USA > Washington > Standard history of the city of Washington from a study of the original sources > Part 30
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shaking hands with the distinguished man before him. Observ- ing him, the President put out his hand good-naturedly and said, "Never mind your gloves, sir." Randolph, instead of taking the proffered hand, thrust his own in the President's face and exclaimed, "I came to pull your nose!"
A sensation was immediately created and several gentlemen seized Randolph and hurried him from the cabin. Jackson caught up his cane and made a rush for his assailant, but Randolph, who had been thrust from the boat, hurried off and escaped.
On January 29, 1835, during the funeral ceremonies of Senator Warren R. Davis of South Carolina, at the Capitol, as Jackson stepped onto the portico a man named Richard Lawrence quickly stepped before the President and attempted to shoot him. The pistol only snapped, and the man was seized by several bystanders, but before being under control, he attempted a second shot, when again the percussion-cap failed.
The most noteworthy incident of this period of the city's history was the cholera epidemic which occurred in 1832 during the mayoralty of John P. Van Ness.
Early in the month of August, 1832, the epidemic of cholera which had made its appearance in New York during the month of June, broke out in Washington, and gained rapid headway. The city councils provided for the appointment of extra police commissioners to be associated for a period of four months with the Board of Health. Rigorous measures were adopted look- ing to the prevention of the spread of the disease, including the prohibition of the sale of liquor for a period of ninety days, as well as the introduction within the city limits of sea food and of nearly all classes of vegetables and fruits. Public theatrical performances and evening religious gatherings were also prohibited. The prohibitions upon the use of the various species of vegetables which were forbidden caused great public dissatisfaction and resulted in a meeting of citizens at the City Hall on the evening of August 21, which adopted resolu- tions protesting against the enforcement of the regulations
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adopted by the Board of Health. Another meeting however, endorsed these regulations.
The epidemic reached its height in the early part of Septem- ber when between 10 and 15 deaths were reported each day, although it is believed that fully double this number were victims of the disease. By the 1st of October, the disease was believed to have departed.
Throughout the continuance of the epidemic the dead carts passing through the city, their drivers ringing a bell and at times blowing a horn and calling "Bring out the dead," were a daily sight. The total number of deaths as reported to the Board of Health was 459. Of these 269 were males and 190 females; 251 were white and 208 were colored. The highest mortality appeared in those ranging from 30 to 40 years of age.
In connection with this event it is of interest to note that in consequence of the yellow fever epidemics in Philadelphia of 1793 and 1798, the latter of which had caused the President, with the administrative offices of both the State and National governments to remove temporarily to Germantown, Congress had by Act approved February 25, 1799, provided that
"In case of the prevalence of a contagious or epidemical disease at the seat of government it shall be lawful for the President of the United States to permit and direct the removal of any or all the public offices to such other places, as in his discretion, shall be deemed most safe and conven- ient for conducting the public business."
The epidemic of 1832 was not of sufficient severity to result in the invocation of this law, and happily no other such visita- tion has afflicted the nation's Capital.
For 1827 Mr. Sessford tells of the completion of the west section of the City Hall, and of the Penitentiary at the Arsenal; and of the construction of a large Reservoir at D Street and Indiana Avenue, with 2,500 feet of iron pipe line. He states that in this year there set out daily five stages for Baltimore, one for Frederick, and three for Alexandria; with three each week for Annapolis and two each week for Piscataway. He enumerates two steamboats per day for Alexandria, one daily
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for Alexandria and Fredericksburg, one every Wednesday for Norfolk, one every Tuesday for Baltimore, and one from George- town to Alexandria twice each day.
The census of 1830 showed the population of Washington to be at that time 18,827; an increase of 5,580 during the preced- ing decade. Of the persons enumerated in 1830, about 13,400 were white; about 2,300 were slaves; and something over 3,000 were free colored persons. This was the first census in which the freedmen were shown to outnumber the slaves. The population of Georgetown in this year was 8,441.
