Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-04-22
CONGRESS AND THIS DISTRICT.


1t is subject of very just regret that certain
occurrences-n their nature purely local, and which
in any other part Of the country would be the SUBJ
ject Municipal Law and jnrsdicton-have, notun-
naturally. happening within the District of few
miles square in which Congress holds its session,
and over which it has exclusive power of egisla-
lion, attracted the notice of Congress, and, in DIFF
ierent forms, occupied the attention Of both Houses
during the whole of their sitings Of Thursday.
What induced the propositions in each House is
in part explained in the report of the proceedings
in the House Of Representatives. To which we
will only add-not desiring to be instrumental in
adding any thing TO an excitement which we trust
will be evanescent and eventually harmless-that
the attempt furtively to carry off from thiscity
number Of slaves, evidently prepared for it by a
previous organization among themselves, and con-
cert with persons out of the District, necessarily
produced among their owners and the owners of
slaves generally in this District, and in the adoin-
ing counties Of Maryland and Virginia, an rritated
feeling against those who were at the bottom of
this unlawful and unjustfable proceeding. This
excitement found an object for its manifestation on
the establishment of the National Era, paper for
some time past published in this city, in which the
abstract question of slavery has been freely discus
sed, but not more freely than it frequently is in
Congress. 1t seemed to be thought, because a
paper Of that description was published here, must
have had some influence in the disafection of the
deporled slaves and some hand in the conspiracy
whichmust have preceded their evasion. Thereafter
will observe, in another column of this sheet, what
the publisher of that paper says for himself and in
his declarations ourselves place full confidence.
This publication of his, made on Wednesday
evening, either did not circulate generally or was
not satisfactory; and on that evening, as on the
evening before, considerable gathering of per-
sons took place, in the neghborhood and in
front of the Office of the " National Era, threat
enlng its demolition, but without committing any
actual violence other than the breaking of some of
its windows by boys, who were glad apparently Of
opportunity, in the presence of grown men, to in
dulge their mischevous propensities. OF the as
sembled multitude, few probably were intent upon
violence. Some doubtless were present under the
influence Of curiosity merely, to see what was
going to be done; and number certainly went to
The scene with the determination TO do what they
could TO prevent the city from being disgraced and
degraded in lis own and the worlds estimation by
any act of unlawful violence.
What took place in Congress on Thursday in
consequence of the state of things which we have
thus briefly sketched the reader will learn from the
preceding columns.
On Friday the SENATE did not sit having on
Thursday adjourned over to Monday; and, though
the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES did sit, it might
as well not have done so, as the whole day was
devoted to discussion of the above subject out of
which, frequently as it occurs, the best that can be
said of it is that no good cams for, regards
this question, concerning a description of popua-
ton which exists in some States and not in others,
il is impossible that the debaters on the one side
and those on the other ever comprehend one
anothers feelings or convictions. This Debate arose,
as we have above intmated, without any necessity,
and thus far has resulted in nothing.
In connexion with the above subject we will state,
that in the course Of Wednesday-the Mayor Of
the city being immovably confined to his bed by
the very severe indispostion under which he has
lately labored, and unable therefore to act in the
premises-the following Appeal to citizens disposed
to respect the laws and preserve order, was issued
in handbill form, and extensively circulated:
TO THE CITIZENS OF WASHINGTON.
is well known you that events have transped within
the last few days deeply affecting the peace and character of
community The danger has not yet passed away but
demands increased vigilance from the friends Of order
The COOL deliberate judgment Of the people OF this COM
munty unexceptonaby and unequivocaly declared, can
and will, doubt not if the law found Insufficient re-
dress any grievance in worthy Of themselves but
fearful Of lawess and irresponsible violence can only
aggravate the evil.
The authorities municipal and police, have thus far re-
strained actual violence and they invoke the citizens OF
Washington to sustain them in their further efforts to main
tain the peace and preserve the honor Of the city,
The peace and character of the capital OF the republic must
be preserved.
The Mayor Of the city CONFINED to his bed by sckness
fully concurs in the above. w. LEN0X,
President Board of Aldermen.
JH. GODDARD,
ArnIL 20, ls4s. Captain Auxiliary Guard
At later period in the day, the City Authori-
ties, determined to leave nothing undone which
might contribute to the preservation OF the peace
Of the city, adopted the further measures 20 give
greater efficiency TO its police which are recited in
tbo raror, &c ,ba Of Citv