36TH CONGRESS,}

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

REPORT

No. 79.

ALLEGED HOSTILE ORGANIZATION AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

FEBRUARY 14, 1861.-Laid upon the table, and ordered to be printed.

Mr. W. A. HOWARD, from the select committee, submitted the following.

REPORT.

The select committee of five, appointed by the House on the 9th of January, 1861, respectfully submit the following report, in part :

On the 26th of January the following resolution was referred to said committee.

"Resolved, That the select committee of five be instructed to inquire whether any secret organization hostile to the government of the United States exists in the District of Columbia; and if so, whether any official or employé of the city of Washington, or any employés or officers of the federal government in the executive or judicial departments, are members thereof."

The committee entered upon the investigation under a deep sense of the importance and the intrinsic difficulty of the inquiry. To prove the existence of a secret organization having for its object the resistance to and overthrow of the government would, in the very nature of the case, be a difficult task if such an organization really existed. On the other hand, in a time of high excitement, consequent upon revolutionary events transpiring all around us, the very air filled with rumors, and individuals indulging in the most extravagant expressions of fears and threats, it might well be thought difficult to elicit such clear proof as would enable the committee to pronounce authoritatively that no such organization existed, and thus contribute to the quiet of the public mind and the peace of the country. The committee have pursued their labors with a determination on their part to ascertain the real facts so far as possible; and if, sometimes, they have permitted inquiries and admitted testimony not strictly within the rules of evidence, or within the scope of the resolutions it is to be attributed to their great anxiety to elicit the real facts and to remove unfounded apprehensions.

The extraordinary excitement existing prior to the late presidential election led disaffected persons of high and low position, after the result of that election became known, to consult together on the question of submitting to that result, and also upon various modes of resist

ance. Among other modes, resistance to counting the ballots, to the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, the seizure of the Capitol and the Dis trict of Columbia, were discussed informally in this city and elsewhere. But too much diversity of opinion seems to have existed to admit of the adoption of any well-organized plan, until some of the States commenced to reduce their theories of secession to practice. Since then persons thus disaffected seem to have adopted the idea that all resistance to the government, if there is to be any, should have at least the color of State authority. If the purpose was at any time entertained of forming an organization, secret or open, to seize the District of Columbia, attack the Capitol, or prevent the inauguration of Mr. Lincoln, it seems to have been rendered contingent upon the secession of either Maryland or Virginia, or both, and the sanction of one of those States.

Certain organizations in this District and in Maryland, that prior to the election seem to have been only political clubs, have since assumed the character of military organizations, are now engaged in drilling, and expect to provide themselves with arms, some from the State authorities, and others from private subscriptions. But so far as the committee were able to learn their purposes, while they sympathized strongly with secession, there is no proof that they intend to attack either the Capitol or the District, unless the surrender should be demanded by a State to which they profess a high degree of allegiance. Some of these companies in Baltimore profess to be drilling for the sole purpose of preventing other military companies from passing through the State of Maryland. Whether these representations of the purposes of these companies be correct or not, the committee have failed to discover any satisfactory evidence that they have any purpose whatever, as a mere mob, without the sanction of State authority, to attack the Capitol, or any other public property in this District, or to seize the District. If it should be admitted that any one of these organizations were hostile to the government, or entertained unlawful purposes, they are in no proper sense secret, and are therefore not such as are contemplated in the resolution of the House.

The committee are unanimously of the opinion that the evidence produced before them does not prove the existence of a secret organization here or elsewhere hostile to the government, that has for its object, upon its own responsibility, an attack upon the Capitol, or any of the public property here, or an interruption of any of the functions of the government.

The committee submit herewith all the testimony taken upon the subject, and ask that the same, and this report, be printed, and that the committee be discharged from the further consideration of the subject.

No. 5.

TUESDAY, January 29, 1861.

JAMES G. BERRET sworn and examined.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. The House of Representatives on Saturday last adopted the following resolution:

"Resolved, That the select committee of five be instructed to inquire whether any secret organization hostile to the government of the United States exists in the District of Columbia; and if so, whether any official or employé of the city of Washington, or any employés or officers of the federal government in the executive or judicial departments, are

members thereof."

The committee have requested your attendance here for the purpose of ascertaining if you could give them any information upon that subject.

Answer. As mayor of the city of Washington my attention has been drawn, of course, to the various rumors that have found their way into the public press; and I have not confined my investigations to this city alone; they have extended beyond, both north and south of the Potomac. I have not been able to ascertain the slightest ground for any apprehension that there has been contemplated, or that there is likely to be contemplated, any foray or raid upon the city of Washington.

Question. Or to seize the public property?

