February 26, 1861; The Charleston Mercury
WASHINGTON, February 23, 1861.
Surprises are not always pleasant. Jaded by the excitement of yesterday’s military performance, to say nothing of the numerous balls at night, we were not prepared this morning to receive the news of LINCOLN’S arrival with that joyful enthusiasm which the suddenness of the occasion, and the meanness, if not the magnitude, of the event demanded. That the man of the people’s choice should select, of all other methods of reaching the capital of the United States, that method which a negro pilferer chooses when he would despoil a hen roost, is surely, to use old ABE’S language, ‘a most gratifying circumstance.’
After threatening to set his foot down firm, and announcing his entire willingness to be for the sake of anti slavery principles, the dirty old wretch creeps tremblingly across the soil of Maryland under the cover of darkness, and in defiance of the lying programme he had caused to be published. Here, with a thousand men at arms to guard him, he considers himself safe. It is hoped that the proud old State of Virginia will be inflamed with admiration of this daring performance, which was not on the bills.
The Commencement of the National Medical College came off at the Smithsonian Institute night before last, and from what the city papers say, I infer that the graduates from South Carolina and Mississippi were hissed, when their names were called to come forward and receive their diplomas. But this disgraceful occurrence was not needed to prove what has all along been known – that this city is as thoroughly abolitionized as Boston itself.
JOSEPH HOLT, who is more cordially and justly hated and despised than any man in the Cabinet, has refused to receive a box sent to him from South Carolina. The box, when opened at the ADAMS’ Express Company’s office, was found to contain beautiful flowers. No one dared to disturb these flowers, for fear of an explosion or of some subtle poison. HOLT does not deserve the honor of an assassination. But he is a marked man. If ever he ventures within the confines of the Confederate States, he will never return to practice coercion again. The breed of such traitors cannot be perpetrated among us.