WASHINGTON. 



751 



the public lands nre situated, have a deep in- 

 terest, required prompt action, no less than the 

 peace and order of the city, and the security of 

 the inauguration of the President elect, which 

 were objects of vast importance to the whole 

 country. 



The resolution of the House had been refer- 

 red by the President to the Secretary of "War, 

 Mr. Holt, who returned an answer to the Pres- 

 ident on the 18th of February, in which he 

 thus expressed his belief in the existence of an 

 organization to capture Washington: 



At what time the armed occupation of Washington 

 City became a part of the revolutionary programme, 

 is not certainly known. More thau six weeks ago, the 

 impression had already extensively obtained that a 

 conspiracy for the accomplishment of this guilty pur- 

 pose was in process of formation, if not fully matured. 

 The earnest endeavors made by men known to be 

 devoted to the revolution, to 'hurry Virginia and 

 Maryland out of the Union, were regarded as prepara- 

 tory steps for the subjugation of \Vashington. This 

 plan was in entire harmony with the aim and spirit 

 of those seeking the subversion of the Government, 

 since no more fatal blow at its existence could be 

 struck than the permanent and hostile possession of 

 the seat of its power. It was in harmony, too, with 

 the avowed designs of the revolutionists, which looked 

 to the formation of a confederacy of all the slave States, 

 and necessarily to the conquest of the capital within 

 their limits, "it seemed not very indistinctly _pre- 

 figured in a proclamation made upon the floor of the 

 Senate, without qualification, if not exultingly, that 

 the Union was already dissolved a proclamation 

 which, however intended, was certainly calculated to 

 invite, on the part of men of desperate fortunes or of 

 revolutionary States, a raid upon the capital. In view 

 of the violence and turbulent disorders already ex- 

 hibited in the South, the public mind could not reject 

 such a scheme as at all improbable. That a belief in 

 its existence was entertained by multitudes, there can 

 be no doubt, and this belief I 'fully shared. My con- 

 viction rested not only on the facts already alluded to, 

 but upon information, some of which was of a most 

 conclusive character, that reached the Government 

 from many parts of the country, not merely expressing 

 the prevalence of the opinion' that such an organiza- 

 tion had been formed, but also often furnishing the 

 plausible grounds on which the opinion was based. 

 Superadded to these proofs, were the oft-repeated 

 declarations of men in high political positions here, 

 and who were known to have intimate affiliations with 

 the revolution if indeed they did not hold its reins in 

 their hands to the effect that Mr. Lincoln would not, 

 or should not, be inaugurated at Washington Such 

 declarations, from such men, could not be treated as 

 empty bluster. They wer# the solemn utterances of 

 those who well understood the import of their words, 

 and who, in the exultation of the temporary victories 

 gained over their country's flag in the South, felt as- 

 sured that events would' soon give them the power to 

 verify their predictions. Simultaneously with these 



Erophetic warnings, a Southern journal o'f large circu- 

 ition and influence, and which is published near the 

 city of Washington, advocated its seizure as a pos- 

 sible political necessity. 



A select committee of the House of Repre- 

 sentative?, of which Mr. Howard of Michigan 

 was chairman, made a report, in which they 

 said that they had thoroughly investigated the 

 subject, and were of opinion that the evidence 

 before them did not prove the existence of a 

 secret organization at Washington or elsewhere 

 hostile to the Government, and that had for its 

 object, upon its own responsibility, an attack 



upon the capital, or any of the public property 

 there, or an interruption of :my of tin- functions 

 of the Government. At the t-.-nne pi-riod a reso- 

 lution was offered in the House of Representa- 

 tives, expressing tin- opinion u that the regular 

 troops now in this city ought to be forthwith 

 removed therefrom." This was laid on tho 

 table. 



Whatever of excitement and alarm e>: 

 in the city, had entirely subsided before tho 

 1st of March, and a feeling of comparative peace 

 and security pretailed. 



The ceremonies at the inauguration of Mr. 

 Lincoln were in some respects the most brill- 

 iant and imposing ever witnessed at Welling- 

 ton. Nearly 20 well-drilled military companies 

 of the District, comprising a force of inoro 

 than 2.000 men, were on parade. Georgetown 

 sent companies of cavalry, infantry, and artil- 

 lery of fine appearance. The troops stationed 

 at the City Hall and Willard's Hotel became 

 objects of attraction to vast numbers of both 

 sexes. At noon the Senate Committee called 

 upon President Buchanan, who proceeded with 

 them to Willard's Hotel to receive the Presi- 

 dent elect. The party thus composed, joined 

 by other distinguished citizens, then proceeded, 

 in open carriages, along tho avenue at a moder- 

 ate pace, with military in front and rear, and 

 thousands of private citizens, in carriages, on 

 horseback, and on foot, crowding the broad 

 street. The capitol was reached by passing 

 up on the north side of the grounds, and the 

 party entered the building by the northern 

 door over a temporary planked walk. During 

 the hour and a half previous to the arrival 

 of President Buchanan and the, President 

 elect in the Senate chamber, that hall present- 

 ed a gayer spectacle than ever before. The 

 usual desks of the senators had been removed, 

 and concentric lines of ornamented chairs set 

 for the dignitaries of this and other lands with 

 which this country was in bonds of amity and 

 friendship. The inner half-circle on the right 

 was occupied by the judges of the Supreme 

 Court, and by senators. The corresponding 

 half-circle on the extreme left was occupied by 

 the members of the cabinets of Mr. Buchanan 

 and Mr. Lincoln, mingled together, and further 

 on by senators. The concentric circle further 

 back was filled by senators. The next half- 

 circle on the right by the members of the dip- 

 lomatic corps, all in the full court dress of 

 their respective countries. In the half-circle 

 immediately in the rear of that occupied by 

 the ministers were the secretaries and attaches. 

 The half-circles on the left, corresponding to 

 those occupied by the corps diplomatique, fur- 

 nished places for senators and governors of 

 States and Territories. Outside of all, on both 

 sides, stood for there was no further room for 

 seats the members of the House of Representa- 

 tives and chief officers of the executive bureaus. 

 The galleries all round the Senate were occu- 

 pied by ladies. 



At a quarter past one o'clock the President 



