Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-15
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

In luU VIM
The keenest anxiety was felt in wash
ington at this time fifty years ago. Re-
ports from the south .ndicat-
Anxiety ed persistent determination
~ on the part of the gulf states
1s1s' and South Carolina to leave
the Union. Here at the capital efforts
were being made in Congress to allay the
sectional feeling. Despite the optimism
of those who believed that way would
be found out of the difficulties 5esetting
the country the worst outcome was
dreaded. In The Star of January 4, 1851,
are the following paragraphs:
Yesterday Sunday was the most
anxious day experienced in Washington
by the sincere friends of the peaceful
and prosperous continuance OF the Union
since the opening Of the session. All
such persons in pablo life, were at work
manfully throughout the day and evening
endeavoring TO bring the extreme men,
north and south, to sense OF reason.
The expected message had not arrived
at the Capitol when our reports OF the
days proceedings necessarily left the
building. 1t was momentarily expected
there. however. Nevertheless we are by
no means sure that the President will
send it in today; our impression being that
some portion of its representations were
the subject Of the called session OF the
cabinet that took place at an early hour
this forenoon and was not ended by noon.
"A rumor prevails around us that the
cabinet have entertained the idea of
causing the arrest of Senator Toombs for
treason. the reasonable act being that
of sending the alleged dispatch urging
the immediate seizure of the Georgia
forts. which was done. We know moth
ing of the truth of the rumOr. however
Maj Anderson had moved his forces
Charleston harbor. The
The Star of government at Washington
A. m1 determined to send rein
ss "SS" forcements to him. and the
steamer Star Of the West sailed from
New York Saturday, January 5. 1861,
with troops and provisions for the vir-
tually beleaguered garrison. The entire
country awaited the outcome of this
move, which was denounced by the ex-
IRENE secessionists as an act OF war on
the part of the United States, while the
northern people feared that the smol-
dering flames of rebellion would be
famed into life by the resistance of the
South Carolina authorities to this attempt
to strengthen the federal station. In
The Star. Of January 10, 1861, are printed
dispatches from Charleston telling the
story Of the firing upon the Star of the
West by Fort Moultrfe and Morris Is
land when the steamer attempted to en-
ter the llarbor on the day previous. In
tense excitement was caused in all parts
of the United States. Washington feeling
1t with especial keenness, owing to the
fact that it was feared that this act of
resistance to the federal authority would
precipitate the dreaded insurrection. The
subsequent dispatches telling of the with
drawal of the Star of the West were the
precursors of infinitely more tragic news
from the south later to be printed.
While these events were occurring in
the south the loyal citizens of Washing
ton were putting them
Military selves in readiness for
r: possible military service
0onPoAeS' for the defense of the
capital. In The Star of January 8. 1861,
in a description of a meeting of the young
men of the third ward at Temperance
Hall the night before for the purpose Of
organizing a volunteer military company
to preserve law and order in this cymmu-
nifty. Gen. James E. Carringtoh was
unanimously elected captain, James u.
Shellcross. first lieutenant; Henry b. Cur
tbs, second lieutenant, and L. B. Ward,
third lieutenant. In The Star of January
10. 1861, is another article dc Scriptive of a
meeting of citizens of the seventh ward
for this same purpose. and another COM
pany was organized after Gen. Darlington
had addressed the meeting. with the fol-
lowing officers: S. c. Magruder. captain
George ThistletOn. first lieutenant: Will
liam Wilson. second lieutenant: Stephen
Dudley, third lieutenant. and Charles
Harmon. ensign. Other military compa-
MES were organized at about this time
in different parts of Washington, some of
which did not perpetuate their existence
and others became important factors in
the defense of the capital later.
Senator Seward of New York, who was
Regarded as President Lincoln's most
probable selection as Secre-
seward tary of State. addressed the
c..L Senate Saturday. January L.,
SPSS 1861, in a speech which eX-
pressed in the most effective manner pos
sible the desire of the conservative north
to prevent civil war. So important was
this speech considered that the attend
ance in the Senate on that day broke all
In The Star of January l., 1861
are the following paragraphs:
AN immense thrOng attended in the
Senate chamber today for an nour be-
fore the body met. So great was the
crowd on the floor that the doorkeeper
closed the doors against all others, ex-
cept those privileged to enter the
chamber when the body is in session.
Not seat in the vast galleries was
while the Hobbies behind
them were SO crowded that it was al
most impossible to navigate through
them.
AT the hour at which we go to press
ress in his speech as to inform his au-
ditors with reference to any policy
which he designed proposing for the
existing condition of public Affairs
In The Stars report of the Senate
occurs the following pas
sage:
Here the tremendous pressure OF
the crowd in the northwest gallery
caused so great confusion as to render
Mr. Seward almost inaudible to those
surrounding him; and on
motion the presiding officer directed
that the gallery be cleared and Mr..
S. suspended his remarks to allow that
to be DONE
HELPED BY MORGAN.