The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-07
THE INAUGURATION OF LINCOLN AT WASH.
INGTON

TO THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD.
For seme three weeks past a movement Of a secret
character hasbeen the tapis among the Wide Awakes
in dnsrent sections having for It's object enforce the
Inauguration Of Mr. Lincoln the national capital against
any and all opposition.
The Wide Awake organization was originated in com
plance with the demands Of young men, many Of them
beardess boys whose enthusiasm could wrought
up to the proper pitch by military demonstration
than by any other process, and in time to have
proportions which its progentors deemed it would
Among the other designs of the organization
was one originating with the Garbadian Wide Awakes
Of New York association Of Italians, which was TO
make friendly visit TO Washington the 4th of March,
to assist in the inauguration ceremonies In this
idea they promised cooperation by the German
Wide Awakes but the leading minds Of the party per-
ceivng that such demonstration would create intense
sectional feeling advised the abandonment the enter
PRISE and accordingly decided that the excursion
should not take place.
The threatening aspect OF affairs the South and the
repeated announcement that Mr. Lincoln should never
take the oath Of Office at Washington, gave birth
feeling the impulsive Of the Wide Awaes tha,
has finally resulted the construction Of society
with the known though not publicly avowed desgu Of
sustaining the President elect by force Of arms.
The association is known TO its members the nde.
pendent Order OF Wide Awakes II has a constitution
and by laws commander n-chief, adutant and mssor
generals captains eutenans, sergeants and subaerns
and all tho paraphcrnala Of thorough military organi
za,ion Much Of the old machinery Of the Nothngs
has been pressed into servicc-the signs and grips
being nearly Identical and the constitution and bylaws
being printed figures Three weeks only have elapsed
since the formation OF the first company aud there
already York city the skeletons OF three regiments
fully oncered but with not than sixteenth OF
the proper complement Of prvates Enroments pro-
ceeding nightly at the respective headquarters
The secret agents of the organization digent In
their abors through the Northern States initiating
bers, installing officers forming companies and admon-
ishing them 10 perfection n drill and discipline. In
Boston and Philadelphia the movement rapidly pro.
crossing and confidently expected by tho leaders that
large force Of armed be concentrated at Wash
ington the 4th Of March, every of them
maintain the Observance Of law in the Inauguration OF
Mr.. Lincoln, in spite Of any intervening obstacle.
The programme, as far as determined upon, provides
that the shall not visit the capitol en- nasse but
that officers and men shall appear there any time from
one to ten days previous to the Inauguration, by any
revovers and side arms TO be concealed that they
shall be known TO each other by peculiar emblem,
hereafter 10 be fixed upon and TO be revealed to the
members the 10th Of April A especial body
guard TO Mr. Lincoln, Massachusetts and other New Eng.
land states are 10 furnish Ave hundred picked men New
York two hundred and Pennsylvania the same number
Some portion Of these will be duty the entire
time, being relieved at stated intervals.
The movements Of the companies, In the event Of
collision, TO be governed by the call OF numbers.
peculiar cry, denoted the alarm cry, will inform
member of the peril OF another. The service OF
initiation is simple almost to Insecurity The candidate
is not bound to deny that he Wide awake, or that he
gives time 70 occasional drills lie s bound not TO
disclose the object for which these drills are undertaken,
and ALSO not to reveal the recognition by the hand the
seDfcation OF numbers the alarm cry, and the emblem
by which members will be known 10 each other at a
glance.
The character OF the orginators Of the organization il
not on the whole Of the highest respcctabity large
proportion OF the officers are young and inexperienced
who yearn for something TO do in an official mill
ary capacity The wiser heads Of the republican party
have yet neither countenanced dscountcnanccd
the movement, but seem content 10 let II take such
coarse az may, regarding II the whole piece of
mac hinery that might be made effective In emer.
gency They will give II their earnest attention
afford TO despise and when will require wisdom
10 is direction than u now poesesscs