The "Marsh Market," where the Center Market is now, was the center of business activity, and near it, chiefly on Pennsyl- vania Avenue, were leading hotels, boarding houses, and business locations. The Avenue was the great shopping district and promenade of Washington's residents. Gambling was a crying evil of the day, and during the sessions of Congress many thou- sands of dollars were lost in the Pennsylvania Avenue resorts.
In his statement for 1832, Mr. Sessford says that the draw bridges over the Canal at 12th and 14th Streets were raised 15 feet to admit the smaller steamboats to 7th Street, from which it is to be inferred that some of the steamboats of that time were of very meager dimensions. It was in this year that the poplars on Pennsylvania Avenue under President Jefferson were removed and the Avenue graded and paved in the center with nine inches of stone from 3d to 14th Street.
In 1833 the original Treasury building was destroyed by a fire which occurred on March 4, of that year.
In 1835 the rebuilding of the Potomac Bridge, which had been partially destroyed by flood in 1831, was completed with a draw at the city channel and one at the Georgetown channel. In this year, also, the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was com- pleted to Washington.
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company had been char- tered by the Maryland Legislature in February, 1827. The corner stone was laid at Baltimore on July 4, 1828, by the venerable Charles Carroll of Carrollton, and the road was com- pleted from Baltimore to Point of Roeks by April 1, 1832.
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An Act of Congress approved March 9, 1833, authorized the construction of a branch line into the District of Columbia, conditioned upon the commuting of the stock of the Washing- ton and Baltimore Turnpike Company for that of the Railroad Company. On July 20, 1835, the operation of two trains a day to Bladensburg was commenced and on August 25 following, the service to the original station at 2d Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, west, was inaugurated.
In 1836 iron pipes replacing the former wooden pipes were laid from the Capitol along the north side of Pennsylvania Avenue to 15th Street, with a sufficient number of plugs for cases of fire. From these pipes water was supplied to all stories of the present east wing of the Treasury building, which was then under construction, as were also the present F Street wing of the Patent Office building, a portion of the New Post Office (now the Land Office) building, and the new jail on the Gothic order at the northeast corner of Judiciary Square.
The extent of the paved footways in the year 1837 is stated by Mr. Sessford as aggregating about 24 miles.
On March 4, 1837, Andrew Jackson gave place to another choice of the people, Martin Van Buren.
On the bright cold morning of the inauguration President Jackson and President-elect Van Buren were driven to the Capitol in a carriage reputed to have been made of oak from the old United States frigate Constitution, drawn by four horses. They were escorted by companies of citizens and a volunteer brigade of infantry and cavalry.
In the Senate chamber of the Capitol the two leaders wit- nessed the taking of the oath as Vice-President by Richard M. Johnson, after which they and all the dignitaries went to the Eastern portico. Here "Old Hickory" received a rousing cheer from the people, showing that his popularity had not decreased with cessation of office.
Mr. Van Buren advanced and read his inaugural address, after which Chief-Justice Taney administered the great oath.
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The managers of the Inaugural Ball endeavored to make it the most elaborate given up to that time. The price of admis- sion was ten dollars, but the ball was a crowded affair notwith- standing. The President and Vice-President were seated on a dais, where they received congratulations from many dis- tinguished Americans and foreigners.
In 1838 the entire country was shocked by the news of the killing of Congressman Cilley of Maine by Congressman Graves of Kentucky in a duel at Bladensburg. The contest was with rifles at ninety-two yards. Three shots were exchanged. After each of the first two Congressman Cilley, in line with his attitude throughout, offered to make any reasonable adjustment of the difficulty, but his opponent appeared to be determined to bring about his death. Cilley's aim was seriously hampered by a strong wind which blew in his face. At the third fire he fell mortally wounded. The affair aroused a widespread popular feeling which resulted in the Act of Congress of February 20, 1839, making duelling unlawful.
During the latter part of President Van Buren's adminis- tration the residents of the District were greatly perturbed by the hostile attitude of Congress due in some measure to the prevailing Whig sentiment among the local citizens. This hostil- ity found expression in the refusal of Congress to renew the expiring charters of six of the banks of the District. It was further manifested when application was made for a renewal of the charter of the city of Washington, which by its terms expired in 1840. The select committee of Congress to which the latter subject was referred submitted a proposed charter in which every reference to slaves contained in the expiring charter was so studiously expunged as to indicate a deliberate purpose to abolish the institution of slavery in the city of Washington. The bill passed the third reading but was finally defeated upon a motion to reconsider offered by a southern Senator who with others from the same section had unwittingly voted in favor of it.
