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[287]

Chapter 12: the inauguration of President Lincoln, and the Ideas and policy of the Government.

  • Military preparations for the inauguration, 287.
    • -- the inauguration, 289. -- Lincoln's Inaugural Address, 290. -- the inauguration Ball, 294. -- Cabinet ministers appointed, 295. -- opinions of the President's Inaugural Address, 296. -- financial condition of the Government, 297. -- the Army -- forts and arsenals seized by the insurgents, 298. -- the Navy, 299. -- Purging of the public offices of disloyal men--“Confederate” Commissioners at Washington, 300. -- the Secretary of State refuses to acknowledge them -- his “Memorandum.” 301. -- the theory of the Government and, the insurrection -- a go-between, 302. -- the “Commissioners” final letter, 303. -- Judge Campbell's letter, 304. -- its use and effect, 305. -- secret history concerning the attempt to re-enforce and relieve the garrison in Fort Sumter, 306.

Monday, the 4th of March, 1861, will ever be a memorable day in the annals of the Republic. On that day a Chief Magistrate was installed who represented the loyal and free spirit of the nation, which had found potential expression in a popular election. That election proclaimed, in the soft whispers of the ballot, an unchangeable decree, that slave labor should cultivate no more of the free land of the Republic. Professedly on account of that decree, the advocates of such labor commenced a revolt; and it was in the midst of the turmoil caused by the mad cry of insurgents, that Abraham Lincoln went up to the National Capital, and was inaugurated the Sixteenth President of the United States of America.

The inaugural ceremonies were performed quietly and orderly, at the usual place, over the broad staircase at the eastern front of the Capitol, whose magnificent dome was only half finished. In order to insure quiet and safety, and the performance of the ceremony in the usual peaceful form, General Scott had collected about six hundred regular troops in the city, but they were so scattered that their presence was scarcely perceptible. They had been making their way to the capital in small numbers from different points for several weeks, and the conspirators were so impressed with the belief that the total force was enormous in strength — that a vast number of troops were hidden all about the city — that they abandoned the scheme of seizing Washington, preventing the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, and placing one of their number in the Executive Chair.1 They were undeceived, four days before the inauguration, by a Message of the President,

March 1, 1861.
in response to an inquiry by Congress concerning the number of troops in the city.2 It was then too late for them to organize

1 See page 148.

2 Mr. Burnett, of Kentucky, offered a resolution in the House of Representatives on the 11th of February, which was adopted, asking the President for his reasons for assembling a large number of troops in Washington; why they were kept there; and whether he had any information of a conspiracy to seize the Capital, and prevent the inauguration of the President elect. On the 5th of the same month, Wigfall had offered a resolution in the Senate, asking the President why, since the commencement of the session of Congress, troops had been gathering in Washington; munitions of war collected there; from what points they had been called, &c., and under the authority of what law they were held for service in the National Capital. The President did not answer these inquiries until the 1st of March, when he declared that there were only six hundred and fifty-three private soldiers in the city, besides the usual number of marines at the Navy Yard, and that they were ordered to Washington to “act as a posse comitatus, in strict subordination to the civil authority, for the purpose of preserving peace and order,” should that be necessary, before or at the period of the inauguration of the President elect. In the mean time a Committee of the House had investigated the subject of a conspiracy; and the members of that body were so well convinced of its existence, that a resolution, expressing the opinion that “the regular troops now in this city ought to be forthwith removed therefrom,” was laid on the table by a very large majority. The alarm for the safety of the Government archives, which prevailed throughout the country, had instantly subsided when it was known that troops were called to Washington.

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