The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1856-06-19
REMOVE THE CAPITAL"

Remove the Capital" say many.N o. .thern
newspapers-remove it from a spot whei q vio-
lence is the order of the day, and public senti-
ment is too lax to enforce the laws TO the
protection Of life and property. So say the
Pittsburgh Gdzette, New York Tribune, C8.eve-
land Leader, Chicago Tribune; and it Sc ems
that in Albany a petition has been got ur, on
the subject.
We are sorry to see so many good people
shooting wide of the mark. Who struck Hor-
ace Greeley? A member Of Congress. Who
killed Heating? A member of Congress. Who
beat Mr.. Sumner over the head? A member
OF Congress. How is removal of Il ae seat of
Government to reform the member Of Con-
gress They bring their characters from their
constituents--they do not acquire them from
Washington. Suppose the People. Of the Uni
ted States first set about the tas ( of sending
wellbehaved, law-abiding Repr. esentatives to
Washington. Is it fair to pu nish us for not
possessing virtue, they are themselves devoid
of?
But, your laws are ineaici ent-Public SEN
timent is not sound enough to enforce the 'ir
execution" Why will not People take the
trouble to inform themselv Is, before they pro.
nounce judgment2 Are not our. Northern
friends aware that the wh ole administration of
justice IN Washington is beyond the reach of
the People here? The citizens of Pennsylva.
MIA have more TO do with it than we have.
The President appoints all our Judges-al
our Justices of the 'ca ce-the Prosecuting At.
torney-the Marsh al; and the Constables are
| appointed by the Court. From beginning to
end, we have othing to do with the matter.
Justice Holling .shead is not our Justice-he is
the President 8. Judge Crawford is not our
Judge-he is the Presidents. Are the People
OF Kansas responsible for the action of the
Court and Marshal in that fated Territory ?
DO we d':nounce them for the acts of Judge
lecompf.e and Marshal Donaldson? The Pres.
idents Magistrates in Washington determine
'he amount of bail required in any case
The Presidents Marshal constitutes the Grand
Jury. We are not impeaching them of high
crimes and misdemeanors-all we have TO
| soy Is, If they abuse their functions so as to
screen offenders, the People of Washington
cannot help it--but the People of the United
States, who, by the election of President, de.
termine the character and policy of the Admin
istration, are answerable for the evil doi,e or
suffered by it.
We say these things, not only in justice to
the People of Washington, but to prevent the
People elsewhere, engaged in opposing Slave
ry. from misdrecting their efforts. 1t will be
easier Tor them to overthrow a Pro Slavery Ad-
ministration, and secure a Freedom loving
President, whose officials will be imbued with
his own spirit, than to remove the seat of Gov.
| eminent. Let the Free States do their whole
duty, first, in sending to Congress one hundred
and forty-four Representatives, and thir1y-two
Senators, determined to make the Union trbu
| tary to the establishment Of Justice and extern
SION of Liberty, and next, in electing a Presi-
dent who will cooperate with them, to the ex.
tent OF his constitutional power. If the accom-.
plishment of all this should prove Intellectual to
remedyng the evils they now complain OF, il
| would be time enough then to consider, not
the question of the removal of the seat Of Gov
eminent, but question infinitely SURPRISING
that In magnitude, the question Of a peaceful.
dissolution of the Union.
Meanwhile, why not confine ou selves to the
great practical issue before us, on which there
is fair prospect Of uniting the frie uds Of Free
dom, without starting new and sub rdinate is
sues, on which, at present, there is little pros
pect of concord?