Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1835-02-19
DISTRICT CODE.

ze the adoption of the penal code prepared 'oi
the District of Columbia, was taken up as IN
Committee Of the Whole.
Mr.. Tyler stated, that two years ago the code
to which this bill referred had been suomitteo 10
Congress. II was almost inconceivable, the ut
ter Confusion of the laws of this District. The
cession of the District Of Columbia was made
above thirty years ago. when it came into the
hands of the General Government with the
laws of the States from which it had been de-
tached Whatever had been the subsequent
notifications in the laws OF those STATES they
were refused to the people OF this DistricL ne
should be too proliX were ne 10 go INTO oil Gnu
meration of all these laws. Some OF them nad
been for more than century in operation; while
others, which had reference to particular class
of the community, and which would make
christian man blush, had been suffered TO sleep
from motives of humanity. These, II was lrue,
we're dormant, but they might be resorteo 10
There were laws in reference to that class Vi
population to which his own objections were as
strong as those of any individual, whether a re-
sident of the North or the SCUM oa"h VI Nv. t
Potomac. He had decided objection to the
District Of Columbia being made slave mart
a depot for the slaves brought from the TWO
neiUbborinp States This code went TO reform
that part of the system of laws under which the
District had been made depot for these slaves,
and aboshes this practice.
The punishments to which the black popula-
ton had been subjected, were, in no degree, 10
he justified. There were great ameliofatiohs
of the law in that respect
In reference to the judicial system OF the DIS
trict, nothing could be in worse condtloh thah
that in which il was found to be by the Commit
tee.
Time would not permit full development of
its evils. but it appeared to him that the injuries
il had inflicted on the People ofthe District were
sufficient to break down the energies OF The
People of any State in the Union. The system
as to the Magistracy was such as would be
curse on any People. In passing through the
streets, you were struck with the nouces
placed conspcuously over the DOORS " Mag's-
trate's Office" a notice which sounded IN ms
ears very much like Justice bought ana SOLO
here's AT these offices, the laws were admins
tered by single Justices Armies of constables
were affiliated by these justices, and the justice
favored the constable, and the constable favor
ed the Justice: for in proportion 10 the mulutuae
of suits were the profits increased both oil The
Justice and the constable. And where the Sys-
tenn was such as to make the Justice dependent
upon his fees for his subsistence, the elect was
10 make the official preserver of the peace, In
effect p peace disturber-a promoter OF discord
and illfeeling among the community. He de-
sired il TO be understood that, in these remarks
he did not speak Of any Individual, but of the
system.
twas proposed to modify the prevailing sys-
tenn so as to save to the People of this District
in fees alone. at least DC, 900 dollars per annum
While engaged with the Committee IN The lnves-
tigation Of this subject he had heard OF very
great abuses. Nothing was found to be a
more abundant source of profit than to get
nm suits of assault and battery: nothing was
more profitable to magistrate, officers, jurors,
and witnesses. If there was d loose population
about the Offices Of the justices, they were al
WAYS ready to act as jurors, and receive the
conversation allowed by law He had heard
much in the form of accusation on TINS supJect,
but there was nothing which had come under
his nersonal observation. Still, if there was
but a whisper of wrong, il was sufficient cause
TO press on the work of reform. The scheme
which had been reported by the Committee
would, at the lowest estimate, save 10 Inc feopie
of the District $40, 900 annually in judicial lees
He then made some observations on the tardy
operaton Of the courts andth consequent pro
crastination of suits, in consequence OF there
being but one set Of courts to try all offences;
petty larceny, grand larceny, homicide in all
its varieties, and every other offence. 1t Was
unavoidable. under such system, that the pro-
gress of the courts should be tardy; and this
was an evil which called loudly for reform.
Mr.. T. said he would not at this time go FUR
Their into the subject. Inc Dill ndu coue uP VII
expectedly this morning, but he had thought 1t
right to throw out the few remarks he had made
for the purpose Of arrnsting the attention OF the
Senate and Of the citizens of the District, to the
manner In which the laws were administered
The question had now come up in the form
in which it was presented in this bill He would
himself have preferred that Congress should
have taken up the code, and considered its pro-
visions seriatim, until they had succeeded in
giving the District good code of laws If the
Senate should be indisposed to act on the form
now presented to it, he was willing to let the
subject sleep until the next session. His OBJECT
had been to call the attention Of the people OF
the District to the subject. The scheme OF the
committee had not found favor among the ofhce
holders. They were always the last persons to
favor any thing like reform. But If me people,
oppressed as they had been under the evils OF
the old system, desired that reform, they should
have his hearty cooperation so long as he held
a seat on this floor.
On motion of Mr.. Calhoun, the bill was then
laid on the table, for the purpose OF taking up
the Special Order of the Day.
MysrrpIous- will he remembered, that we