Viewing page 52 of 190

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

March 4 [[underline]]1865[[/underline]]
Hooker. It was an impressive scence. The first ceremony was the [[strikethrough]]farewell[[/strikethrough]] was the inaugeral of the new vice President as chairman of the house preceded by a farewell address by Mr. Hamlin in which he thanked the senators for their courteous behavior to him & asked pardon for any offences he might unintensionily committed. Mr. Andy Johnston then made his speech which was radical in the extreme & more like a stump oration than an address such as was worthy of delivery before the imposing audience assembled there. Near the close of his speech he turned to receive the oath of office administered to him by Mr. Hamlin & kissed the Bible. He made a few more remarks & then received another oath of allegiance to the country. This was of some length and was repeated word for word after Mr. Hamlin his Its puport [[end page]]

[[start page]] [[underline]]March[[/underline]] [[underline]]1864[[/underline]]
was that he has never indulged a thought treasonable to his country nor ever would nor had ever lifted his hand against her promising future fidelity. He then took his seat in the chair vacated by Mr. Hamlin. His address has been delivered from the desk immediately [[below?]] the chair. The new senators & those newly elected received the oath coming up to the platform of the Speaker's chair as their names were called The President was seated immediately below the desk his ushers on either side of him Mr Foster & _____. The marshals who were distinguished by bright yellow scarves ornamented with blue rosettes now proceeded to clear a passage down the front aisle for the President & his suite. Mr. Lincoln moved slowly between the ushers towering above his neighbors but with a look of weariness & [[end page]]