Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-07-05
FIFTY YEARS Ago
IN THE STAR

LIN I'LL NxaN
Naturally the almost uninterrupted
successes Of Cen Grant stimulated in
forest in him as . pos
Grant and the sible candidate for tho
p.;a. presidency. and there
Presidency. was a discussion of
this possibility oven during tho summer
Of 1854. while Grant was engaged in his
campaign before Richmond and after
Lincoln had been nominated by tho
republican party. In Tho Star OF Juno
20, 1884, is the following bearing on
this matter:
I'm commenting upon the possibility
Of Con. Grant in a certain contingency.
accepting tho nomination for tho prest-
dency. tho Milwaukee Sentinel AYERS
that It knows from perfectly reliable
sources that Gen. Grant has peremp-
tor1ly refused. in advance. any oner
Of tho presidency. He replied to those
who are seeking to learn his views on
tho subject that while the war lasted
no earthly inducement could take him
voluntarily from his present position
and that oven should the war como to
a most speedy conclusion he would be
the most ungrateful of men to run
against Mr.. Lincoln. This declaration
comes to us through the most trust
worthy sources and affords to us con-
elusive proof that Gen. Grant has fully
decided not to enter tho political arena
and those who know him know that he
is not apt to waver when he has made
up his mind one way or the other.
~
Tho District was very much ag1tated
over tho question Of a possible draft.
and was endeavorfng to
Substitutes I'LL its quota Of the first
draft at this time nifty
oieeu' years ago. In The Star
Of Juno 20, 1864. is the following:
yesterdays action Of the House IN
repeating the Communication law viii
promptly secure the public service the
one thing needful-men for the prosecu-
ton Of the war. AS our military AZ
fairs are now situated this House ac-
ton will prove more to the cause than
half a dozen victories in the field. be-
cause 1t insures the eventual triumph
Of the arms Of the United States. Under
its influence, II necessary. half a mil
lion additional troops can be placed IN
the field in the next six months. All
citizens Of arms-bearing age and health
owe military service to their govern
ment, when they may be necessary to
preserve it's existence and the liberties
it guarantees and protects. Among the
first effects of this House action Will
be very general effort on the part or
men of means subject to the draft to
procure acceptable substitutes tmmedi-
ately. We doubt not so many will be
thus procured as to postpone. II not
prevent entirely. a necessity Tor another
draft No man who can raise the means
to do SO should delay an instant in Sc
curing and putting in his substitute. as
If a draft be ordered and he be draft
ed his substitute will cost him from
four to ten times the money for which
one may now be obtained"
Washington left much to be desired
in the matter of street cleanness dur
ing the civil war. and
A General finally the military au-
thorities were compelled
Vieah-op to take the matter in
hand. In The Star of June %. 1854. Is
an account of this work:
'In obedience to an order issued by
Col. ]. wisewell. military governor Of
this District, directing the cleansing OF
force commenced the work ta:is morn
ing of cleansing the public grounds and
the streets contiguous thereto, in order
to allow property holders sufficient time
to remove all offal and nufsa noes from
the front Of their premises. which II
not done in a day or two by them Will
be done by the government force. and
the costs thereof assessed to the goV-
eminent owners. The force that com.
,fe, riye ~
300 contrabands and fifty carts. each
contraband being armed with large
sized split broom and shovel This
force has been divided into three parts.
military detective attached to the
provost marsha1's office. The whole
work is under the immediate supervision
Of Capt. c. NJ. Merritt, who has been
Of the central guardhouse for that pur-
pose Capt. Merritt is actively engaged
today inspecting such cases as require
his attention. The dirt taken from the
lie buildings in the first ward is being
temporarily placed upon vacant lot
on 18th street, near the canal. but it
Will be removed from the city as soon
as the working parties have been thor
oughly organized"
All sorts Of people were found IN the
ranks Of the Federal armies during the
war and many queer
A Woman in cases turned up here IN
Washington. One Of the
oA1Io1m' oldest of these is report
ed In The Star Of June 80. 1854. as fol-
lows:
ION Monday Officer Walling, while on
a car. noticed trim-looking young cav
alryman wearing a uniform Of the Sd
New Jersey. who he suspected was
woman, and he took her to tho ninth pre-
cinct station on suspicion. Here she gave
her name as Emily Evert and stated that
she was from Philadelphia: that her hus-
band was a soldier in the Sd New Jersey
rou,1r1y opd that draSSod herself in