Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15
FIFTY YEARS AGO
IN THE STAR


and the arrival in Washington Of
large army OF troops
S0ldierx great dinculty was ex-
perienced in keeping the
anu hum. soldiers from tndulging
too freely in intoxicating liquors On
the 9Th Of August. 1851. Congress
passed an act forbidding the sale or
administration Of intoxicating liquors
to troops, and under this act numerous
keepers Of saloons were arrested. taken
before the magistrates and fined one
Of them, however. on being imprisoned
in default Of paying. appealed to the
United States Circuit Court and secured
a writ Of habeas corpus. which was
argued before Justice Merrick The
prisoners counsel urged that the act
OF Congress declaring the offense or
selling liquor to soldiers to be mis-
demeanor made It criminal case, Tor
which the party must be indicted and
tried. It was argued that the magis-
trates had no other jurisdiction than
to determine whether the accused should
be dismissed for lack Of presumptive
proof or held for the grand Jury. In
The Star Of October Z. 1861, Is re-
port Of Justice Merrick's decision. to
the effect that the magistrates had no
Jurisdiction save for the preliminary
examination. This decision had the ef-
feet Of multiplying all the convictions
that had been had in such cases prior
to this delivery. Considerable embar-
rassment was caused. fnasmuch as In
all the preceding cases fines had been
collected which. under the decision.
were illegal Furthermore. there was
practically no way to try these earlier
heard cases in the manner prescribed
by the Circuit Courts ruling. because
in almost all cases the witnesses were
washington. and were. therefore, not
available to give testimony.
A review Of all the artillery and cav
airy stationed in or near the city took
place on the 9Th of October.
Military 1881, on a parade ground on
East Capitol street., In The
neVAew- Star of that date is de-
scrfption Of the affair. in part as follows:
Owing to the heavy rain OF last night
much Of the ground occupied heretofore
for parades and reviews was submerged,
rendering it impossible for the troops to
maneuver successfully, and greatly dis
commoding the civilians. Of whom there
were many thousands crowded upon car
riages. omnibuses, army wagons and
every little hfllock upon the broad COM
mons. The cavalry were drawn up in
line facing the Capitol. with the left wing
resting upon the cemetery near the WASH
ington Asylum and the right wing ex-
tending far across the plain nearly up
to the woods. The artillery was ar
ranged next to the cavalry and extended
at right angles toward the city, forming
with the cavalry two sides Of triangle.
Maj. Gen. Mcclellan appeared shortly
after II m, accompanied by his staff.
salute from the artillery, after which
he proceeded rapidly along the lines. re-
viewing the bodies of cavalry and artil-
lery as he passed.
1.-The cavalry (volunteer) looked well
in the main, but some unpleasant fncon-
gruittes Of costume. such as caps and
regulation hats. gray pants and blue
pants side by side, were noticeable. The
men. too, showed the need of an efficient
riding master who shall teach them to
ride with their knees in and to divide
their weight a little between the knee
and the stirrup. AS it is, they rise and
fall in the saddle in heavy, inelastic
style. terribly killing to their animals.
and it is imperatively necessary that the
utmost attention be given to this portion
Of our force. less they create more con-
fusion in our own ranks In the field
than they do in the ranks Of the enemy.
The regular cavalry present afforded a
good idea of what this arm Of the sery-
ice will be when our large cavalry force
shall all be brought up to the army
standard"
After the first glamour Of the military
occupation Of Washington had passed.
citizens of the capital
Civilians began to realize that it had
Troubles. So ~ octoher 10 1881
is letter from a "Subscr1ber setting