ue respect even to the prejudices of the people; and as the time for
his second inauguration was drawing near, he asked the opinions of his
cabinet concerning the forms to be used on that occasion. Jefferson and
Hamilton proposed that he should take the oath of office privately at
his own house, a certificate of the fact to be deposited in the state
department. Knox and Randolph proposed to have the ceremony in public,
but without any ostentatious display. Washington's opinion coincided
with the latter; and at a cabinet meeting held on the first of March,
Mr. Jefferson being the only absentee, it was agreed that the oath
should be administered by Judge Cushing, of the supreme court of the
United States, in public, in the senate chamber, on the fourth of the
month, at twelve o'clock at noon, and that the "president go without
form, attended by such gentlemen as he shall choose, and return without
form except that he be preceded by the marshall."

Accordingly, a little before twelve o'clock, the president rode from his
residence to the Congress hall in his cream-colored coach drawn by six
horses, preceded by the marshall, as proposed, and accompanied by a
great concourse of citizens, and took the oath in the senate chamber.
The heads of departments, foreign ministers, members of Congress, and as
many spectators as could find room in the apartment, were present.
Previous to the administration of the oath by Judge Cushing, Washington
arose and said:--

"Fellow-citizens: I am again called upon by the voice of my country
to execute the functions of its chief magistrate. When the occasion
proper for it shall arrive, I shall endeavor to express the high
sense I entertain of this distinguished honor, and of the
confidence which has been reposed in me by the people of the United
States of America. Previous to the execution of any official act of
the president, the constitution requires an oath of office. This
oath I am now about to take, and in your presence; that if it shall
be found, during my administration of the government, I have in any
instance violated, willingly or knowingly, the injunction thereof,
I may, besides incurring constitutional punishment, be subject to
the upbraidings of all who are now witnesses of the present solemn
ceremony."

The oath was then administered, and the president returned to his
residence as he came.[42]

It was with sincere