The Evansville daily journal., 1858-04-15
Public Order mt Washington.

Public Order mt w ashtngtOn.
The discussion of the Washington Po-
ice Bill in Congress, has disclosed an
alarming state of public anarchy and
disorder at Washington. Grave Sena-
tors and Representatives have solemnly
declared that life and property was not
secure under the municipal government
Of the city, and that Congress was called
upon, as public duty, to provide:a large
force to preserve public order, and pro-
tect the lives and property of those who
may visit the National Capital. Senator
Douglas said, "human life was no longer
safe in the streets of Washington" and
SO far from impeaching the notifying
declaration, other Senators, who spoke
on the subject, admitted it to be too true.
Crime in its most dangerous forms--riot,
robbery, arson and murder-rule the
city. The honest and peacef ful citizens
are in constant dread, even in the day
time--and at night their danger is in.
finirely enhanced by the shield which
darkness gives TO the assassin, the rioter,
and the robber.
Last week young man, messenger
of the Treasury Department was shot
dead on one of the most public streets
early in the evening, by gang OF rob-
bers. Near the same spot, and in broad
day a clerk in the Interior, perfectly
respectable man, was assailed and shot
at by a gang Of rowdies. He rushed
into the house of friend. The rufiians
besieged the house in force, until they
learned by accident that they had mis-
taken their man. They departed upor
the scent Of blood in another direction
On Friday of the previous week a pitch
ed battle between some fremen tool
place. One young man was killed, ant
three wounded. On the next night, tw
citizens were shot by unknown assass
ins, and one of them desperately, if no
mortally wounded, within the shadow O
the Capitol. The next day, being Sun
day, was the carnival Of rioters. The.
fought through the public streets all da.
and all night, with firearms, with wha
result it is not worth while to describt
Crime and violence have attained such
sway that the citizens have been oblige
in selfprotection to organize a vigilanc
committee, and lynch law be adopted q
the only efficient code, if Congress doe
not interpose to protect the inhabitant.
The streets of Washington, which fey
years ago, were as quiet ahd peaceful a
those Of country village, have becom
scenes Of more outrageous violence an
crime than the vilest purlieus Of Ne,
York and Philadelphia. In tracing tn
causes of this terrible change, Senate
Fessenden, in speech upon the Polio
Bill in the Senate, suggested a reaso
which we doubt not has had powerful
influence in producing it. He said, II
my judgement, much Of the difficulty
owing to the very bad example whic
has been set in very high quarters.
it had been the case that assaults com
mitted.by men of position and standir
in this city had been noticed as the
should have been, and disapproved I
they should have been, instead of beir
approved and defended as they were,
believe we should hardly have had tt
state of things which we are now wi
Messing in this city. / have no bell
that the poor, the ignorant, the uned
Gated and the vicious, have any vel
great hesitation about following exampl
that are set them by the educated, al
people holding position, both in the pc
pctration Of acts Of violence, and defen
ing acts Of violence"