grounds upon which removals shall be made during the terms for which incumbents have been appointed. Finally, acting always within the authority and limitations of the Constitution, invading neither the rights of the States nor the reserved rights of the people, it will be the purpose of my Administration to maintain the authority of the nation in all places within its jurisdiction; to enforce obedience to all the laws of the Union in the interests of the people; to demand rigid economy in all the expenditures of the Government, and to require the honest and faithful service of all executive officers, remembering that the offices were created, not for the benefit of incumbents or their supporters, but for the service of the Government. And now, fellow-citizens, I am about to assume the great trust which you have committed to my hands. I appeal to you for that earnest and thoughtful support which makes this Government in fact, as it is in law, a government of the people. I shall greatly rely upon the wisdom and patriotism of Congress and of those who may share with me the responsibilities and duties of administration, and, above all, upon our efforts to promote the welfare of this great people and their Government I reverently invoke the support and blessings of Almighty God. MARCH 4, 1881. SPECIAL MESSAGES. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, April 6, 1881. To the Senate of the United States: I transmit herewith, in response to the resolution of the Senate of the 18th ultimo, a report of the Secretary of State, with accompanying papers, in relation to the capitulations of the Ottoman Empire. To the Senate of the United States: JAMES A. GARFIELD. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, May 20, 1881. I transmit herewith a report of the Secretary of State, with accompa nying papers, submitted in response to the Senate resolution of the 12th ultimo, touching the case of Michael P. Boyton.* JAMES A. GARFIELD. *Arrested and imprisoned by authorities of Great Britain. EXECUTIVE ORDER. EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, May 28, 1881. DEAR SIR:* I am directed by the President to inform you that the several Departments of .he Government will be closed on Monday, the 30th instant, to enable the employees to participate in the decoration of the graves of the soldiers who fell during the rebellion. Very respectfully, J. STANLEY BROWN, Private Secretary. DEATH OF PRESIDENT GARFIELD. ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE ASSASSINATION TO REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES ABROAD. [From the Washington Post, July 3, 1881.] JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL, Minister, etc., London: DEPARTMENT OF STATE, The President of the United States was shot this morning by an assassin named Charles Guiteau. The weapon was a large-sized revolver. The President had just reached the Baltimore and Potomac station, at about 9.20, intending, with a portion of his Cabinet, to leave on the limited express for New York. I rode in the carriage with him from the Executive Mansion and was walking by his side when he was shot. The assassin was immediately arrested, and the President was conveyed to a private room in the station building and surgical aid at once summoned. He has now, at 10.20, been removed to the Executive Mansion. The surgeons, on consultation, regard his wounds as very serious, though not necessarily fatal. His vigorous health gives strong hopes of his recovery. He has not lost consciousness for a moment. Inform our ministers in Europe. JAMES G. BLAINE, Secretary of State. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF DEATH BY THE PHYSICIANS. [From the New York Herald, September 20, 1881.] ELBERON, N. J.. September 19-11.30 p. m. The President died at thirty-five minutes past 10 p. m. After the bulletin was issued at half past 5 this evening the President continued in much the same condition as during the afternoon, the pulse varying from 102 to 106, with rather increased force and volume. After taking *Addressed to the heads of the Executive Departments, etc. nourishment he fell into a quiet sleep about thirty-five minutes before his death, and while asleep his pulse ran to 120 and was somewhat more feeble. At ten minutes after 10 o'clock he awoke, complaining of severe pain over the region of the heart, and almost immediately became uncouscious, and ceased to breathe at twenty-five minutes to II. D. W. BLISS. FRANK H. HAMILTON. D. HAYES AGNEW. ANNOUNCEMENT TO THE VICE-PRESIDENT. [From the New-York Times, September 20, 1881.] [LONG BRANCH, N. J., September 19, 1881.] Hon. CHESTER A. ARTHUR, No. 123 Lexington Avenue, New York: It becomes our painful duty to inform you of the death of President Garfield and to advise you to take the oath of office as President of the United States without delay. If it concur with your judgment, we will be very glad if you will come here on the earliest train to-morrow morning. WILLIAM WINDOM, Secretary of the Treasury. WILLIAM H. HUNT, Secretary of the Navy. THOMAS L. JAMES, Postmaster-General. WAYNE MACVEAGH Attorney-General S. J. KIRKWOOD, [The Secretaries of State and of War were absent from Long Branch.] REPLY OF THE VICE-PRESIDENT. [From the Evening Star, Washington, September 20, 1881.] NEW YORK, September 20, 1881.* I have your message announcing the death of President Garfield. Permit me to renew through you the expression of sorrow and sympathy which I have already telegraphed to Attorney-General MacVeagh. In accordance with your suggestion, I have taken the oath of office as President before the Hon. John R. Brady, justice of the supreme court of the State of New York. I will soon advise you further in regard to the other suggestion in your telegram. C. A. ARTHUR. *Addressed to the Cabinet. |