Record Data
Source citation
Clay-Clopton, Virginia. A Belle of the Fifties: Memoirs of Mrs. Clay of Alabama, Covering
Social and Political Life in Washington and the South, 1853-66. New York: Doubleday Page and Co., 1905, p. 63.
Social and Political Life in Washington and the South, 1853-66. New York: Doubleday Page and Co., 1905, p. 63.
Type
Diary
Date Certainty
Exact
Transcriber
Leah Suhrstedt
Transcription date
Transcription
The following text is presented here in complete form, as it originally appeared in print. Spelling and other typographical errors have been preserved as in the original.
On the day of mr. Buchanan’s inauguration a curious oversight occurred which demonstrated in marked manner how eagerly a populace hastens to shout “The king is dead! Long Live the King!” The procession of carriages had already formed and the moment for beginning the march to the Capitol had almost arrived ere it was observed that the vehicle set apart for President Pierce was unoccupied. Inquiry was hastily instituted, when it was discovered that, owing to some omission on the part of the Master of Ceremonies, his Excellency had not been sent for! The horses’ heads were turned in a trice, and they were driven furiously to the Marcy residence, where the quiet gentleman who was still the President of the United States awaited them.
Late in the afternoon my husband called upon Mr. Pierce, and, during the conversation that followed, Mr. Clay referred indignantly to the unfortunate affair.
“Ah, Clay!” said Mr. Pierce, smiling quietly. “Have you lived so long without knowing that all the homage is given to the rising sun, never to the setting, however resplendent its noonday?”