Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-06-21

allow itself to crumble out Of existence BY its
own weakness. And believe that the district
attorney knows that as well as do. 1.-THE
companies of volunteers are not armed, they
viii disband, and the Government win have
nothing to protect It in case Of even little
disturbance. Is it not better for the public
peace, your excellency, even IL the bloody feud
exists (Which believe fs forgotten in q greater
question)-is it not better to have these men
organized. and under the discipline of the Gov
ernment?"
The President hesitated moment and then
said: E9
81 don't know that you are not right. Colo
mel; but you must take the responsibility on
You that no bloodshed results from arming
these men,"
willingly accepted. this responsibility.
The prohibitory order was revoked. Ny
companies received their arms They made
good use of them learning the manual of
arms in surprisingly short time. Later they
made good use of them in sustaining the Gov
eminent which had furnished them against the
faction which soon became the public enemy,
including Mr. Robert Ould. who, following his
convictions, no doubt as honestly as was fol-
lowing mine, gave his earnest services to his
state against the federal Government.
1 think that the country has never properly
appreciated the services Of those District of
Columbia volunteers. 1t certainly has not ap-
preciated the difficulties surmounted in their
organization. Those volunteers were citizens
of the federal District, and therefore had
not at the time, nor have they ever since had,
the powerful stimulant of state feeling,
ment, a states pride, a state press to set forth
and make much of their services They did
their duty quietly and they did It well and
faithfully. Although not mustered into the
service and placed on pay until after the fatal
day when the flag was fired upon, for the first
fin1o OF pfor ~
vice before that time in giving confidence to
those citizens of the District who were faithful
to the Government, in giving confidence to
members of the national legislature. and in
giving confidence also to the President in the
knowledge that there was at least small
force at it's disposition. ready to respond at
any moment to his call. 1t should also be
remembered of them, that the first troops
mustered into the service were sixteen COM
panies OF these volunteers, and that during
the dark days when Washington was cut of
from communication with the north, when
railway bridges were burned and tracks torn up.
when the Potomac was blOckaded, these troops
were the only reliance of the Government for
guarding the public departments. for preserving
order and for holding the bridges and other out
posts; that these were the troops which recov-
cred possession OF the railway from Washington
to Annapolis junction and made practicable the
reOpening of communications. They also formed
the advance guard of the force which first crossed
the Potomac into Virginia and captured the city
of Alexandria.
ular Inauguration on the steps of the Capitol of
the cOnstitutiOnally elected President. firmly
believe that without them Mr.. Lincoln would
never have been inaugurated. l believe that
tumults would have been created, during
which he would have been killed. and
that we should have found ourselves en-
gagged in a struggle. without preparation, and
without arecognized head. at the capital. In this
may be mistaken of course, as any other man
may be mistaken; but it was then my opinion.
when had many sources of Information at my
command, and it remains my opinion now,
when, after the lapse of twenty years and some
what large experience, I look back in cool
blood upon those days OF political madness.
One day, after the official declaration of the
election of Mr.. Lincoln, my duties called me to
the House of Representatives.; and while stand
ing in the lobby waiting tor the member with
whom had business. l cOnversed with dis
tinguished officer from New York. We were
leaning against the sill of a window which over
looked the steps Of the Capitol, where
the President-elect usually stands to take
the the. oath of office: The gentleman
ton of Mr.. Lincoln, and pointing to the.portico
he exclaimed:
'He shall never be inaugurated on those
steps!"
''Mr. Lincoln. replied, ''has been constitu-
tiOHuliy clcCtcu fTeStUeI}G Vi the OnlIeu STATES.
on may be sure that. If he lives until the 4th
day OF March, he will be inaugurated on those
steps,"
AS spoke, noticed for the first time how
perfectly the wings of the Capitol flanked the
steps In question; and on the morning of the
18th of March saw to it that each window of
the two wings was occupied by two riflemen.
received daily numerous communications
from various parts of the country. Informing me
Of plots to prevent the arrival of the President
elect at the capital. These warnings came from
st. Louis. from Chicago. from Cincinnati. from
Pittsburg, from New York, from Philadelphia
and, especially from Baltimore. Every morn
Ing reported to Gen. Scott on the occurrences
of the night and the information received by
the mornings mail; and every evening 1 rem
dered an account of the days work and re-
ceived instructions for the night. Gen. Scott
also received numerous warnings Of danger to
the President-elect, which he would give ME to
study and compare. Many of the cOmmunica-
lions were anonymous and vague. But. on the
other hand, many were from calm and wise
men, one of whom became shortly afterward, a
cabinet minister; one was q railway president
another distinguished ex-governor Of state
ETC.. etc. In every case where the indications
were distinct they were followed up to learn if
real danger existed.
So many clear indications pointed to Balti-
more that three good detectives of the New
York police force were constantly employed
and their statements were constantly compared
with the information received from independent
sources.
Doubtless. Mr. Lincoln, at his home in SPRING
field, received many and contradictory reports
from the capital, for he took his own way of OBJ
tanning information. One night, between eleven
o'clock and midnight, while l was busy in my
study over the papers of the day and evening,
card was brought me, bearing the name of ''Mr
Leonard Swett." and upon it was written, in
the well-knOwn hand of General Scott. Colo
mel Stone, inspector general, may converse
freely with Mr.. SWEET" gave orders for his
admission and tail gentleman OF marked fea-
lures entered my room. At first l thought that
Mr.. Lincoln himself was present. SO much. at
first glance, did Mr.. Swetts face resemble the
portraits / had seen of Mr.. Lincoln and so
nearly did his height correspond with that at
tributed to the President-eect. But quickly
found that the gentlemans card bore his true
name, and that Mr.. SWEET had come directly
from Mr. Lincoln, having his full confidence, to
see for him the state of affairs in Washington,
and report back to him in person.
Mr.. SWEET remained several days in the capt.
tai, had frequent and long conversations with
Gen. Scott and myself (and I suppose also with
many Others). and with me visited the armories
of some Of the volunteer companies. AS he
drove with me to the railway station on the
evening of his departure Mr.. SWEET said:
Mr.. Lincoln, and, in fact, everybody almost,
q NJ Of Of og,,I