Lynchburg Daily Virginian

The Philadelphia Pennsylvanian is evidently trying to aid Mr. Buchanan in the preparation of his inaugural. It takes a retrospect of all the inaugurals of all his predecessors. The New York Times says Washington delivered his first and only inaugural speech to the Senate, as did both Adams and Jefferson but he delivered none on his second election. Though Jefferson delivered his first inaugural in the Senate chamber it was addressed to his "Friends and countrymen." Since his time the inaugural speeches of the Presidents have been addressed to the people and have been delivered from the portico of the capitol. Though they have come to be regarded as an essential part of the ceremony, they do not necessarily belong to it, and are, in fact, extra-constitutional. They are purely voluntary on the part of the President, who is only required by the constitution to take the oath of office.