The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-12-06
WASHINGTON IN WARTIME.
Constant Suspicion OF Score: Plotting II
the CITY.

mote from the eXcitemcnte of the civil
war, to give readers of the later genera
ton any adequate idea OF the uneasi-
ness that pcrvaded Washington, or Of
the morbid sensationalism which char
acteriyed the conversation and conduct
of the loyalists who We're constantly
haunted by suspicious of secret plot
ting all about them. One evening,
while | was sitting with the president
in his cabinet, Prof. Henry, then in
charge of the Smithsonian institution,
came in for a social chat with the
president. The conversation ran upon
various unimportant themes, and pres
entity a card was brought in by the
doOrBeeper, who sail that the man in
waiting was extremely urgent to see
the president, as he had matters of
pressing Importance to communicate.
He was brought into the room, and
proved to be a modest shOpkeeper
whose home was not far from the
Smithsonian institution. CHANGING un-
easily at the presidents two visitors,
whom he evidently did not know, he
said his business was very impOrtont
and should be kept secret. The presi-
dent assured him that Prof. Henry and
myself were to be trusted with any
business of state however secret it
might be, and genially encouraged his
visitor to speak out without fear of be-
ing betrayed in case the weighty mat
ter which he carried in his mind was of
an explosive character. The man then
went on to say that he had frequently
observed lights shown from one of the
towers of the Smithsonian institution
late at night. He had noticed that
these lights invariably made their APP
pearance about the same time (at mid
night, and h was confident that the
person displaying them was carrying
on contraband correspondence with
the rebels by means of signals. The
president, with great gravity, closely
examined the witness, but elected moth
ing more from him than the fact that
the lights were actually shown.
The president said DO you suspect
anybody in the Smithsonian institu-
tion?"
No" replied the witness. II do not
know anybody inside of that institu-
ton. Bnt | have heard that Prof.
Henry is a southern man and a rebel
sympathizer
With that the president turned to
Prof. Henry and with admirable com
mand of coutenance, said: This il
Prof. Henry: perhaps he will be able to
answer for himself" The look of dis
may on the countenance of the visiting
witness was so grotesque that the
president could not restrain his laugh
ter Prof. Henry, who was somewhat
disturbed by this expression of suspi-
cion on the part of the well-meaning
but mistaken Unionist, very briefly
disposed of his tale. He explained
that the scientific Instruments used to
ascertain the direction and force of the
wind, temperature, etc, were exam
ined at certain hours of the day and
night for the purpose of taking their
record, and that the supposed signal
light in the Smithsonian tower was the
lantern carried to the observatory at
midnight by the attendant who made
those observations. Somewhat crest
JalIen the visitor withdrew, the presi-
dent thanking him for his vigilance
ing this incident, and adding, as the
man departed: If you should see any
indication of rebel conspiracy in Wash
ington, you will do the country real
service by reporting at once to head
quarters"
The frequent appearance in Washing
ton of paroled rebel officers, who usu-
ally wore their own uniform with evil
dent pride and pleasure, and sometimes
with a swagger, generally threw loyal
lists into fever of excitement. More
than once | saw ultra-loyal newsboys
or bootblacks throw lump of mud or
a bricllbat at the passing Confederate.
One of these officers, q Lieut. Garnett,
being on parole, sent in his card to
Representative Wicillitfe of Kentucky,
and was by him introduced upon the
floor of the house, where he attracted
attention, as well as Indignation, from
the members present. Presently a wave
of excitement seemed to sweep over the
galleries the spectators being visibly
affected by the appearance of 9n officer
in full Confederate uniform sitting on
one of the sofas of the house of repre-
sentatives. This was intensified when
a doorkecper spoke to the visitor, who
rose from his seat, gave a profound and
sweeping bow, and withdrew to the
outer corridor. 1t appears that the
doorl1eeper had told the Confederate
that it was contrary to the rules of the
house for him to be present Noah
Brooks, in Century.