Weekly national intelligencer., 1857-10-10

fare of this metropolitan community The ques-
ton recurs, what shall be done to stay this tide OF
violence and crime, which threatens to sweep away
every dixie of social restraint and civil subordina
tion? Is it the fault of the law or of the admins
tration Of the law that mob violence and covert ruf
anism are permitted to stain streets with blood
and that unoHending persons are liable to be struck
down in their tracks by the random shot of some
street-brawler or lurking desperado3 We are aware
that such deplorable "incidents = are not OF fre-
quent occurrence among us; but late events would
seem to indicate that the sanctions of penal justice
for some reason, have failed to prove terror to
evi-doers among US, thus tending only the more to
embolden the dsturbers of the public peace by the
prospect of impunity in their career of crime and
disorder.
We therefore suggest to the peace-loving and
orderly citizens of Washington the propriety of
appealing to Congress at its approaching session
for the passage of more stringent laws to repress
the OUTBREAKS Of rowdyism and viofencs rin our
midst; and among such additional measures for the
prevention of crime we would especially designate
an enactment, so framed as to ensure its ready en-
forcement, against the dangerous and criminal
practice of wearing concealed weapons. Such
law, we are aware, will prove unavailing unless
those who administer it are endowed with the means
and facilities as well as the will to enforce its penal
ties, but we firmly persuaded that, stringently
enforced it would preuent vast amount of crime
and tend to save the efusion of blood among us.
Desperate ills demand energetic remedies, and no
social i'll ever cried for correction so loudly and
urgently the reckless rufianism which stalks
through our streets and alleys from nightfall to
morning. Congress has enacted stringent law
against dueing; but is it worse for two men to go
out and settle quarrel by open combat than for
nocturnal rowdies to be allowed the means of COM
mitting wanton murder on unofending passers along
the highway? No peaceable citizen thinks of car
rying arms, save for defence; and why should not
the lawless rufian be disarmed and deprived of lie
power of executing the promptings of his depraVed
passions? The very possession of firearms incites
to their bloody use when the pistol is in hand it
obeys the murderous impulse before reason or re
Election can intsrpose.
1t is possible that law under this head, SO
framed as to admit of practical enforcement, might
be termed by the disorderly, and perhaps by the
demagogical who are ready to pander to popu-
lar passion, an invasion of American rights" or an
unwarrantable restriction of personal liberty"
It is great truth in political science that in the
main, every people has nearly just such government
as it civil government being little other
than the combined reflex of the intellectual and
moral character of its subjects. As well expect the
stream to rise above its source as that people,
willing to endure the reign of license, viii be left
3 enjoy thA3 enings of public peeee and tranquil
E,yss - = 5 s. ''.a'lEs shsy9wbo
neglect refuse to strengthen the hand Of the civil
power for the repression of violence and wrong be-
come themselves, in government of public opinion
like ours, the sharers in the guilt and crime which
disgraces our annals. They are sowing the wind,
and society must perorce be left to reap the whir
wind