Posted inUS Civil War

April 20, 1862 – Excitement in Washington

Quite an excitement was occasioned, about dark this afternoon, by the sudden movement of All the troops of all arms stationed in the immediate vicinity of the city towards the several bridges across the Potomac. The streets and hotels were immediately filled with a variety of wild and absurd rumors. The infantry columns filled the streets and avenues, the artillery and cavalry shook the earth with their heavy tramp, activity was everywhere, and although wondering at the sudden summons, all pressed eagerly on to action. Upon reaching the river side, the commander of each regiment was interrogated by an officer of the staff of General Wadsworth, commanding the division, as to the condition of his regiment, and was informed that he had been called out by order of the Secretary of War, to ascertain with what promptness the troops here could be put in motion, prepared for action. The precision and promptness of the response to this call were particularly gratifying. It manifested the readiness of the whole division upon any emergency.

Posted inBlack History US Civil War

April 17, 1862 – Emancipation Consummated

The Act of Emancipation in the District of Columbia has been consummated. President Lincoln has approved the action of Congress, and given his official signature to the measure. To-day there is not a slave in the capital of the Republic. The long desired hour has arrived, when, as a nation, the United States is not the supporter of the institution of human slavery.

Posted inBlack History Politics US Civil War

April 11, 1862 – Emancipation in the District

The Senate bill for this purpose is now in the House Committee of the Whole. It went there necessarily, as it contains an appropriation of money. Under the rules, it will require time, patience, and tactics to give it a deliverance, but its opponents can only postpone its final passage, which is certain.

The vote, 45 to 93, upon Mr. Vallandigham’s motion to summarily reject the bill, presents some features which are gratifying, and some which are not so.

Posted inBlack History Daily News Politics

Segregation An Outrage!

COOLIDGE PERMITS IT!

How Our Men And Women Are Insulted In the Government’s Departments—Will the Self and Race-Respecting Negro Press of This Country Continue to Stand for This Sort of Thing?

(Special to The Gazette.)

Washington, D. C., Oct. 4, 1924.—There is more segregation in Washington today under President Coolidge than there has ever been since the Civil War. The beginnings of segregation were under President Taft. It was greatly extended, under President Wilson; increased, still further, under President Harding; and reached its zenith under President Coolidge. For instance, the largest of our parks President Wilson never troubled, but the present administration has found time and desire to introduce it even there.

To many people, segregation is a Democratic scheme of insult, but such is not the case. Mr. Taft introduced it in the bureau of engraving. He segregated the census-takers in this city in 1910, restricting white workers to white people, and black to black, often duplicating work as most blocks had white and black residents. And, worst of all, announced in his official capacity that Negroes should not hold office where white people complained. Segregation, then, is a Republican institution and not a Democratic one. It was begun by Republicans, and carried on to its all-embracing extent by Republicans!

Posted inDaily News Local Histories

Baltimore Fights Big Snowstorm

Other Maryland Cities, Including Rockville, Suffer Tie-Ups

Snowball fight at the US Capitol, 1925. Image source: Library of Congress

BALTIMORE, Md., January 2.—Almost complete paralysis of local transportation facilities marked the opening of Baltimore’s business hours today, due to snow which began falling last night and was continuing heavily this forenoon.

Stores, offices and manufacturing plants reported insufficient arrivals of workers to permit of even a semblance of ordinary operation.

The railroads reported no serious delays to either suburban or through trains north and south, as yet.

Posted inDaily News

Cabin John Bridge

Sunday Scene in Local Option Montgomery County.

BOYS AND GIRLS DRINKING

Slot Machines in Full Operation for Gambling.

SOME OF THE INCIDENTS

View of the back side of the Cabin John Hotel, early 20th century.

While the good people of Washington were attending church Sunday, just across the District line at Cabin John bridge the depraved were rollicking in high carnival. The day was not propitious for a general turning out, but there was nevertheless a big crowd at the well-known resort, where everything goes. The place recalled the early western mining camps, where no distinction was made as to men and methods, and where everything was “wide open all the time.”

It was a poor commentary on the morals of the capital city to witness the scenes of depravity that were enacted almost within the shadow of the great white dome beneath which laws for the good government of mankind are made. The frequenters of the resort last Sunday were made up for the most part of the lower strata of society, yet there were others present who are well known in the business world of Washington, and there was another class, as much out of place it seemed as a rose in a swamp—young girls who came on bicycles, stopping “just for a minute” to get a drink of lemonade. The excitement of the place seemed to Intoxicate them, and they tarried, many of them to taste for the first time this new sensation of depraved society. They stay perhaps to taste their first drink of intoxicants, ending in the wild orgies that too often form a part of the program at such resorts.

Illustration of Kossoth in a Broadway parade in New York
Posted inDaily News

Kossuth in America

The National Era, Washington, DC, January 22, 1852 The reception of the great Hungarian by the people of the United States is freely commented on by the English press. “The…