The American. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1857, 1857-11-18

4. I. :1.,, Y: !. I! 4 Il.
ofla4s sds II Al4ERtCANS, ,na n bas iva s
Thereswal-bs a-mseting At the usual place on
Thursday night iei gsinaeaI 80 ,,, 5
vIan4HcH CoMMIrgsns. I'VE are Informed that
ii isin contemplation in various parts Of the city
TO form Committees Of Vigilance for the prctsc.
ton Of citizens. We cannot say whether com.
mittees have actually been formed, butathst there
is strong talk Of such an event, we know, God
help us, what are we u dol The Intslligsnses
of Wednesday states, that the disturbances which
have 90 extensively prevailed In Washdngt6 have
been put an end TO- and hatpeace, and qpieness,
and order, abound among Va Tits true, that =
far as we hare heard, the sabbath day was not
markedly amy Of those outrageous acts ofviolence
and blood which have marked the advent and pas-
sage Of that day, since the FIRST Monday Of June
last appropriately termed BY one Of the upholdsrs
and defenders Of the acts Of that day, Bloody
Monday For this we are thankful II good
order and peace and quiet continss--lf rowdyism
and hwlessness and crime be banished IL the per-
petrators Of these enormities be se,t TO their own
places---R the Sabbath day besrsgardsd,y hence
forth, az day of rest from labor and ton, -as q
day Of sacred rest, and not - day Of recreation
and pleasure, Of drunkenness and debauch II
citizens may as Of yore, under different auspiees,
walk the streets secure from interruptions, safe
from insult and brutal attack -then win we give
all honor to the oonservators OF the peace. We
will do them ample justice--they shall have al
the credit their good conduct and faithful vigil
lance will entitle them to at our hands. 3taA aa
But the factis, and we think the future win
justify our opinion, that this lull in the whrlwind
of lawlessness and ood-guiltiness, which has,
since thefrstiday Of June been prevailing In Wash
ington is like the calm that preoedes the destruc-
tive hurricane, only the more violent because Of
the strength which the treacherous calm enabled
it to concentrate and discharge with added fury
upon those, Who. deceived by appearances, are
unprepared to meet and Withstand the fury Of the
assault. IL rrsa' 80 II,
We know that the presence In Washington Of
the balefal element which has proven 10 dsstruc.
tive to the peace Of the city, and dangerous to
the lives and limbs of our ctizcns, Ii not here by
accident There Is not citizen, scarcely, who Is
not perfectly satisfied on this point They all
know that the individuals who compose this or
ganized band of desperadoes, are here by invits.
ton, for Especial object, and they and We know.
that that object is not yet accomplished, and win
not be, il at all until June next. g9ag 19al y.
They, who, for their own base .purposes con-
cocted this scheme Of fraud and yllainy, and con-
eentrated In our midst this element Of mischief
have found themselves unable TO control and guide
it. Some of them, indeed, have no wish to do 80,
but would suffer to work Its win among tho peace
full and defenceless citizens Of Washington. I.
This, perhaps, after all would be the besf course,
for it would more speedily work It's own cure The
citizens would protect Msmsstves. Another rea.
son why we dstrust this specious calm, H. bsoAuss
we know something of the leaders Of the mob
ocratic party, and know that they will never rest
until they have accomplished their object or meet
with defeat that will place them Aors d. combat
forever. -. - Sat.s Sa,ls' M
Another reason il. that the ruin, which, like q
food, has poured Its poisonous waves Of liquid
fire through every street Of our city, and over
whelmed so many Of our brighteat and most
promising youths in ih resistless course, VIII not
be stayed by any act of those who nov, control
the destiny Of Washington On the contrary, the
cause of this ruin Is to be found mainly in the ex
ample and influence, in fhis respect Of him, whose
influence and exam 70 should be on the other
side, who once was known As an advocate Of the
cause of temperance, but who now Is known - an
open violator OF his solemn pledge. What has
the cause Of temperance TO hope from such .
man What have the people OF Washington 10
hope or expect from his example and influence,
toward the prevention Of crime or The extermins-
ton of the causes which lead 10 its commissiouf
We venture the assertion that there have been
more groggeries, and places Of all kinda where
liquor is sold, licensed since June 1866, than
were ever before licensed during the same period
OF time. & g.il ID I.a. pss i. De
But this is not all the evil. The chief magis-
trate Of city should be a pattern Of sobnety and
morality-one whom the young men Of the city
might initiate with credit 10 themselves and honor
TO him; one to whom fsthers would take pride In
pointing their sons, and advising them 70 walk IN
his footsteps-not one whose example d psrni-
cious, communicating, degrading. w .a1si'ab q
Itmakes the heart Of the good man bleed 70
witness the havoc which incompetence has made
among the young men Of Washington within the
past eighteen months Many n parent-nore
than one widowed mother-bas gone down in
sorrow to the grave, broken-hesrted, mourning,
like Rachel, for her children, because they we're
not. Hope died out a. she followed Their
bloated bodies TO dishonorcd graves, Che victims
- n II A