Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1858-04-07
Police OF Warrington CITY.

Police OF Washington CITY.
In the Senate, on Monday, on motion by
Mr.. Brown, the Senate proceeded TO consider
the bill to establish an auxiliary guard for
the protection of public and private property
in the city of Washington, and repeating all
acts heretofore passed in relation thereto;
which was read.
Mr.. Hunter moved to amend the bill by
striking ont that portion winch gives the
mayor Oi tho city power 10 MAKE regulations
Tor the government of the police force.
MIR. Brown explained why the bill was
framed as it was. The mayor had control OF
the day police, and it would be better that
the new force provided Tor should be under
similar regulations, 90 that the whole system
should he harmonious.
Mr.. Fessenden attributed tho present law
less state OF the city OF Washington TO the
bad example set by men occupying hlgn no.
-iticus, when assaults were made by mem
beers of Congress upon one another, and
even murders were committed bg tn m with
IMMUNITY. lie also said that no DOUBT this
teplorsbie condition OF affairs was IN some
degree owing to the lncrmpetency III Judge
Crawford, who presIdes over the criminal
court--DOt incompetent from want Oh learn
ing, but from age, or something else. IL hau
been said that be did not believe IN capital
punishment; and If that was true, that alone
vas enough to render him incompetent to ad-
minister the criminal Law.
Mr.. Johnson of Tennessee, thought the
city authorities ought TO provide their own
police force for the protection OF lie and
property within this city. r bbery and
murder are committed 10 Baltimore and New
York, and ether citie-, as we'll as 10 Wash
ington; and il Congress ought to interfere with
the matter here, it ought TO interfere ID other
places Tor the same reason.
Mr.. Brown admitted that the city author
tiles were bound to take efficient measures
u preserve the peace vi the city, but they
did not do it, aud Congress had no power to
compel them TO do it. What, then, was TO
be done Is the pubic and private proper
~ here to be exposed 10 depreciation? Are
the foreign ministers who are accredited 10
this government to be exl osed to insult, and
their families and servants To assassination!
1t Is the duty OF the government TO see that
the peace oi the city Is preserved, Ii tae city
authorities neglect u do 1t.
MIR. Wilson said he did not believe there
would be any security TOR LIE and property
in tas city a. long az Judge Crawford occu-
pied his present position. The trouble was
that the present police officers were in sym
pathy with the men who were daily and
nightly violating law aud order. lie mar
rated case where man who boarded ~
the game house with bin was a witness re.
Gently OF an assault made by fellow with
bowie knife. aud The criminal WAS secured,
aud was about TO be taken TO the guard-nouse,
when police officer came up and took him
in custody. bot ne had only gone lew steps
with him when he told him 10 clear out, and
started OF himself in the opposite direction,
raising a hue aud cry. While we have such
police officers and such a judge, we cannot
expect any i'm provenent ia the condition Ot
affairs here.
Mr. Iyerson objected to the bill for the
same reasons Indicated ~ the senator lrom
Tennessee, Mr.. Jolrsnn. lis should vote
for il, but He should do So with great reiuc-
lance. Ii The present state OF things goes
on, after awhile Congress will baye to iced
GDd cOthe the residents u this city. The
government already cxpends something like
four millions Of dollars u wear In the city OF
Washington; il has been paving the streets
aud lighting them, and has glue 10 great
expense for watar-SOrk4, and other cJnve-
niences for the comfort Of tie people; aud the
more Congress does tie more il is asked 10 do.
Bat he had another objection ID the bill, and
that was, that they would be Obliged 10 take
these hundred additional police officers from
the very class of society which commits all
these deprcd1.ions and crimes; they would be
men VINO were tho associates OF these rOwdics,
who had family connexions with them, and
sympathizei with them. Instead Of enlorc-
! ing law and order, they you'd be more apt -
screen the criminals from punishment. or to
commit similar crimes themselves. IL was
only the other day that two men IN the employ
OF the government were shot 90 Capitol Hill,
and it now turns out that the act was com
United by two persons, one OF whom - one
| of the policemen of the city, and st.l tnrIaeT,
! that the deed was witnessed by another pc
| lice officer who kept the matter secret Tor
week Or ten days. because be sad he was
afraid of his life if nc told Of 1t. Mr.. |.
/ thought the ouy remedy for this condition OF
affairs would he 10 make Washington a mill!
tary post, and have four or five hundred sol
| d,ers stationed here to keep order, who had
10 associations with the rnhbo OF this CITY.
! Mr.. Ilou>ton SAID that if the city OF Wash
! ngton should Tax the property OF the sener-
! al government within her limits she could
nav ali the expenses herself for prJvemc0ts
| end for preserving the peace; hut since the
property Of the government was exempt
| from .xation, il was proper that the govern
/ ment should bear It's share of the expense.
Mr. II ale did not know Whether lie should
vote for the ill or not; he rat1cr thought he
should, but he would vote twice as willingly
Cor bill to remove tie seat Of government 10
| some otler place.
/ Mr.. Critteuden made some comments on
various provisions OF the bill, abiding Ia the
course OF bis remarks t. the calling out ii the
mgriSes sC the election in jane last, and ez-
pressing the opin on that tho cartridge~O1x
should not be allowed to come 10 contact with
the ballnt-bJX.
Mr.. Brown replied that this bill was de-
signed to prevent the recurrence OF such scenes
this year
The question being taken on the amend
ment of Mr. Hunter, 1t was not agreed tn.
Mr. Brown moved 10 add the words Ito
serve during tue night. and in the day time
when specially ordered 10 DO So" winch was
agreed to.
Mr.. Fessenden moved to increase the sc.
cret service furd from five thousand to ten
u.