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The result of the hostile attitude of Congress was a lively interest on the part of the residents of Washington in the presidential election of 1840. During the campaign of that year a log cabin facing Pennsylvania Avenue was erected in the open space in front of the Center Market and maintained as a Whig headquarters. In front of it was placed a platform from which speeches were delivered, and near it was erected a liberty pole one hundred and seven feet high from which was flown a Harri- son and Tyler streamer.
The inauguration of President William Henry Harrison took place March 4, 1841. For several days previous to the inauguration General Harrison was the guest of Washington's Whig Mayor, Mr. Seaton. President Van Buren who had been .
defeated of re-election showed his bigness by dining the Pres- ident-elect, together with a distinguished company, where politics had no place and the dinner was a genial success.
On the inaugural day General Harrison rode a splendid white horse to the Capitol, accompanied by a distinguished escort and a great throng of admirers. Upon reaching the Capitol he went immediately to the Senate Chamber, where Vice-President Tyler was sworn into office, after which all repaired to the Eastern portico, where the great official read his inaugural address. After this enthusiastically received mes- sage General Harrison took the oath of office from Chief-Justice Taney.
President Harrison survived his inauguration ordeal only one month, departing from this life April 4, 1841, much lament- ed by the entire country, as a man who had given promise of making an excellent executive for the country.
Vice-President Tyler succeeded him, taking the Presidential oath from the Chief Judge of the Circuit Court of the District of Columbia.
The year after entering the Presidency Mr. Tyler lost his wife, a woman who had made herself beloved, in her quiet way, in the Capital city. They had been married twenty-nine years. This sad occurrence threw a gloom over the White House and
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the city for a time, but later society in Washington attained much brilliancy, the President's daughter and daughter-in-law, especially the latter, Mrs. Robert Tyler, after the marriage of his daughter Elizabeth in the White House to William Waller, on January 31, 1842, usually presiding at the White House entertainments. After the President took a bride to the Exec- utive Mansion in 1844, society endeavored to honor the new White House Mistress in many ways and she was a credit to all compliments, being a charming and cultured woman.
It was after one of the entertainments during this period, when much candle-grease had fallen on gentlemen's coats and ladies' handsome gowns, that it was suggested, and a little later decided to have the rooms lighted with gas, a method of light- ing which was then being tried in several places with success.
Charles Dickens and his wife visited Washington in 1842, receiving much attention as "Boz" was well known and much beloved by American readers.
On February 23, 1843, Congress passed an act appropriat- ing money for the construction of a telegraph line from Wash- ington to Baltimore. The line was completed on May 24, 1844, and the following day the first message, "What hath God wrought?" was sent over the wires by Miss Annie Ellsworth, whose father was at the time the Commissioner of Patents. Shortly after the question came from Baltimore, "What is the news in Washington ?" and the reply was sent back, “Van Buren's stock is rising." On May 28th, the news of the nomina- tion of James Carroll for Governor of Maryland and of the nomination of John Tyler for President of the United States, by the Tyler Convention and of a lengthy speech of Benjamin F. Butler in favor of a majority rule in the Convention came over the wire from Baltimore. On Wednesday, the 29th of May, news came from Baltimore of the nomination of James K. Polk for the presidency by the Democratic Convention. This last announcement created so much surprise that the telegraph was discredited until the news had been confirmed by special messenger sent to Baltimore to ascertain the facts.
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On February 28, 1844, the gunboat Princeton took a party of 400 invited guests, including President Tyler and his cabinet, on an excursion down the Potomac. On the return, in firing a salute at Fort Washington, a gun burst killing Secretaries Upshur and Gilmer, Commodore Kennon, Mr. Virgil Maxey and Mr. Gardner, and wounding 17 seamen. President Tyler was in the Captain's cabin and escaped. A state funeral for all those killed was held from the White House.
