Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-12-23
FIFTY YEARS AGO :.
IN The STAR

Public excitement over the negro insur-
rectfon of 1856 had somewhat subsidized by
the second week. In The
Negro star of December %, that
Revolt year, appears the following
dispatch from Louisville, but
nothing further was printed during the re-
Hainder of the week:
The Russellville Herald of Wednesday
| says that the instruction excitement still
exists in the neighhorhocd of Vofney and
Gordonsvilie. and a number of negroes have
been arrested negro in one of the iron
works of Tennessee, who had said he knew
all about the plot, but would die before he
would tell, was sentenced to receive fifty
lashes. under which he died. A free negro
was hung yesterday at Cadiz. after being
tried by the vigilance committee of the
town on suspicion of being concerned in the
conspiracy. There are number more in
jail. and some will be hung Judge Cook
has called his court for Christmas day. The
excitement is very high
Despite-or perhaps because of--tne in
! tense enthusiasm of the democrats over
their partys victory in the
inaugural presidential election, the
Plans preparations for the induc-
ton of Mr. Buchanan into
office on March were far from harmoni-
ousIy conducted. In The Star of December
a. 1856, is the following Official account
of the proceedings of the jackson Demo-
cratic Association held for the purpose of
starting the inauguration plans:
The president of the association, Mr..
Radcliffe. was chosen chief marshal for the
n vxtth tn inf
thirtyone assistants one from each state.
He having declined to served on that occa-
sion Col. William Selden was then elected
chief marshal. with power to increase the
number of assistants by adding from
each of the wards of the city. On motion,
the president was authorized to invite the
cooperation of the citizens of Washington
and the members of the different clubs in
the city in making arrangements for an in
auguration ball, to be given on the 4th of
March,
Behind this simple statement is long,
complex story of faction, with erimina-
tons and determinations regarding the or
der of procedure. There were rival
pirants for Inauguration day honors, and
out of the quarrel came bitter feelings that
lasted long time. The regularity of the
meeting at which Col. Selden was named
chief marshal was impeached, it being
claimed that the association had adjourned
when a sO-called rump session was held by
a few members. Notwithstanding these
rated In March.
The old trouble of smooth fps and lev
les of which there had been complaint for
years. had not been abated
Smooth at this time fifty years ago,
Coins. but the following paragraph
from The Star OF" December
2e, 1856, indicates that there was hope of
relief:
Everybody will be glad to see by the
House proceedings of Wednesday that there
is a prospect of the speedy demolition or
adjustment of deprecated foreign coin and
the substitution of our substantial and
every way convenient decimal coinage. Mr..
Phelps reported with amendments the SEN
ate bill relative to foreign coinage and the
coinage of new cent pieces. Mr.. r. eX
planned that the object was the withdrawal
from circulation of all deprecated foreign
coins, receiving Mexican and Spanish quar-
ter. eighth and sixteenth of a dollar pieces
at twenty, ten and five cents. The commit
tee on ways and means propose that the
President shall fix by proclamation the de-
dent was set in 1876. Mr. Phelps urged the
immediate passage of the bill, but objec-
ton being made, its consideration was post
poned for two weeks. We trust it will then
be put through and become a law
I:
AS usual in all cases of masculine COM
ments on the extraordinary styles of the
crnoline period. the letter of
Hoops at observer anent the nuis-
Crossings ance of hoopskirts at avenue
crossings. quoted in this col
umn last week drew forth extended
ply from a woman. In The Star of Decem-
Der -, 1856. appears a letter signed Lou
isa," in part as follows:
H. thov sol
that one of our sex should crowd SO modest
a gentleman as Observer seems to be off
the crossings, still l think he deserves to
walk in the mud for not possessing instinct
enough to retire to some safe place and
there walt until the barr.cade he speaks of
has fairly passed him. Eat / must be per-
mtted to say in this connection that here
tofore l have been led to believe that when
ever such gentlemen as Observer takes to
the mud in meeting lady ii is always done
in order to show their gaAantry for the sex.
and feel somewhat surprised now to learn
that in giving way to a lady on the cross
ings they do violence to their feelings. OBJ
server however, in his zeal to serve his
kind forgets that the crossings are often
barricaded by others than those wearing
hoops; and were it not for the retirement in
which he seems to have lived he might have
known that the unfortunate individuals
whom he represents are as often seen carri-
cading the crossings by their Zigzag move
ments caused. no doubt, by the bricks
they carry in that appendage which adOrns
their pericraniums, as we are by our hoops
The custom of celebrating Christmas with
pistol firing has prevailed throughout the
south for many years, though
Christmas to a less degree of late than
Pistols. in the old days. Fifty years
ago it was so prevalent to
constitute a serious danger In The Star
of December 81 1856, is the following para
graph telling of the taking of precautions
to prevent disastrous results from this bar
barrie practice:
THE auxiliary guards, by order of the
mayor paid their particular regards to
those persons who were deemed unsafe
with firearms in their possession on Christ
mas day, and quite number were dis
armed and the weapons left in charge of
the captain. This may account for the
few accidents this Christmas. A number
of pistols still remain with the captain
The sentiment against pistol toting" was
plainly not as strong then as it is today.
CHANCELLOR DAY.