ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
From a photograph taken March 6,1865.
quainted with the various classes of Washington society, I endeavored to learn what proportion of the able-bodied population could be counted on to sustain the Government should it need support from the armed and organized citizens.
On the 31st of December, 1860, Lieutenant-General, Scott, General-in-Chief of the army (who had his headquarters in New York), was in Washington. The President, at last thoroughly alarmed at the results of continued concessions to secession, had summoned him for consultation. On the evening of that day I went to pay my respects to my old commander, and was received by him at Worm-ley’s hotel. He chatted pleasantly with me for a few minutes, recalling past service in the Mexican war, etc.; and when the occasion presented itself, I remarked that I was glad to see him in good spirits, for that proved to me that he took a more cheerful view of the state of public affairs than he had on his arrival—more cheerful than we of Washington had dared to take during the past few days.
“Yes, my young friend,” said the general, “Ifeelmore cheerful about the affairs of the country than I did this morning; for I believe that a safer policy than has hitherto been followed will now be adopted. The policy of entire conciliation, which has so far been pursued, would soon have led to ruin. We are now in such a state that a policy of pure force would precipitate a crisis for which we are not prepared. A mixed policy of f oree and conciliation is now necessary, and I believe it will be adopted and carried out.” He then looked at his watch, rose, and said: “I must be with the President in a quarter of an hour,” and ordered his carriage. Pie walked up and down the dining-room, but suddenly stopped and faced me, saying: “Plow is the feeling in the District of Columbia? What proportion of the population would sustain the Government by force, if necessary ? ”
“It is my belief, General,” I replied, “that two-thirds of the fighting stock of this population would sustain the Government in defending itself, if called upon. But

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ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
From a photograph sent to Mrs. Lucy G. Speed, Oct. 3,1861.
WASHINGTON ON THE EVE OF THE WAR.
BY CHARLES P. STONE, BRIGADIER-GENERAL, U. S. V. Inspector-General of the District of Columbia at the outbreak of the War.
From a photograph taken about 1860 by Hesler, of Chicago ; from the original negative owned by George B. Ayres, Philadelphia.
and representatives of the Southern States would oppose and denounce the project. What force, then, would the Government have at its disposal in the Federal District for the simple maintenance of order in case of need ? Evidently but a handful ; and as to calling thither promptly any regular troops, that was out of the question, since they had already been distributed by the Southern sympathizers to the distant frontiers of the Indian country,—Texas, Utah, New Mexico, Oregon, and Washington Territory. Months would have been necessary to concentrate at Washington, in that season, a force of three thousand regular troops. Even had President Buchanan been desirous of bringing troops to the capital, the feverish condition of the public miud would, as the executive believed, have been badly affected by any movement of the kind, and the approaching crisis might have been precipitated. I saw at once that the only force which could be readily made of service was a volunteer force raised from among the well-disposed men of the District, and that this must be organized, if at all, under the old law of 1799. By consultation with gentlemen well ae-
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^LL who knew Washington in the days of December, 1860, know what thoughts reigned in the minds of thinking men. Whatever their daily occupations, they went about them with their thoughts always bent on the possible disasters of the near future. The country was in a curious and alarming condition : South Carolina had already passed an ordinance of secession, and other States were preparing to follow her lead. The only regular troops near the capital of the country were 300 or 400 marines at the marine barracks, and 3 officers and 53 men of ordnance at the Washington arsenal. The old militia system had been abandoned (without being legally abolished), and Congress had passed no law establishing a new one. The only armed volunteer organizations in the District of Columbia were : The Potomac Light Infantry, 1 company, at Georgetown; the National Bifles, 1 company, in Washington; the Washington Light Infantry, of about 160 men, and another small organization called the National Guard Battalion. It had been evident for months that, on assembling in December, Congress would have far different work to consider than the organization of the District of Columbia militia. Nor in the delicate position of affairs would it be the policy of President Buchanan, at the outset of the session, to propose the military organization of the Federal District. It was also evident that, should he be so disposed, the senators
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