Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-18
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

who have no identification with the Distr let of
Columbia) to avert the penalty Of the law from
the criminal who was to have undergone its
sentence hero to-day, have resulted in obtain /
ing brief respite from under the hand Of the
President. We are persuaded that various cir
cumstanccs that must force themselves on his
knowledge ere the termination of that 1.-THE
respte) will, rs they should, redouble in this
case the cautiouness with which he has invaria-
bly, interposed his executive power to stay the
Judgment of the law. The fact Of the atrocity
of the circumstances of the crime for which the
condemned man was sentenced; his notorious
close association with the men who have now
for SO long murdered, burned and MANNED in
our midst, in too many cases without effective
let or hindrance from the law ; the fact that no
efforts have been sufficient to prevail on the
court, jury and bar to unite in petitioning to
taside the sentence; and the prevailing senti-
ment of the great mass of our fe llow-citizens
whose lives and property are at the mercy of
desperadoes, in forcing themselves OH the notice
OF President Buchanan, as they now surely will.
render it certain that ere interfering in his
behalf, he will make assurance doubly su re that
the demands of public justice and the be st in
terest Of society here require that the laws
fullest penalty should not be exactcd in tiis
case.
The PEACE OF WAsHINGToN.-It is said that
tho new Mayor, If his recommendations in that
connection to the Councils are accepted by
them, designs appointing Mr.. Justice Goddard
to be tho head Of the police. If that be true,
the whole city, without distinction of party,
will regard it as an earnest that the Mayor
really intends lending all his energies, not to
reward the partizan for his election, but to re-
store the rule of law and order over Washington
city. Mr.. Justice or Captain-G Goddard, (by
which title he is better known as an executive
police officer has the confidence, in an eminent
degree, of all men Of all parties in w ashington
To the Councils we have word to say in this
connection The opposition to the Mayors
recommendation for an increase of the police
force is almost universally condemned by the
taxpayers Of tho Federal Metropolis. Their
impression is, that it behooves the Mayor to rid
the city of the States Hose Rams, CT al at
any reasonable cost. They know well, that,
under existing circumstances, that cannot be
accomplished without some additional cost upon
themselves, which they will pay cheerfully.
They credit the Mayor with an earnestncss of
purpose in this matter which is worthy of all
praise, and Look to the Councils to strengthen
his hands
We hope that bis advice will prevail, and
then that he will not only make Captain God
dard Chief of the Police but that he will tender
to Captain James III. Birch the next position
upon the force, in order that he may thus OBJ
tain guarantee, as it were, of the best efforts
Of almost all the entire party that opposed his
election, to second his exertions in favor of the
restoration of law and order among us.
Captain Birch is VIGOROUSLY not only man
! of energy and integrity, but as intelligent as
fearless and untiring in the discharge of his duty
IA policeman. lie has the entire confidencein
such position of the anti-DemOcratlc party half
of this community. If his services arc enlisted
on the police Of Washington, the Mayor will have
guarantee that no partzan influence can DO
sibly be brought to bear against the success of
his (the Mayors efforts to rid the city of its ruff
fans. 1t is due to Captain Birch that we should
say that We have neither conversed or heard
from him or any friend Of his on this subject
We use his name in this connection only because
we know well its value in it, and are anxious
the Mayors exertions to restore peace and the
rule of law and order in Washington shall be
successful; as they cannot be unless the com.
munity, without the distinction of party, have
that confidence in them which the opposition
cannot be expected to have, with the 9ppoint-
ment OF an entirely partizan police at his hanis
AFRICAN EMIGRATION. the early
part of April, Mcssrs. E LATTE & Co, mer
chants of Charleston, S. c., applied to WIN.
+. COlcock, Esq, Collector Of Customs at that
port, to clear the American ship Richard Cob
den, w. +. Black, master, for tho coast Of AT
RIGA Tor the purpose of bringing a cargo of
" African emigrants" TO some port in the
United States, not designated. The applica.
ton was refused, and the collector wrote to
Hon Secretary Cobb for his opinion on the
matter under date of April 20 The Secretary
replied On the 22d of May, and his answer, not
long since published, indicates a thorough re-
search of the authorities in order to frame An
opinion that will stand the test of law Tie
quotes the several acts of Congress of 1894,
1900, 1908, 1907, 1918, 1919, and 1920, to show
the iiiegaiity OF importing persons of color for
slaves, or 10 ne hei6 to serrtce, and then refers
especially to the act of February, 1903, the Ian
guage OF one clause Of which explicitly pro.
"'"''S ne SWPoFtdtt0H 81 PERSONS of cOt0r,
uchefhs' to be Siores or Cjec into any port of
the United States, situated in any State whose
local laws may prohibit the importation or i'm.
migration of such persons into its territory.
The Secretary then argues, that as all the
Southern and most of the other States of the
Union have local laws forbidding the introduc- /
ZION OF persons of color, bond or free, and as
the port to which this vessel proposes to return
Is not named, the refusal to clear vessel for
such purpose is legally justiiable.
Ihis decision, he says, is further sustained
oy popular sentiment, is every portion of the
country, as that sentiment is manifestlv or
posed to the increase of the free negro popu,a-
ton. FOf
The Secretary also maintains that it is within
the province of Federal officers to suspect the
unlawful object of the parties applying, where