Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-04-03

lhSir iurnilures Inc SoiuinDla engine aItlSou
on the spot, but the fire having nearly com
pleted its work, the Columbia returned without
throwing water. At about quarter of four
o'clock loud firing was heard, as OF very large
pieces, in the direction of English Hill, which
was responded to by the discharge Of heavy
firearms in a more westwardly quarter. In
deed, throughout the night, explosions Of fire.
arms were heard over three fourths of the area
ofthe city" h' .l9'aairF n
So frequent and desperate have these assaults
and robberies and maimings and murders be-
come, that our city councils have at last walked
up to sense Of their responsibility in this
matter, though, it may be attributed, in part,
perhaps, to the near approach of the ever
memorable first Monday in June, when, one
of them at least, entertains the hope of being
elevated to the Office Of Chief Magistrate Of our
city.
When, months ago, the city of Washington
was, as now, in the possession of a company of
rowdy miscreants, who nightly exhibited their
propensities for robbery and murder, and per-
petrated the most wanton and unprovoked
cruelties upon the citizens, even attacking and
maltreating in the most shameful manner, our
wives and daughters, and when these things
were mentioned in the Board of Aldermen and
elsewhere, it was proclaimed by one Of these
aspirants to the Mayoralty, that these reports
ofrowdyism and maimings and shootings were
false, and it was stoutly maintained that Wash
ington was orderly and quiet and peaceablel
The following resolution was presented by
VIM. F. Baily: sa a
Resoloed, That the Mayor be and he is hereby
earnestly requested forthwith to district the
several fire and hose companies of the city, or
cause to be closed up the houses Of those fire
companies whose members have lately been en-
gagged in acts of lawnessness and violence: and
that any companies which may hereafter be
guilty of like acts be dealt with in the same
manner-Passed.
Mr.. Evans then offered resolution calling
upon the citizens to meet in their respective
wards, for the purposes of organizing patrol
to put down the rioting and bloodshed now so
rife in our midst, and that such persons as may
enroll ia such manner, report themselves to the
Mayor, and that he be requested to commission
them as temporary police, to be so continued
for such time. as he may deem expedient
which was passed. The Chair then offered the
following resolution, which was passed:
Resolued, That the committee having charge
ofthe Corporation business before Congress be,
and they are hereby, requested forthwith to
call on the committees for the District of Col
umbia of both Houses of Congress, and urge
upon them the immediate necessity of increas-
ing the Auxiliary Police Guard to such an ex-
tent as will insure the peace and protect the
pubic and private property of the city, the
whole force to be placed under such control
and regulations as Congress may deem neces-
sary to effectually put down all violations Of
law and order. $751; .@es-
Mr.. Miller then offered the following resolu.
tons, which were passed: t ra nT
Resolved, That the Mayor be, and he is here.
by authorized to enrol, without delay, tempo.
rary police force of one hundred men, of whom
twenty one (being three for each ward) shall
be mounted, and all ofwhich police force shall
be suitably armed and equipped, under the di
rection Of the Mayor; and that the expense
thereof be betrayed out of the general fund, tn,
compensation not to exceed that Of the presen
police
RESOLVED, further, That Joint committee o
three from members of each ward be appointed
by the president officers thereof respectively
who, together with the Mayor, shall represen
to Congress the inability of this Corp oration t.
maintain permanently such police as is neces
sary for the preservation of order, under exist
ing circumstances land to urge upon Congress
the propriety of establishing proper and per
manent police, to be under the direction of til,
Secretary Of the Interior, or to be otherwise or
ganized, as may be thought expedient
The President then appointed, on the part o
this Board, Aldermen Miller, Goddard, anc
Smith. @
Thus, it has become apparent at last, ever
to Democratic Aldermen, that our worth,
Mayor is utterly incompetent to carry on tn
government of the city, and the Boards hav
been compelled to take the matter into thei
own hands. nsI -.." .."
There is vast difference between the abilit
to preside over and do the honors of publ
dinner, especially after the cloth has been re
moved, and whiskey punches and brandy tod
dies and toasts and mauldin speeches becom
the order of the night-There is a vast differ
ence between the ability to preside acceptable
over such scene, where deep rotations fror
the flowing bowl cause forgetfulness Of tn
decencies and proprieties of even such an occs
sion-there is, VIC say, vast difference, betwee
presiding over such scene, and the ability {
preside over and sway the destinies of pee
pie For the former the Mayor is eminent
qualified, both by education and experience
for the latter, experience has proved him to b
utterly disqualified. rs..a0
A VIGILANCE CoMMTTEE.-A friend {
ours has no confidence in the late movement
for night patrol.
He thinks that we need a regular Vigilanc
Committee, la San r francisco, to wait upo
these disturbers of the public peace and orde
them to leave the city. Unfortunately how
ever for his theory, the Mayor of the Cit
might be the first to receive his walking pa
pers. ,.t.. ...... ..,.... a.. ..,..l
MORE INFORMATION WANTED. We wish
be informed why Pat Gomley, one Of the Nigh
watch, has not been reported to head quarter
for being drunk on his beat the night of tn