National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-23

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ru'' VI ,"e '"sih'" "o'"iVOu' ""'s' A"u
penoc's" 'oin hsueS'
After tho first call for 5000 men
nv preuidept Lincoln. TO onforce the
.n,ho.i,v ~ cha ooyarn,nont in tho
vy '"o
Ievoi'ou s'a'os anu 70 feoap'u'o 'ho
federal property which had been seized
upon by tho state authorities, the Sc
eessionista had decidedly tho best of
,bo s,,,at,on In VIRGINIA and tbov
80 80.
pushed their advantage TO tho utmost
Before this time tho turning OF tho scale
was doubtful, for there was strong
union sontimont throughout tho state.
Az ,ne,o,t,ai mon ~ ,ho ala Viii, nar,,,
nv 'a',,-,a. fr.y
Doing 'nnuenuai III their s.auu against
secession; in fact, tho old simon Pure
wings wero unionists to q man. Now tho
poople of Virginia and Kentucky Thought
tha, osion, 40 ,hoy roma;,ed in ,ho ,,nior
.n"s as.ns % , ,o.i. ~ sno u''ion
tney wouiu act asa parrior 70 tno advance
ofthe federal troops for the coercion OF the
seeded states until some peaceful solu-
...,,,oa =. T,o al, ,r .roons ,o,,,,,.oa
~.
tne Poopio U, NirB'hia, Ab ieast,
shat MIR. Lincoln was resolved
to uphold the authority of the federal
government from Maine to the gulf. Tho
seoessionist orators made the most of IL.
what" said thoy, "inyado the sacred
soil to coerce our sister states; nevor,
never. What run off our property
(slave property, In tho face of the solemn
declarations Of the inaugural message"
by these and other fiery appeals tho pas
sions of the people were inllamed almost
to madness, -dnd all parties were welded
together in a compact mass for armed
opposition. The wings became as wild
headed as the democrats, and such men
as A. II. II. Stewart, William G. Wick
ham, IL. w. Thomas, William II. Dulany,
and others, old line wings after tho
strictest sect, who had with all their
oratorical ability opposed secession from
tho start, now took the stump and
made as fervent appeals to the
people to vote for the ordinance
OF secession as thoy had ever
made in behalf Of the union. In my
own county (Fairfax), Just over the river,
the people were especially rabid because
Of their proximity to the troops, who
were gathering at the national capital to
defend and maintain the sovereignty OF
the federal government. In that county
there were large numbers of northern
settlers. with thriving farms and herds
and focks, and, with very few exceptions,
they pretended to be in sympathy with
tho native Virginians, and they after
ward actually voted for secession, 1t was
almost as much as a mans life was worth
in those DAYS to profess union sentiments.
Home guard companies were formed in
every precinct and close watch was kent
il,
one native Virginian in the county, as far
ms | recollect. who stood out for the union
and defied tho secessionists, and that was
Tom Peacock. well known in Washington
aud Georgetown, who lived near the treat
Falls. He was, perhaps, tho largest man
ever born in this section. being fully
seven feet tall and of enormous franc and
strength, and his courage was as big as
his body. He had family of stalwart
sons, and when threatened with arrest
and punishment for declaring himself for
the coercion of the seeded states, he
barred his doors, put himself and family
In a state of siege. and defied his assaii.
ants. There was a blacksmith named
John III. Gargus. living ut Anuandale
about four miles this side of Fairfax
court house, who had been suspected O.
distributing tho HELPER book, 1.-THE I'm
pend ing Crisis" which was barred from
the state by statute as calculated by it.
doctrines to stir up domestic instruction
A number of men at Fairfax court house
the leader of whom was James w. Jack
son, who afterward killed Col. Ellsworth
who had been collecting evidence agains
Gargus, determines to arrest him. Gar
gus got wind of the matter aud forthwith
put out for Washington as fast as possible
but he was a little too late in his fight
Jackson and his men, mounted on fas
horses, followed in pursuit and came up
witinliargus just on tho other side o
LodB bridgei where he was, so to speak, il
full Wow Of the promised land" IL
was made prisoner, carried to Fairfa,
Court House and placed In Jail. He was
however, Immediately brought to trial
and it is but Justice to say that, although
there was no doubt of his guilt in tn
premises, the people had sufficient respec
for the law to quietly scquesce in the re
lease Of tho prisoner on legal techni
scott free and Immediately shook from hi
feet the dust of Fairfax county. Goo
Iordy Suppose those Virginians coul
have looked forward five years into tn
future and seen themselves protestin
their feryid loyalty to the union. tn
constitution, aud the laws. 1t makes IN
chuckle when | think of those times.
Another favorite method of punishin
any one, man or youth, who even hinte
at submission to the federal authorit
was to SGT upon him and blacken hi
face all over with printers ink.
On the night ofthe ODD of May, when tn
returns from the elections clearly Shove
that seven-eighths of tho vote of the stat
had boon cast for secession, the populac
of Alexandria fairly went wild. Bon
brsa blazed in eyerv street window
were illuminated, there was vast def
of shouting and hurrahing in the street
and pro cessions of all kinds, with brai
bands at tho head, marched up and dow
testifying TO the public rejoicing at hay
inc haen onca for all amanci Mated frol