Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-01

Miss Harriet Lane, and at the homes OF
cabinet ministers and others We're bril-
liant entertainments. Dinners were very
popular as being occasions when the lead
ing men could be gotten together, but IN
some instances the guests here were as
hostile as the hosts were hospitable, en-
gaging in wars of words, If not blows,
and there were rumors Of impending
duels.
Indeed, it is related that Gen. Scott
and Senator Robert Toombs came near
blows at the dinner table. The latter
expressed the hope that the people OF
Charleston would sink any vessel carry
ing troops or supplies to Fort Sumter.
Gen. Scott expressed surprise at suci,
sentiments from an American citizen ana
Mr.. Toombs repeated his remarks with
concerned In senu.ng vessel there ougnt
to be in her and go to the bottom with
her. Both gentlemen asserted RESPONSE
bility for their sentiments and departeo'
and it was believed that they had refer
red the matter to their friends. Seldom
a week passed that some similar episode
was not talked of in the community. An
exciting debate in which Mr.. Grow or
PENNSYLVANIA and Gen. Branch OF North
Carolina engaged led to a reference to
friends.
Wearing of Emblems Popular.
The wearing of state emblems, as
we'll as the Union tri-color, was a
growing custom, and these in rosette
or badge were on sale in hotel stands
and stores. OF the town hotels,
the Metropolitan, which from the days
of Jesse Brown and the Indian Queen
had enjoyed the bulk of southern pa
tronage, was the resort of those
friendly to that section, while the Ma
tiOna1 at the 9Th street corner was
regarded as the gathering place of the
the wearing of the emblems increased,
so did disorder in this neighborhOod.
for the appearance of A rosette would
often lead to quarrel. sometimes to
blows. Wide-awakeS and members of
republicans clubs. as we'll as union-lov-
ing democrats, showed their colors.
and among the National Volunteers and
tho southern gentlemen state colors
were displayed.
The National Volunteers during the
campaign had numbered about 800 men
here, and it was said there were
branches in many states. The Wide
AwakeS were the most active local re-
publican organization, and it was also
said that such organizations existed in
many northern cities, and the object
was said to be the seating of Mr..
Lincoln by force if necessary, and the
prevention of such by any means by
the others. 1t is apparent that the
police then. enjoyed no picnic, and
men only, there was no serious out
break which they could not handle.
The police was then composed of the
Auxiliary Guard. under the command
of Capt. John II. Goddard, who, loyal
to the core, deemed his force to be
friendly to the constituted authorities.
and, with the mayor, was satisfied that
they could preserve the peace except
ing on extraordinary occasions, when
1t would be easy to enlarge it.
There We're a few companies of organ
lied militia in existence then The gen.
eral militia law of 1903 was operative, by
which it was estimated that $4,000 men
could be raised for a call, and the off,
GERS were in commission, Maj. Gen. Roger
Z. Weightman in command. But the gen.
eral law was almost unknown to the
public, for since the "Fantastical Parade"
twenty-five years before, no attempt had
been made to hold general musters. This
Parade was for the object Of ridiculing
the manner the law was enforced on the
training days. The parade had the de-
sired erect, for unless there was neces-
s1ty for service, musterings ceased. The
few uniformed companies disbanded and
the military spirit died out apparently.
In 1S3G. however, there was q. revival of
the spirit by the formation Of the Wash
ington Light Infantry, under Capt. ]. II.
Blake. which made it's initial parade Sep
TENDER II of that year. as an escort to
the Maryland troops who, as guests of
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, cele-
brated the battle of North Point by an
IN oft