Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-07-14
FIFTY YEARS AGO
In THE STAR

IN luE OlhA
McClellan's campaign in the peninsula
of Virginia necessitated large reinforce
ments. and about this time
The Call fifty years ago President
Lincoln called for 10000
AoA AAeA' more troops. In The Star OF
July 8. 1852. is a discussion Of the situa-
ton created by this call in terms Of
rather marked pessimism, with reference
to the disposition Of certain elements in
Congress 10 force the immediate abolition
Of slavery. The Star said:
LAS much as the 800, 600 additional
troops recently called for by the Presi-
dent are needed, it has become question
able whether they will be obtained With
sufficient promptness. The doubt really
grows out Of the course pursued by the
two mschievous classes among us: by
the advocates Of the substitution Of an
abolition despotism for the government
of the United States on the one hand, and
by those who seem to regard 1t as
being of more importance to put down the
administration than to put down the re-
belliOn. on the other. The former class
Is nafQIv represented Al HI III tHc army !,
though powerful in Congress and fero-
ciously noisy in the press There never
was hope that it would volunteer in
respectable numbers. as spoutmg ana
wrangling is its chronic vocation rather
than fighting. 1t requires no argu-
ment to prove that IL the impression be-
comes general. that if the purposes Of the
c.ass We here refer TO are likely TO be
adopted by the government in the further
prosecution OF the war not 1.-THE Of the
wi, In3 will ho h
coming; while not a 1.-THE of those now
in arms for the restoration of the Union
will consent to WELD them for ends as
palpably revolutionary as those against
which they are now In battle array.
The intrigues Of the other class threat
en- almost as much danger to the Union
cause. 1t, too, labors earnestly to SOW
dissensions between the government and
our generals in the field. 1t stops at MOTH
ing likely to make the country distrustful
of the purposes and policy of the gov
eminent Thus 1t does It's best to check
responses to the Presidents cali for
300. 600 additional men. All hon.
estly loyal men should at once make up
their minds to treat as public enemies
scarcely less dangerous than the rebels
in arms those who war on the Constitu-
ton to compass the aims Of abolitionism
and those who war on the government
under the pretense of deprecating the
conduct Of this or that member Of the
cabinet, to the end Of embarrassing
the war measures for the restoration OF
the Union as that what they falsely term
peace may be restored by virtual acqui-
escence in the triumph of the rebellion
President Lincoln was anxious to ascer-
tain for himself the condition OF affairs
on the peninsula, and
Lincoln at went in person to in
~ oil 30
tAe 1Iont. position The Star of
July II. 1862, said:
I'VE have refrained from mentioning
the fact Of the Presidents recent visit
to the Army of the Potomac until this
afternoon Gt having been made public
through yesterdays New York paper9
only because deeming it prudent to do SO.
The country will thank him for the
promptness with which he repaired to
the peninsula. on this occasion, to deter
mine for himself the condition OF the
Army of the Potomac, it's necessities.
prospects, etc. His presence in it's midst
has had the happiest conceivable effect
upon 1t, for men and officers, high
and low, all its components, have i'm
plicit confidence in his patriotism and sa-
ga city. They know he looks upon them
all as the special objects Of his guardian
ship and seeks but to give triumph to
their arms and to ameliorate the hard
ships and dangers OF their patriotic ef-
forts in their cOuntry'S behalf.
Richmond must be promptly taken or
our expenditures of life and treasure in
the prosecution of the war up to this
time are likely to prove to have been for
naught. The oligarchy know this fact
well and have practically abandoned all
else to prevent it's falling into our hands.
They know that if We cannot take II for
eign Intervention and foreign positive aid
may be regarded as likely to be achieved.
tend much longer against the government
unless with the aid of such foreign assist
ance
1.-The question whether the war is prac-
ticaly ended by the list Of October next
or lasts until we have to fight Europe in
arms at the back of the oligarchy sim
ply depends upon the promptness with
which the Army Of the Potomac shall be
reinforced"
The track of the Washington and
Georgetown street car line was finished
about this time fiftv years
First ago. and the first cars
were operated on it Fri
day. July II, 1862. The
Star of July II. 1862 said:
Yesterday afternoon two cars were re-
ceived at the depot for the Washington
and Georgetown railway-one being leg
ular passenger and the other a large,
open summer or excursion car. They were
built In Philadelphia by Messrs. Murphy
& Allison. and are very creditable pieces
of workmanship. The regular car measures
about seven by fifteen feet, and will seat
comfortably about twenty persons. The
seats on the sides are covered with fine
silk velvet, and the windows. which are
of stained and plain glass combined, are
furnished with cherry sash and poplar
blinds. besides handsome Gamask cur
tains. The top of the car is rounded.
permitting persons to stand upright with
out inconvenience and rods to which
loops are attached are run from end to
end. The lamp which is surrounded by
red glass, is hung up in the center in
such manner as to show outside as we'll
as in. The excursion car has seats run
ming crosswise, and will seat twenty-four
persons. The car is handsomely painted.
both inside and out, the prevailing color
being white, while the outside is cream
color and white, with fine painting in
the center, and the words Washington
and Georgetown F. r. at the bottom.
The wheels are of different colors, con-
trasting we'll with the body of the car
and giving it picturesque appearance.
,Messrs. Murphy & Allison are making most
of the cars, but others are being built
by other makers. in order to have full