux and brothers should be left behind; and, accordingly, when these doors also were thrown open, such a din of sweet sounds burst forth, and such a waving of plumes, fanned by ambrosial breath, astonished the delighted air, as would call for a poet duly to describe it.

In the area below, the officials might be seen arranging seats and making preparation for the august assemblage that was soon to enter. Senators and Representatives in Congress began to drop in, with now and then one of our naval or military heroes in his imposing military dress, and then the craning of necks and peering of eager curious eyes, and the pressing of incessant queries, showed that to a large portion of those who beheld it the scene was entirely new. At length the Marshal of the District of Columbia and the Clerk of the Supreme Court made their appearance, at the head of the Judges of the Supreme Court in their robes, who, entering the seats in a semicircle on the right of the Chair space in front of the Secretary's table, occupied the President of the Senate. A solemn, beautiful, and very appropriate Prayer was delivered by the Chaplain of the Senate.

The Senate being called to order, the new Senators countenances of several good Whigs and true, with cordial satisfaction, the noble intellectual ators were qualified; among whom we recognise as a battle-cry in some of the darkest days of our Union and the Constitution, whose voice has been the eloquent advocates and guardians of the Un-
changeful history.

When all the new Senators had taken their lect attracted, as well by the dignity as the snow- seats, the appearance of the Vice President e Mr. Dallas, the immediate notice of all specta- tors The oath of office was administered to him by the Hon. Mr. Mangum, the President of the Senate, who immediately vacated his own seat, surrendering it to the new occupant.

A brief pause ensued; after which Mr. Dallas rose and delivered, with great self-possession and composure, the brief Address of which a copy will be found in another part of this day's paper.

seats on the left of the chair, opposite the Judges.


the Vice President was speaking, and took their

The Diplomatic Corps entered the hall while

If the appearance of Major General Scott, with

his towering form and lofty plumes, and other

called forth comments and inquiries in all quarters.

General and Staff Officers, in full uniform,

who can tell the impression on one of the sons of

the West, now visiting cities for the first time, of

the brilliant, many-colored, dazzling spectacle of

official national costumes now presented to his

gaze?

"Who is that gentleman in the bright red

coat?" "Which is the British Minister?"—

"Which is the French?" "Who is that with the

large epaulets?" "Where is the Spanish Min—

ister?" "Who are all those in the back row?—

that one, with the gold snuff-box in his hand?—

that young man, with the black moustaches?"

"Where is the Mexican Minister?" A hundred

questions like these might be heard among the

crowd in the gallery, and the man who could

answer seemed to be looked to as a sort of ora—
cle.

At length the two Presidents, actual and elect, entered, not like Richard and Bolingbroke,

but side by side, and took their seats below the

audience, and then, after a brief pause, the order

of arrangements was read aloud, the parties fal—
ling into their places as they were respectively

named, and the whole mass left the Senate

Chamber and proceeded to the Eastern Portico.

Here a temporary stage had been erected, as

at the inauguration of President Harrison, over

the great flight of steps; and, from the front of

this, the PRESIDENT ELECT read to as many of

the vast mass which filled the space in front as

could hear him, the Address which will be found

in the following columns. He read it in a firm

tone of voice, with the air of a man profoundly

impressed by it himself, and desirous to impress

it upon others.

The delivery of the Inaugural being concluded

the Oath of Office was administered to the Pre—
sident by the Chief Justice of the U. States,

and the now President was saluted by loud cheers

from the surrounding multitude.

The Procession was then again formed, and

escorted the President to the Presidential Man—
sion, where, in the course of the afternoon, he

received the congratulations of a large number of

his fellow-citizens.

INAUGURAL PROCESSION.