The inauguration of President Polk on March 4, 1845, was attended with great display and elaborate ceremonies.
Vice-President Dallas was sworn into office in the Senate Chamber, after which there was the usual retirement to the east portico of the Capitol, where the President-elect read his inaugural address and was sworn into office by Chief-Justice Taney. A levee followed at the Executive Mansion.
The day preceding the inauguration, President Tyler, the retiring incumbent, and his wife gave a reception to their friends, at which Washington citizens showed their appreciation and warm friendship for the retiring President. In the evening General Van Ness, selected by his fellow citizens for the pur- pose, delivered an address to Mr. Tyler, expressing the regret felt by Washington people at parting from him, to which honor the President replied in his happy and dignified manner.
The day following the inauguration President and Mrs. Polk received at the White House, and Mrs. Polk was immedi- ately accepted as a graceful leader for the Capital city's social affairs, nor was she a disappointment to her new friends. Much later in her husband's administration, after he had made the usual enemies that fall to a President's lot, Mr. Clay said to Mrs. Polk, "that, although some had expressed dissatisfaction with the administration of her husband, not one seemed to have found the least fault with hers."
In 1846 a sentiment among the citizens of the town and county of Alexandria in favor of withdrawal from the District of Columbia culminated in a petition to Congress having this object in view. Congress responded by passing an Act approved
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July 9, 1846, submitting the question to the voters of the terri- tory affected. The election which was held on the first and second days of September, 1846, resulted in a vote of 763 in favor of retrocession and 222 against it. By proclamation of September 7, 1846, President Polk announced that the portion of the District derived from the State of Virginia was re-ceded to that State.
During President Polk's administration the war with Mexico took place, Washington was represented in the American armies by five companies. Of these the first two to go-the "Washington Volunteers, No. 1" and the "Washington City Riflemen"- constituted respectively companies C and D in the battalion which stormed the forts of Monterey on September 21, 1846, under Lieutenant Colonel William H. Watson, who lost his life in that assault, though Company D was prevented from partici- pation in the attack by being detailed to guard the camp.
The funding of the $10,000,000 war loan authorized by Congress was effected by one of Washington's citizens, Mr. W. W. Corcoran, who afterward became noted through his bene- factions.
On February 23, 1848, Ex-President, and at the time Representative, John Quincy Adams, died at Washington.
On Sunday, April 16, 1848, a sailing vessel named the Pearl slipped away from Washington with 77 fugitive slaves. A number of residents of Washington and Georgetown obtained the Steamer Salem which started in pursuit and found the Pearl anchored in Cornfield Harbor at the mouth of the Potomac. Boarding the schooner they fastened down the hatches, bound the captain and hands in charge of the vessel, and towed the schooner back to Georgetown. Captain Edward Sayres of the Pearl was convicted and sentenced to pay 73 times $140, and Daniel Drayton was sentenced to pay 73 times $100, both to stand committed until their fines were paid. They were after- wards pardoned on August 12, 1852. This episode resulted in an attack on the officers of the National Era, occasioned by the
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supposed endorsement by that paper of the attempted kidnap- ping of the slaves.
President-elect Zachary Taylor arrived in the Capital February 23, 1849. Here he was met by Mayor Seaton and his reception in the city was one of cordiality and high respect that must have filled his heart with gratitude and love for the people who so honored him.
March 4, coming on Sunday, the inauguration took place on the 5th, when the usual programme was conducted, Vice-Pres- ident Fillmore being sworn into his office in the Senate Chamber and the President on the platform built in front of the East portico, by Chief-Justice Taney, in presence of a multitude of people.
The retiring President and President-elect had driven to the Capitol together, preceded by twelve volunteer companies and a Whig escort. After the inauguration ceremonies the same procession returned through Pennsylvania Avenue to the White House.
At night there were three balls, one on Judiciary Square, where society was displayed in all its splendor ; one at Carusi's, where the military had precedence; and another at the National Theatre. The President appeared at each of these balls during the evening, accompanied by Mayor Seaton, and his entrance into the ball-room each time was the event of the night, bring- ing enthusiasm that shook the structures.
