Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-19
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR

In THE STAk
The intensity of the situation in Nir-
einia Immediately after the inauguration
OF President Lincoln. when
Virginia the attitude of the Old
r:, Dominion toward secession
"a 1VAA' was recognized as Of the
utmost Importance, is reflected In the fol-
lowing, printed In The Star Of March IL.
1851:
THE Richmond disunionists. not con-
tent with the virulent abuse which their
disunion newspapers are showering upon
all friends Of the Union in the Virginia
convention, have inaugurated q system
of mob violence against those gentlemen
when they appear on the streets. Hardly
one of them can now venture out without
expecting to be insulted by Kisses and
SCOTS from the street mobs which. under
their auspices. have apparently taken as
complete possession Of the city as the
Plugs ever had of Baltimore in times
past. The upshot of their proceedings is
that instead of succeeding in overawing
the representatives of the people of the
them more firmly than ever against sue
cumbing to the purpose of those who pro-
pose to govern Virginia hereafter after
that fashion-the fashion now prevalent
in the seeded states-where to speak and
act in favor of the Union as made by
our fathers is now adjudged crime
worthy of the punishment Of DEATH ac-
cording to the threats of their disunion
press and orators.
I'VE rejoice that disunionism has thus
early exposed its true characteristics and
purposes in Virginia. The 10000 majority
passed by the people Of the Old DoInin-
ION against 1t a few weeks since will not
be q circumstance to the majority by
speech. free press, American popular
liberty and the future of white labor in
the south will be overwhelmed in Nir-
ginia's approaching congressional election,
under the influence of the popular knOwl-
edge of what disunion really means. as
so forcibly exemplified by the reign OF
terror sought to be inaugurated at Rich
mond."
Rumors that the new administration
proposed to evacuate Fort Sumter as a
means of lessening the
Evacuation chances of a collision be-
tween the federal govern
A'~AV1o' ment and the seeded
state of South Carolina were rife almost
Immediately after Mr.. Lincoln took his
seat, and running through the columns
of The Star during the second week Of
his term are references to these reports.
which The Star declared to be without
opinion was growing that such course
would be conducive to a pacific settle
ment.
The Twiggs treason in Texas brought
that commonwealth into prominence as
the scene of q secession
Sam H0uston's movement of particu-
lar significance. In The
GA0e~voi. Star of March Is. 1851.
is the following. inspired by hope which
later proved futile:
Sam Houston is undoubtedly prepar-
ing to resist the oligarchic usurpation in
Texas by. force of arms. The secession
majority of the convention adopting the
states ordinance Of secession was elected
by not third of the vote Of the state.
Its submission to the people was not a
submission in fact but q deliberate fraud,
involving apparent submission, but not q
real one; as time was not given for hair
the counties of the state to know that 1t
total vote for it's acceptance was not
one-third of the popular vote Of the
state. Houston is organising a volunteer
army quietly but rapidly to resist its
enforcement. The lawful legislature Of
the state meets very shortly and If his
intended veto of the ordinance is sus-
tanned. as it undoubtedly will be, by a
constitutional number OF it's members, he
will at once call his volunteers into the
field. As military leader he is more
ofc1, fnys q
erals and colonies in Texas. The en-
barrassment in his way is the fact that
the disunionists have possession Of all
the government arms and munitions in
the state. and he will have to contend
against their so superior armament with
no other weapons and munitions than his
brother farmers Individually possess He
has we'll nigh two-thirds Of the people
Of the state siding with him for the
Union and will eventually establish its
authority throughout the state A month
ago The Star proclaimed that the counter
revolution would begin in Texas-and so
soon it is about to be inaugurated there"
While war rumors agitated Washington
and the chief thought of all the federal
officials at the capital was for
Printing the preservation Of the Union
and the prevention of hostil-
VWee' tiles, the reorganization of the
civil establishment was progressing. In
The Star of March 49, 1851, is the follow
ing paragraph relating to the creation OF
an office which is now one of the most
important branches of the public service
in this city.
1.-THE law establishing a government
printing Office went into effect on the
fourth of this month. 1t is an expert
ment depending for success upon the ca
pability and faithfulness of the superin-
tendent. Mr. John D. Defrees Of Indiana
has been selected by the President to
discharge the important duties Of su
perintendent. Mr.. D. is printer, having
been successfully an apprentice. jour-
neyman. proprietor, etc. etc. For nearly
two years past Mr.. Defrees has been per-
sonally we'll known to the printing craft
OF the federal metropolis through his
connection with the House printing of
the last Congress. and in that time he
has fairly won their universal respect and
confidence and warm esteem. He was,
by the way. the writer Of the well re-
membered conservative republican letter
published in The Star shortly after the
presidential election. In which the con-
servatisrn of the present administration
was first foreshadowed, and with great
force and clearness.'