DAILY~NEWS A disgrace for the history books: Even before the Civil War, better leaders prevented chaos in the Capitol By HAROLD HOLZER NEW YORK DAILY NEWS I JAN 07, 2021 AT 5 :00 AM It has happened before. A highly anticipated — and in some ways dreaded — joint session of Con- gress to certify the votes of the Electoral College. A sitting vice president who had been defeat- ed by a vote of the people, and now found himself awkwardly responsible for validating his loss. An anticipated outpour- ing of emotion from citizens — along with some members of the House and Senate — who insist- ed that the presidential election had been fawed, and the clear Trump supporters gesture to U.S. Capitol Police in the hallway outside of the Senate chamber at the Capitol in winner, illegitimate. A palpable Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. (Manuel Ba Ice Ceneta/AP) threat of violence. Te date was Feb. 13, 1861 — one to that result, claiming Lincoln Somehow, despite the unheard-of day afer the 52nd birthday of had been the frst president stress to the system, the fraught the beleaguered president-elect: elected only with the votes of vote-count on Capitol Hill pro- Abraham Lincoln. On this tense one section of the country (the ceeded, the outcome strikingly day, as events unfolded in Wash- North), and therefore could diferent from the mayhem Don- ington, Lincoln had reached Co- not be recognized as chief ex- ald Trump’s supporters caused lumbus, Ohio, for a reception in ecutive. Indeed, beginning six yesterday — at least at frst. his honor, and was scheduled weeks afer Election Day, South How did the divided states of soon to resume his journey to Carolina, Mississippi, Florida, America avoid chaos and preserve the capital for his inauguration. Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana the dignifed ritual of the vote count Tat is, if his 180 electoral votes, and Texas, had, in turn, seceded in Congress? Te answer: with a a clear majority, could be count- from the Union, formed a sep- huge show of force in advance. ed and confrmed securely. arate government, and elected Fearing the worst, and deter- Several Southern states — and Sen. Jeferson Davis as an alter- mined that the ceremony proceed their senators — had objected native president. unimpeded, the Southern-born page 1 of 2 general-in-chief of the U.S. Army, John C. Breckinridge — an un- rebellion, more Southern states Winfeld Scott, had proactively successful candidate for the pres- abandoned the union, and one by deployed federal troops and ar- idency — solemnly announced one, their senators quit or were tillery to Capitol Hill. Scott also from the rostrum: “Abraham Lin- expelled and headed home. announced plans for a military coln of Illinois, having received We know what followed: Four parade on Washington’s birthday a majority of the whole of the years of brutal civil war, 750,000 nine days later, when Lincoln electoral votes, is elected Presi- casualties, but at least the cause of was widely expected to arrive in dent of the United States, for four all the discord — American slav- town. years, commencing on the 4th of ery — destroyed once and for all. Scott also sent a blunt message to March” — the day then set aside So the question remains: Can the those rumored to be planning to for the inauguration. legitimately elected president demonstrate, disrupt or worse. As he “Tanks to Gen. Scott,” wrote a of a House divided withstand colorfully warned, “any man who at- relieved observer, “the people feel the anxiety of the electoral tempted by force or unparliamentary as tho they were safe from ‘inva- vote-counting procedure and disorder to obstruct or interfere with sion’ until afer the 4th of March” lead the country afer the kind of the lawful count” would be “lashed — inauguration day — ”at least.” assault on democracy the Capitol to the muzzle of a twelve-pounder” endured yesterday? — a huge cannon — ”and fred out a Of course, the chaos many had window of the Capitol.” feared on that ominous ceremoni- Gen. Scott’s frmness should serve as an object lesson. But so should the words Lincoln spoke from the Capitol Building on Inaugura- tion Day. “We are not enemies, but friends — we must not be enemies. Tough passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of afection.” It was time, then as now, to summon “the better angels of our nature.” In 1861, Lincoln’s words went un- heeded. President-elect Joe Biden quoted Lincoln in denouncing the Capitol riots yesterday. (Andrew Harnik/AP) Knowing what can happen when a presidential transition evokes Rioters breach U.S. Capitol during pro-Trump rally such discord, the rest is up to us. As Lincoln had originally intend- In response, dissenters melted al day would erupt soon enough. ed to end his inaugural address away, fearing, as one journalist Within only two months, al- that day — words he perhaps reported, “that they would be ig- though Lincoln was safely sworn wisely deleted: “With you, and not nominiously whipped if they at- in (amidst the tightest security with me, is the solemn question of tempted to execute their treason.” ever), Confederate forces bom- ‘Shall it be peace, or a sword?’ ” Tat afernoon, with the House barded Fort Sumter. When the Holzer is director of the Roosevelt galleries devoid of “rowdies and new president called for 75,000 House Public Policy Institute at rufans,” outgoing Vice President militia volunteers to put down the Hunter College. .