Mrs. Taylor was not in robust health and did not care for the duties of social leader, so her daughter, who had married Colonel William W. Bliss, filled this honorable position with grace and dignity, during the period of President Taylor's incumbency.
One year and four months after he went into office, Pres- ident Taylor left governmental and all other earthly tasks to others. He died on July 9, 1850, at the White House, after a short illness, brought on from taking part in a Fourth of July celebration, on a very warm day. Having been a military
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hero, he was given a military funeral, General Scott coming to Washington to superintend the arrangements.
On March 31, preceding the death of President Taylor, John C. Calhoun, had laid down his earthly burdens in the Capital.
The period from 1836 to 1850 was covered by the four year incumbency of Mayor Force and by the ten year incumbency of Mayor Seaton, and witnessed a very substantial advance on the part of the city.
The census for 1840 showed a population for Washington of 23,364; an increase during the preceding decade of 4,529. Of the total number in 1840, 16,843 were white; 1,713 were slaves ; and 4,808, or nearly three times the number of slaves, were free colored persons. The population of Georgetown in 1840 was 7,312, or over eleven hundred less than in 1830.
For 1840 Mr. Sessford mentions that there were erected one, and in 1841 three, four story buildings, making a new class. For 1842 he mentions the completion of the colonnade of the Treasury Building. He states that there were then nine steamboats plying from the city.
In 1843 the old jail was altered and fitted for a Lunatic Asylum.
In 1844 the Naval Observatory was completed; a portion of Maryland Avenue, New York Avenue, 14th and 10th Streets graded and gravelled; new lines of iron pipe laid from the spring on C Street down 6th to Pennsylvania Avenue. The old jail, which had been fitted up for a Lunatic Asylum, was given over to the faculty of the Columbian College for a hospital with a large class of students.
In 1845 Pennsylvania Avenue was graded and gravelled by the Government from the Capitol to the Navy Yard, and from 6th to 15th Street, west, it was completed by pebble-paving, curbing, and gravelling.
In 1846, the brick "North Market" on K Street between 7th and 8th, was constructed. In Georgetown, a large iron roll- ing factory adjoining the Aqueduct was nearly completed.
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In the latter part of 1846, the first attempts were made at gas illumination in Washington. Mr. Crutchett, of Dayton, Ohio, illuminated Capitol Hill and North Capitol Street with lamps burning "Crutchett's Solar Gas," which was produced from oil and which gave a very satisfactory and brilliant light. On December 29, 1848, the President's House was lighted with this gas which gave great satisfaction at the time, and in the course of that year the Washington Gas Light Company was formed with the object of manufacturing solar gas for supply- ing the citizens of Washington.
After an experience of several years, however, it was found impossible to manufacture this gas commercially at a profit, and the company erected a plant for manufacturing gas from coal, east of 4} Street between Maryland Avenue and the City Canal. This establishment commenced furnishing gas to the population of Washington in 1851, through pipes which were laid from the works up 4} Street to Pennsylvania Avenue and thence both ways on the latter thoroughfare toward the Capitol and Presi- dent's House. Owing to the scattered condition of the popula- tion of Washington at the time this company commenced operations, its first years were not profitable ones. A circular published by the company in 1856 stated that twenty miles of street mains had been laid since the completion of the new works in 1851, with a total of 30 miles of mains and an annual average consumption of 944,000 cubic feet of gas per mile, and added "A line of 6-inch pipe over a mile in length was laid from the vicinity of the Capitol to the Navy Yard, with only one widely scattered row of street lamps, passing many squares with scarcely a dwelling house on each, and double lines of pipe are in that part of Pennsylvania Avenue near Georgetown with quite as uninviting prospect of private consumption."
In 1847 Mr. Sessford tells of the construction of the five- story Winder building at 17th and F Streets; the completion by W. W. Corcoran of a five-story building at 15th and F Streets for some of the Treasury department offices; the enlarg- ment of the old Fuller mansion at 14th and Pennsylvania
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