The unfavorable state of the weather yester—
day did not prevent an immense multitude of

citizens from turning out to join

in the inaugural Procession, or to witness the

important and imposing ceremonies of the

day. At sunrise a discharge of artillery announced

the mpor tant and imposing ceremonies of the

dag. At eight o'clock A. M. the volunteer com—
panies of the District, and those which had ar—
rived from Baltimore and distant places, com—
menced marching towards the appointed parade.

ground in front of the City Hall. About ten o'

clock the military, under the command of

Capt. Mason, of the Potomac Dragoons, marched

from their parade-ground, by Sixth, E, and

Tenth streets, to Pennsylvania avenue, where

they halted for a short time, and then marched

forward and took their appointed station in front

of Coleman's Hotel. Here the Inaugural Pro—
cession was formed under the direction of Chief

Marshal McCalla and his aids, whose names

have been already published.

Between eleven and twelve o'clock the Presi—
dent Elect left Coleman's Hotel, and then the

procession took up its line of march towards the

Capitol, the military being in front, and mak—
ning altogether a handsome and imposing display,

there being eleven volunteer companies in the

line, of which eight belonged to the District of

Columbia, one to Baltimore, one to Savage Fac—
tory, and one to Fairfax County, Virginia. Our

own volunteer companies appeared to great ad—
vantage, as did the most prominent and most ob—
served with the companies in the procession


Jefferson Independent Blues of Baltimore, com—
manded by Capt. Varney—a corps that always

musters as fine a body of men, of excellent disci—
pline, and to which attached Deem's strong and skilful

band of music. The Savage Factory Guards,

a handsomely uniformed company, under the

command of Capt. Williams, also appeared to

great advantage, as did the Fairfax County Ca—
valry, under the command of Capt. Wilcockson.

The volunteer companies in front of the proces—
sion were as follows:

Fairfax Cavalry, Capt. Wilcockson.

Potomac Dragoons, Lieut. Bomford.

Independent Blues of Baltimore, Capt. Var—
ney.

Savage Factory Guards, Capt. Williams.

Washington Light Infantry, Lieut. McKean.

National Blues, Capt. Tucker.

Independent Grays, of Georgetown, Lieut.

Pickrell.

Union Guards, Capt. Carnear.

Mechanical Volunteers, Capt. McClelland.

United Riflemen, of Georgetown, Capt. Du—
Tall.

Columbia Riflemen, of Alexandria, Capt.

Coats.

The Empire Club followed the military—

They bore in front a large silk banner, which

was surmounted with the cap of liberty, and

had on it portraits of Washington, Jefferson,

Madison, and Van Buren. The members of this

club wore a uniform consisting of a red jacket

and a leather girdle. They had with them a

mounted brass cannon, which they fired in front

of Coleman's Hotel several times, and after—
wards at the Capitol.

After the Empire Club, followed several mili—
tary and naval officers and the Reverend Cler—
gy.

Next came, in an open carriage, escorted by

Gen. Hunter, Marshal of the District of Colum—
bia, and several Assistant Marshals, the Presi—
den Elect and his immediate Predecessor.

The carriage was flanked by the Fairfax Caval—
ry.

As the carriage passed along Pennsylvania

avenue, at different points of the line, the peo—
ple cheered the President Elect, and there was

in some places a waving of handkerchiefs by

the ladies from the windows that commanded a

view of the procession.

After the President Elect, followed various

distinguished functionaries, judicial, civil, and

military. Then followed the Corporate Author—
ities of Washington, and the Democratic Asso—
giations of Washington, Georgetown, Alexand—
ria, and other places.

This formed the longest and most imposing

portion of the civic procession. The marine

band played national and appropriate music.

The Professors and Students of Georgetown

College, closed the line of the Inaugural Proces—
sion. It was indeed an interesting spectacle.

The Students in their college uniform, preceded

by the handsome silk banner, presented to the

Philodemnic Society of Georgetown College by

the Ladies of the Cathedral Church of Balti—
more, accompanied by a good band of music.

attracted no little attention.

The procession, as above sketched, entered

and the

precincts of

the

soon

afterwards

of

the

the

address

Capitol

President

about

and

was

Elect

I2

duly

clock

deliv

in—

The now President was installed into office.