Weekly American. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1858-1858, 1858-05-29
SPEECH
HON. WINTER DAVIS.
" MARYLAND,
VI MAINLAND
On the Elections in Washington,


competent for me to discuss the merits of the
whole bill. did not come into the House
with the knowledge that any such bill as this
was to be proposed for consideration. did
not know that as the municipal election in the
city of Washington is approaching, we should
have had the same proceedings repeated that
have been repeated at almost every election or
preceding almost every election, for the last
two or three years.
Mr.. BURNETT. If the gentleman will al
low me to interrupt him for moment, will
say that think he is laboring under mis-
take when he makes the statement that bill
has been pending here for the last three or four
years, preceding every election. Now, If the G m
t'eman from Maryland will remember, the last
municipal election in this city took place in
1855. That is my recollection.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Maryland No, sir; in
June, 1856.
Mr.. BURNETT. Well, sir, this bill is sub.
stantially the same as that which was pending
subsequent to, and not prior to, the last NUM-
cipal election in this city.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Maryland. My friend from
Kentucky is mistaken as to the time of the
tendency of that measure | remember to
have taken some part in that discussion, and
hence am quite certain in my recollection.
Mr. HILL. see, by reference to the stat
utcs, that this law passed on the 10th of May,
1856.
Mr.. DAVIS, of Maryland. My friend will,
therefore, see that il was prior to the date of
that election.
But, sir, what wish first to say is that my
friend from Virginia, Mr.. GooDE,] who has
charge of this measure, few weeks ago was
before the House pressing upon US another
measure to strengthen the hands of the NUM-
cipal authorities Of the city Of Washington.
Then number of very grave occurrences
were stated to the House, and degree of ex-
element prevailed in the House, with refer
cnce to the personal safety Of gentlemen in
the city, that have never before seen equalled.
The purpose of the bill then proposed was to
| secure personal safety by creating metropoli.
tan police, under the control of the Executive.
The distinguished gentleman from Mississippi
MIR. QUITMAN] opposed that bill, upon what
struck me as profound and statesmanlike
ground. He thought that the evil was not in
the deficiency of physical force, but that it
those administering the municipal government
| entirely concur with that gentleman in that
view.
ldesire to say now, that we are brought, for
whatever purpose, to the consideration, virtu
ally, Of the organization of the government of
the city of Washington; for, sir, those who
shall WELD the police power Of the city are to
be elected by the voters, whose qualifications
are indicated in this bill; and think that gen.
tlemen who were so jealous and earnest in en-
deavoring to arm the Mayor with adequate
power to enforce the laws, have now an oppor-
tunity to consider the principles Of the honor
able gentleman from Mississippi, and apply
them 10 the construction of that power which
designates the Mayor, and places in the hands
of the Mayor the authority which he is to ex-
ercisc. That gentleman said rightly, that we
were attempting to remedy, by an increase Of
force, that which only could be renedied by
changing the spirit which presided over that
force. That can only be changed by placing
the power of election in competent and respon-
sibe hands. II that be so, what ought we dc
here2
We are not legislating for city like Louis
vile, for city like New York, city like Bal
| ~ 10 Rnctnn hos -. 4,
permanent population, whose life is to b,
spent in the city in which they are living, whc
are born there, who grow up there, and expec
to die there, or whose lot is cast there by thei
own choice, for good or for evil We are legis
lating for the Federal city, where there is
comparatively small portion of permanent resi-
dents, and where there are great proportion
Of temporary residents; not merely, Mr.
Chairman, floating population, which come
to-day and goes tomorrow, for the purpose o
transacting business; but l say temporary
residents. BY those mean, in the first place
several hundred, possibly, thousand, clerk
in the various Government Departments, SOM
of whom keep house here, others of whom d.
| hOaI "pSb W WYNN oiS hOh IOsl
dents, and look to leaving the city at the enc
Of four years. Those persons, when they shal
have resided here one year, under the terms O
this bill, viii only have prospective residenc
Of three years in the city. That class Q
voters can, in no sense, be said to be identifie,
with the interests Of the city of Washington
Few or none Of them are owners of property
real or personal, exc pit the furniture Of thei
houses. There are none of them engaged il
the transaction Of any permanent bushes
here. They arc what in the States, we wou
call independent men. Most of them are dc
pendent upon the mere will Of the Govern
NETT, be it OF what political complexion
may, for their daily bread and they therefor
combine those qualities most unfortunate whe
they happen to exist in the persons who ar
TO determine an election, municipal or nationa
They are temporary in theirrcsidence, having
community Of interest with the people whor
they are to govern, and they are under III
will Of the political power which furnishe
their bread, and may need their votes. Whs
| say here, do not desire to be regarded a
| -. 10 h. 50.