Perley's Reminiscences Part 24

One evening, as Walsh was sitting in front of the Kirkwood House, he remarked that the weather looked threatening, but that he hoped it would prove good on account of the serenade that was to be given to Judge Douglas that night. The thing took at once, and he visited all the hotels, and in casual conversations broached the serenade, and the fact that the Marine Band had been engaged for the occasion.

When ten o'clock P. M. came there were not less than six or seven hundred people in front of Judge Douglas's new residence; and as the streets had been newly opened and were still unpaved, the mud was ankle deep. There were also some thirty or forty hacks and a number of private carriages; and as the Judge and his beautiful and accomplished wife had heard of the intended ovation, they had prepared for the emergency by taking up the parlor carpets and setting out a collation for the sovereigns. But, alas! no Marine Band appeared; and as eleven o'clock came and no music, the crowd began slowly to thin out, until at last it got whispered around that Mike Walsh had something to do with the getting up of the serenade, when, amid curses and loud guffaws, there was a general stampede of the crowd.

In the midst of the stormy debates at the Capitol, there was an entertainment where men of both sections fraternized. It was a "wake" at the house of Mr. John Coyle, the cashier of the _National Intelligencer_, whose Milesian blood had prompted him to pay Hibernian honors to the memory of one who had often been his guest.

The funereal banquet had been postponed, however, in true Irish style, when it had been ascertained that the deceased was not dead, and in due time the guests were again invited, to honor him whom they had mourned--Albert Pike, of Arkansas. There he was, with stalwart form, n.o.ble features, waving hair, and a patriarchal beard --at once the Kit North and the Korner of America.

After a neat welcome by the host, uprose the erudite dignitary of the State Department, and he read, in deep, full tones, an obituary sketch of the supposed deceased, which he had prepared upon the receipt of the sad news. Pike's remarks, in reply, were touchingly beautiful, especially when he expressed his delight at having read kind notices of himself from those whom he had feared were his enemies, and his hopes that all enmity between him and his fellow- men might remain buried in that tomb to which he had been consigned.

Jack Savage then sang a song (to the tune of "Benny Havens, O!"), describing a forced visit of "the fine Arkansas gentleman" to the Stygian sh.o.r.e, where he craved permission of Pluto to return to earth for one night at Coyle's:

"'Are you not dead?' the King then said.

'Well, what of that? said he, 'If I am dead, I've not been waked, and buried dacently.'

'And why,' the monarch cried, 'Desire again to share life's toils?'

'For the sake of one good frolic more, 'Even at Johnny Coyle's.'

One spree at Johnny Coyle's; one spree at Johnny Coyle's; And who would not be glad to join a spree at Johnny Coyle's?"

Pluto then enumerated the good cheer and good company, and "Horace and Anacreon in vain would have him stay." But the gentleman from Arkansas demonstrated that they were all surpa.s.sed at Johnny Coyle's.

The recital of the genial qualities of various gentlemen named enlisted Proserpine, who urged Pluto to let him go, that he might return, bringing his friends with him.

"And so the Queen at last prevailed, as women always do, And thus it comes that once again this gentleman's with you; He's under promise to return, but that he means to brake, And many another spree to have besides the present wake.

One spree at Johnny Coyle's, etc."

This song was followed by a story, and that story by a song, and it was nearly daylight in the morning before the guests separated.

The Sons of Malta, a secret order which sprang into existence during Mr. Buchanan's Administration, was a remarkable inst.i.tution. The original object of the organization was the capture of Cuba, and many prominent military men of the South were the leading spirits in the movement; but the filibustering was soon abandoned, and a newspaper man, who had been initiated, conceived the idea of making "some fun for the boys." The whole business of initiation, etc., was transformed into a series of the most stupendous practical jokes and outrageously comical proceedings ever dreamed of. The Order spread rapidly all over the Union. At Washington the lodge fitted up Marini's Hall in luxurious style, with carpets, cushioned seats, and an expensive paraphernalia. Many Senators and Representatives who had been initiated at their respective homes were regular attendants, and there was no lack of candidates, until a sedate citizen, enraged by the disclosure of his domestic infidelity, denounced the whole affair as a gigantic "sell."

While the Order was on the high tide of prosperity Mr. Buchanan was asked if he would receive a delegation of the Sons of Malta, representing twenty different States. Mr. Buchanan was a zealous Freemason--having gone up into the Royal Arch degree--and thinking that the inst.i.tution resembled Freemasonry, he named an hour for the visit. The members of the delegation were promptly on hand, and after they had taken their position along one side of the East Room, Mr. Buchanan entered. The spokesman addressed him in a short speech, in which he eulogized the Order as composed of Union-loving citizens, a.s.sociated for charitable purposes.

Mr. Buchanan listened attentively, and said in reply: "Gentlemen of the Sons of Malta, I feel grateful for the honor you have done me in making this visit. I do not know much about the Order, but I have no doubt of its charitable objects and its patriotism. In your praiseworthy object of charity I would say, G.o.d speed you in so n.o.ble an enterprise. We are told that Faith, Hope, and Charity are the links that bind us together in social Union. Faith and Hope may pa.s.s away, but Charity endures forever. I do not feel that there is any danger of the dissolution of the Union by the oppression of one portion of our country upon another; for should that period unhappily arrive, the people, who made it, will preserve it. Again, allow me cordially to thank you for this visit, and I would be most happy to take each one of you by the hand as representatives of the Sons of Malta from all parts of the Union."

So solemn was the scene that several portly delegates were evidently convulsed with emotion (or secret laughter), and the Union was regarded as safe. Owners of ships, stocks, States, and the Order took courage.

