The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-08-14
Local Matters.

THE CRY PoLIcE--We sometimes hear very
courageou takers tell what they would do if the
police authority of the city were vested in them
AS we have no opportunity to test them, we must
remain in ignorance as to the extent of their PROV
ess, base opinion upon their own assertions.
| We, however, do know, that the Auxiliary Guard
and other police force of this city constant and
vigilant in the performance of duties the most ardu
Gus and the most dangerous, and that few persons
who know the nature of these duties would be will
| ing TO assume them Captain Goddard has, on sew
eral recent occasions, exposed his life in situations
where few men would be willing to venture. On
! Sunday evening last stone well aimed, struck
him with fearful force and other occasions they
have fallen around him like hail; but his convic-
tons of duty required him to remain in the midst
| of the tumult, and encounter every danger.
| The prevalence of bad order is in no manner at
trbutabe to the police Its chief origin is in the
| encouragement given to young and irresponsible
| persons who follow the fire companies, and the
fact that no other means of passing their leisure
hours presented to youths. These are faults
attributable to the citizens of Washington, and for
which the police not responsible. 1t remains
TO be seen whether the real denquents will arise
under impulse and act for the welfare of their
! city, and for the preservation Of Its fame.
| LAW AND ORDER.-It has been suggested by one
who knows our city WELL and who as well under
stands the subject of which he speaks-that in ali
congregations of persons assembling in the streets,
the first person who in any wise excites to a dis
turbance Of the public peace should be arrested by
the officers of police and committed bound over
for trial bcfor, the criminal court.
The present usage is to await the preparation Of
overt acts Of violence before making arrests, at
which period it usually happens that the excite
men OF the multitude is too high, and the paruci-
pants in the work of disorder too numerous to
der arrests practicable Moreover, the prevention
Of such outbreaks would be a far more bengnant
duty than the inlicton of the vengeance Of the Of
Tended law after they committed.
The pre- sent moment, in view OF recent events, is
an appropriate time for the consideration Of this
subject. We are well assured by the manifesto
tons Of the sentiments Of our people that deter.
mined spirit Of reform has arisen, and that il will
not subsde until the work shall be thoroughly con-
! summatcd. We have a court that may be relied
on for the performance OF its duties Let the people
at once put forth their influence, and require the
rigid enforcement Of every existing statute on the
subject The choice and the responsibility rests
| with them. Let them by their actions say whether
we shall have homes and our lives forever per-
He'd the laws Of the land and the usages Of we'll
ordered communities strictly observed and enforced.
! OMSIbUsEs.-llas not the success OF the omni-
bus enterprise been 81 sciently tested to induce the
experiment upon other field. in this city than those
now occupied The great sorta, or principal ar
! tcry-the Ayenue--sustains a vast number Of these
vehicles, and, VIC trust, sustains them well, too;
while they in turn render good service and greatly
increase the intercourse Of our people with each
other and with our neighboring city May not
such benefits be mutually conferred in other Por-
tions Of the city, We submit the query 10 the ON
nibus proprietors.
We arc not prepared to locate lines, nor TO indi-
cate the most eligible routes, but will make our
suggestions for the public consideration.
The region north Of Pennsylvania avenue is eI-
tensiyc enough, and densely populated enough, to
demand these accommodations Seventh, Ninth,
and Twelfth streets appear to present the strong
est inducements, on account Of the advantages in
grade, continuity, and population. A hne passing
up any one Of these, as far L street, and down
another, would prove Of great value to the people in
lite course, and would no doubt very soon prove ad
vantageous 10 its propretors. Another line might
be run with advantage from the Treasury Depart
mcnt along New York avenue to Sixth street,
down Sixth TO =, and along to the Department
again.
! We would hope for immediate profit to such
lines; and we know that along the Whole course
the convenience Of the people and the profits Of
landlords would be greatly promoted Dwellings
that are now Objectionable on account Of their re-
moteness from Pennsylvania avenue would cease
TO have such disadvantage, while all the advantages
Of position they now enjoy would be retained. We
indeed entertain little doubt that the property hold
ers in the neighborhoods we have described would
derive from such improvement profits far greater
than the cost Of UNFOLDING the lines called for.
A PATRoN.-Our nearest neighbor in the omni
bus yesterday was a short, broad, pale, cross look
ing old gentleman, with his front teeth knocked
out, and none Of DR.. Van Patterns beautiful arti-
fcisls inserted in their stead. ugh 20 he er.
claimed, as he took his scat, most ready Well,
let the young man come in quick; now go. What,
wait for somebody else Driver, go ahead. Well,
let the woman come in. Now, we're of. Tut,
tut, tut, is there more delay Let me out, and
he pushed aside gentleman who was getting in,
and made for the side walk. AZ he uttered the hor
rid threat "ll patronise the other line hereafter'
There, thought We, 10 patron lost. We remem-
bered that all persons who took newspaper whe.
Their paid for or not, patrons, and we knew it
was fearful thing 70 lose one Of theses but we