The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1857-08-08
THE MIFrIA on THE DISTRICT OF coLuMRIA.

THE MILITIA OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Matters growing out Of the late election riots in
this city have caused the question to be mooted, is
there any organized militia in this Districts Upon
inquiry it has been found that the laws upon the
subject have been imperative for number of years
past and that none of the people subject to militia
duty now enrolled according to law. II is true
that there is regiment of volunteers composed of
different arms, but as the laws have not been
forced regards the citizens generally they have
not been rigidly applied to this regiment by the
handing officer But should the militia laws passed
by Congress for this District be brought into opera
ton and faithfully executed, different state of af
fairs might be expected
Upon this subject there appears to be correlative
duty and obligation between the President OF gov
eminent and the people of this District. Con-
gross, acting the local Legislature, make laws for
the government and protection of this peoples they
have made liberal appropriations out of the public
treasury for the Improvement and advancement of
the interests of this District and they have laid out
a large amount of public money here for public pm-
poses, and it cannot be questioned that the exist
ence of the government here as its permanent seat
gives great value to all private property
In return for these advantages and favors our citi-
zens should be not only willing, but always pre-
pared to preserve the peace and good order of this
national metropolis and to protect the property,
treasure, and personnel of the government intrused
to their immediate care, it were by the whole peo-
pie of the United States.
But, independently of these special obligations and
duties to the government, they bound by the
same general obligations to the whole country, IN
common with all of its citizens, to be ever ready on
call from the proper authority, to stand by the ma
tonal flag and to repel invasons and suppress insur
recton and violation of law, and to support the civil
authorities in defence of the lives and private prop
erty Of their fellow-citzens.
Sound policy requires this performance of duty on
the part of the citizens of this District for should
the reverse of this policy be pursued and the turbu-
lent and rotous of this any neghborng city at any
time be permitted with mpunity TO disturb the pro-
ceedngs of Congress- to insult its members, or the
executive or judicial officers, depredate upon
the public property, Congress would consider tho
government insecure in the of such derelic peo
pie, and would probably do as they did at early
period of the government in similar contingency
leave such place Tor one where they would Do ade-
quately protected. The only safe mode OF insu-
ring these desirable ends u.s. that the physical power
of the good people of this District should be SO or
ganized and imbodied militia or citizen soldery
as to put down by the mere existence and knowledge
Of such efficient organization all attempts to create
disorder, without its being necessary, perhaps, to
exert such power
Tho nxictnv laws aHnrd abundant neana ns we'll
authority, for the accomplishment of the objects
desired; and should it be found on further expe-
rence that alterations required in these laws,
there is no doubt that Congress will always be found
ready and willing to make them.