[Facsimile]

Geo. Bancroft GEORGE BANCROFT was born at Worcester, Ma.s.s., October 3d, 1800; graduated at Harvard College, 1817; was Secretary of the Navy under President Polk, 1843-1846; was Minister to Great Britain, 1846- 1849; to Prussia, 1867-1871; to Germany, 1871-1874.

[Frontispiece missing]

PERLEY'S REMINISCENCES OF SIXTY YEARS IN THE NATIONAL METROPOLIS

_Ill.u.s.trating the Wit, Humor, Genius, Eccentricities, Jealousies, Ambitions and Intrigues of the Brilliant Statesmen, Ladies, Officers, Diplomats, Lobbyists and other noted Celebrities of the World that gather at the Centre of the Nation; describing imposing Inauguration Ceremonies, Gala Day Festivities, Army Reviews, &c., &c., &c._

BY BEN: PERLEY POORE,

_The Veteran Journalist, Clerk of the Senate Printing Records, Editor of the Congressional Directory, and Author of various Works._

Ill.u.s.trated.

VOL. II.

HUBBARD BROTHERS, PUBLISHERS, PHILADELPHIA, PA.

Boston, Kansas City; W. A. Houghton, New York; A. W. Mills, Tec.u.mseh, Mich.; A. W. Stolp, Chicago, Ill.; A. L. Bancroft & Co., San Francisco, Cal.; E. Holdoway & Co., St. Louis, Mo.; A. P. Foster & Co., Dallas, Texas.

Entered, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1886, by

BEN: PERLEY POORE, in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.

NOTICE TO BOOKSELLERS.

This book is sold exclusively by subscription, all agents being strictly enjoined by contract from selling in any other way. Any evasion of this plan will be a trespa.s.s upon the copyright rights of the author. HUBBARD BROS.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

FOREIGN COMPLICATIONS AND DOMESTIC INTRIGUE.

The Central American Imbroglio--The Napier Ball--Washington Society --f.a.n.n.y Kemble Butler--Democratic Revelers--The Trial of Sickles-- The Key Family--Robert Ould--Edwin M. Stanton--Other Lawyers-- Verdict of Acquittal--Anson Burlingame.

CHAPTER II.

VISITS FROM DISTINGUISHED FOREIGNERS.

The j.a.panese Emba.s.sy--Its Reception by President Buchanan--Caricatures --Visit of the Prince of Wales--The Heir to the British Throne at Mount Vernon--Effect Produced on Queen Victoria--Life at the White House--How Mr. Buchanan Lived.

CHAPTER III.

THE GATHERING TEMPEST.

Threatening Aspect of Affairs--John Brown's Raid--Pendleton's Gambling-House Neutral Ground--The Games and the Gamblers--Honors to the Deceased King of Cards--Vice-President Breckinridge--South Carolina Chivalry--The Slave Trade Re-opened--Lady Lobbyists-- Ellsworth's Zouaves--Owen Lovejoy.

CHAPTER IV.

LINCOLN'S ELECTION INAUGURATES REBELLION.

Election of a Republican President--Northern Willingness to Let the South Secede--Senator Seward as a Partisan Leader--His Great Speech--Farewell of Jefferson Davis to the Senate--Hale's Reply to Clingman--The Peace Commission--Twenty-second of February Parade-- The Electoral Vote--Hostilities Commenced.

CHAPTER V.

MR. LINCOLN AT THE HELM.

Unexpected Arrival of Mr. Lincoln--Sumner Compared to a Bishop-- Interviews of the President-Elect with Prominent Men--Remarkable Memory--Southern Commissioners--The Inaugural Message Lost and Found--The New Cabinet--The Inauguration.

CHAPTER VI.

THE STORM BURSTS.

Robert E. Lee Joins the Confederacy--Sumter Fired upon--The Uprising of the Loyal North--The First Troops to Arrive--Nick Biddle, the First Man Wounded--Arrival of the Ma.s.sachusetts Sixth--The Censorship of the Press--General Butler Re-opens Communication with the North --The Ma.s.sachusetts Eighth--Ellsworth's Fire Zouaves--Alexandria Occupied--A Confederate Flag Captured--Colonel Ellsworth Killed by its Owner and Promptly Avenged.

CHAPTER VII.

"ON TO RICHMOND."

Meeting of Congress--March of the Grand Army of the Union--The First Battle of Bull Run--Disgraceful Rout--Appeal of Senator Breckinridge--Patriotic Reply of Colonel Baker--War Preparations-- General McClellan Placed in Command--General Scott's Advice to Him --Surrender of Mason and Slidell--Disastrous Engagement at Ball's Bluff.

CHAPTER VIII.

WASHINGTON A VAST GARRISON.

Rejection by the President of Anti-Slavery Views--Vacant Seats at Either End of the Capitol--Fessenden, the Financier--Sumner, the Diplomatist--Wilson, the Military Director--Other Prominent Senators --The Rule of Thaddeus Stevens--Notable Representatives--Democratic Opposition to the Administration--Congressional Committee on the Conduct of the War.

CHAPTER IX.

THE METROPOLIS IN TIME OF WAR.

President Lincoln's First New Year's Reception--The Pennsylvania Lancers--Discontent of the Abolitionists--President Lincoln Favoring Colonization--Appointment of E. M. Stanton as Secretary of War-- Espionage--The Secret Service--Female Confederate Spies--Capture by one of them of a Union General.

CHAPTER X.

FASHION, LITERATURE AND ART.