Answer. Or to seize the public property, or to interfere with any public rights whatever. On the contrary, I am thoroughly convinced that while the peace of this city was never more literally under the control of the police than it is to-day, it will remain undisturbed in the future. Every indication points to that result; and unless some manifestation should be made, which we all shall be enabled to seeexcept for the purpose of keeping off the crowd, and keeping the streets clear on the fourth of March, in order that whatever pageant there may be shall not be interrupted-I shall deem it wholly unnecessary to add one solitary man to the police force of the city, except, as was the case of the inauguration of the statue of Washington, on the 22d of February last, when, you will remember, two hundred special police were appointed to keep the streets clear of carriages and vehicles of every kind, so that they might not crowd upon the prócession. I know the people of Washington-I think I know them well; and I do not believe there is a solitary man in this city, with any claims to decency and standing, who would attempt to place the slightest impediment in the way of the peaceable inauguration of Mr. Lincoln. There are two organizations here: one started under the auspices of General Carrington, for the ostensible purpose of forming a military association; but after all, it was a mere political organization, a mere revival of an old political organization. And the same may be said in regard to another organization, whose resolutions have been spread before the public-an organization called the "National Volunteers." That, too, is a political organization;

the revival of an old one. I know them to be not only respectable, but they are stakeholding citizens, a great many of them, who would scorn to do anything that would bring reproach upon the city. I would rely upon them, as I would upon a large majority of the gentlemen belonging to Captain Carrington's organization, as affording an efficient means of maintaining the public peace. In a single word, I will say to you, in all candor and frankness, that I consider the municipal authorities here, as at present constituted, without any increase of force, abundantly competent to maintain the peace of this city, and afford the amplest protection to life and property. Events may occur in the future to lead me to change that opinion; but that is my conviction now.

Question. Have you had your attention called to the question as to whether there was in existence here any secret organization?

Answer. Yes, sir; there is none.

Question. And that is all false?

Answer. Yes, sir; that grew out of this fact: This "National Volunteer' association or organization existed as a political organization prior to the presidential election, and was known as the Breckinridge and Lane Club. Near the close of the canvass, as is frequently the case with all political organizations, they found themselves involved in debt. They assembled in private meeting for the purpose of determining upon some financial scheme to extricate themselves from that debt; and their transactions, which they supposed to be under the seal of privacy, were published in the "Star," of this city, which made them exceedingly indignant; and when this "National Volunteer" organization met here recently, finding the reporter of the "Star," or the person connected with that paper, present, they concluded, for the purpose of excluding him, to make their meeting secret. But at their next meeting they invited, by name, the reporters of the papers in the city to be present, and report the proceedings of the meeting.

By Mr. BRANCH:

Question. Including or excluding the "Star?"

Answer. Excluding the "Star." That I understood to be the fact. By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. You think that is the origin of these rumors?

Answer. Yes, sir.

By Mr. BRANCH:

Question. Can you mention, in that connexion, the names of any prominent citizens connected with that association-the names of any who are known to the public?

Answer. Yes, sir. I will take, for instance, Mr. Charles H. Winder, a gentleman of acknowledged character and standing and high social position. And there is the son-in-law of Governor Wise, who, like his father-in-law, is a gentleman of very decided character and standing.

Question. You refer to Dr. Garnett?

Answer. Yes, sir; and there is Dr. Boyle, a son of one of the oldest and most respectable men of this city.

By the CHAIRMAN:

Question. A property-holder here?

Answer. Yes, sir; a large property-holder. Mr. William H. Thomas, also a very respectable, intelligent man, and a man of property. That association represents a very considerable amount of propertyprobably $100,000. It is utterly impossible, I think, that any such state of things as has been represented in the papers should exist here without my knowing something about it. But any information which I can give the committee, or any facilities which I can afford them with a view to acquire information, will be most cheerfully given.

Question. The towns and country are full of rumors about a secret organization called the "K. G. C," or the "Knights of the Golden Circle," or something of that kind; have you any information of, or do you believe that any such organization ever existed here?

Answer. That was an old concern that started in connexion with Cuba, or something of that kind. I have never heard of any such organization here.

Question. Nor of any citizens belonging to any such organization? Answer. No, sir; I saw in a paper the other day-the "Star," I think-the name of L. Q. Washington associated with some such organization as that, mentioning, in connexion with it, that he was very high up in the order-some grand title, "G. W. T.," or something of the kind. I do not know what it meant; but I regarded it as a mere piece of facetiousness on the part of the editor. I certainly never heard that there was a meeting here. I do not think there ever was.

By Mr. DAWES :

Question. Of how many men does he police force of the city consist?

Answer. One hundred.

Question. Have there been any additions to it lately?

Answer. No, sir.

Question. Have you, from personal examination, ascertained of those who constitute the police force their sentiments latterly towards the government?

Answer. I have not inquired of them individually; but I regard them as perfectly loyal-as perfectly within my command. If they were not so, they could not belong to the force.

Question. Do you know their sentiments touching their duty, provided there should be a secession of Maryland and Virginia?

Answer. I never inquired with any such view as that, because I regarded that as not within the range of probability at all. Question. That either State should secede ?

Answer. If either or both of them should secede, I think I should command the hearty efforts of every citizen here to preserve order. Question. I wanted to know if, in view of any such contingency, you have made any such inquiries of the police ?

Answer. No, sir; I have not.