Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-12

u DISCUSS tue new CODE, held at the w aShtng-
ton Assembly Rooms last uight, was largely at
tended Richard II. Barry was called TO the
chair, and II. b. Sweeney was chosen secretary.
Mr.. w. p. Wood mounted the rostIum again,
and the cod hers Were again invited 10 the stand
TO refute any objections that might arise ont of
the debate. Mr.. Wood set out by saying that
the codhers bad stated i'm the initiative of tbexs
dlscussions, that the proposed new CoQe con-
faiRed all the law necessary for the government
OF the Distr CT, and that the present laws were
scattered through whole cart loads Of books and
duu He found, on examination of the Code :
that II referred 10 those old musty law books
In reply to this, Mr. Robert Ould explained
That the new Code repealed all laws Of q general
nature, not necessary to the government of the
District Anything that related to the citizens Of
the CITY OF WI shington, affecting their City
Charter, IL was their right to petition Congress
TO change
Mr.. Wood stated that there was one point
which the codihers had failed TO clear up; that
was In relation to the Sunday law Nwould fine
a working man for taking innocent recreation on
sunday, but the rich nabob could drive about in
his carriage, and make his servant clean his
horses, and 20 scott free. He wanted the codi-
tiers to back up to that objection and explain it.
Mr. Oa d in reply, stated that he would not
back up to it, but would face II. He wished to
know IL common sense would object to a law
now existing, which punished people for dis
sabbath in religious worship, The new Code
did not debar any man from innocent SUNDAY re-
creation IL only prrv-ntt lawless persons from
Profaning the sabbath day by unlawful and Sun
DAY disturbing acts. The new Code, in this re-
idtlon, Was an advance upon the existing law of
n. Maryland.
Mr. Wood referred to the proposed livery
law, stating that the District was general
resort or refuge for all the vaga bond free M
groes In the country, who Were a constant ex-
Pense ana annoyance To the citizens and the au-
s sso,lirs Why not, said the speaker, take the
U" keep mp useless military organization, and
maze fund TO send these fellows 10 Liberia,
Mr.. Guild stated that IL the codihers had
changed the present existing law In this respect
they would have rrkindl-d the dfe of abolition
feeling in the House Of Representatives aud
again plunged the county ia a useless aid vena-
uous discussion, which would tend to DESTROY
our very best interests In Congress They could
not touch upon any provision OF the slave law I'm
relation TO one side without giving loose to all
Ihe oi,Ier passions that wonld necessarily arise
upon the Other. That subject was proper TO be
placed In our city charter. II belonged to that
and could not properly be introduced for discus
SION In the Code. Why should people object to
The Code because the codifers had studjously
avoided giving rise to any discussion In Cong re,s
which would defeat its passage there
III. mr. WOOD then went on to the propose law in
rela'lon 10 bawdy houses. stating the same oh
JeSttons TO u that he had used previously in his
Iemal Ks. We had just such d law now, but that
something more was wanted We wanIrd homes
provided for the unfortunate inmates of those
houses who were disposrd to reform Another
point or objection was in reference to the calling
OUT OF the military to suppress riots. He (Mr
=" j was not sdtIsncd with the exclamation that
had been given To that, at former meeting
There was something mysterious about it, The
nue. that was Imposed upon the civil officer or
military oncer Who refused 10 do his duty in
suppIessing not. was merely nominal, while
the civilian who was found refusing to assist in
suppTessins riot was both fined and inpris-
DR.. Clayton stated here that he wished TO max 2
q lew remarks in this connection, as this was
with him principal point Of objection to the
Code. He contend' d that the President had no
authority, under the Constitution to call ont the
FEDERAL troops to shoot down the citizens
MI Ould, in reply, stated that the provisions
In the new Code had especial reference to cases of
riot. III the rioters were too strong for the civil
posse, the District militia and all the volunteer
force Were 10 be called out; and in case the riot
could not then be suppressed, the regulars Were
10 De called out This law had no anti -republi-
can tendency at all. There was certainly pro-
Pflety In having law to efectually put down
riots. There was not a State in the Union that
had not law of this description in every partic-
nlar- The speaker asked if this law TO suppress
riots was to be raised objection 10 the Code,
The present law gave the President authority to
caiI out the military first Was it not better to
exhaust every other authority first before resort
ing 10 such dire extreme, MI O. went On
stating that. sydney Smith had once said that
there Were four boxes that governed the world,
VIZ: tns eatndse box, the jury box, the ballot
eoasfdered IT their duty to trouble the first nor
the ia$t OF these boxes, but they had amply pro-
vided Tor the two middle Ones. In regard to the
Jury and the ballot boxes. the codifieTs had GER
tdlnIy NOT been remiss. The Code was PREPARED
nT>t by two principal members Of the bar and
was then referred to the committee, from Wash
lngton, Georgetown and the Levy Court, and to
two distinguished Attorneys Gene, al and had
met with their united aaprobation
Nc " GOD wished here to know why certain
section which bad been adopted in relation to
the keeping away of the regular troops from the
polls al election times, had been eIwaTd, left
out
air. Cross, in reply, STATED that no such section
had been adopted in the board of Tevisors that
IL II had been, the cod efs could not have left II
on without having committed gross fraud
nv Clay ton here offered the following resolu-
RssOtrsf, That the thanks Of the citizens he
rendered TO the codihers for their able aud sue
ii-d unanimously.
Mr. Kennedy here asked Mr.. Wood to reiterate
DIS remai Ks In relation to MIR. ID adley's position
20 ne leaning OF the law in relation to calling
out me troops TO suppress riots.
Mr.. w did so In rather desnltory and con-
fused manner, which did not please Mr. Ken
nrdy, who insisted that MIR w had not used the
same language.
Mr Wood now stated that be did not believe
Mr. Bradley had come up square TO the mark in
Lis explanations on that subject
MI Bradley here arose and stated in what
manner this chapter had come into the Code
The codifeIs had made up the Code with the
exception Of this chapter, which they had re-
qneSfd him TO prepare he had done So and il
now appeared, word for word as written, with
the exception Of one section. and thai was the
one providing foT the removal III the u =. troops
two days journey f'om the place of election. IL
Was obvious to any One that that thing could not
b- done without taking the troops out of the
hited states; 10 the section aIthouy b discuss d
la the board OF rcvisors, wds never adopted
Nj Pepper here requested Mr.. Bradley to
speak upon the new Code generally aud give a
review OF its proposed advantages ex-
biting laws in the District.
Nj. said that this was too late an hour to
begin 80 large a subject; that he was in favor of
tue Code As whole, there certainly could be NO
doubt; but his views had already been ex pressed
st vSstOasa times snd places, and II was hardly
necessary to repeat them
Thus closed the discussion for the ng ht: and
On motloa, the meeting adjourned
Thefcpdeucy Of the whole debate was TO clear
the newCode Of many alI-g-d faults and dis
cnpancies; and the generally -e1 pressed opinion
Of those present was that the objections were IN,
air sides with fairness and promptaess by the
CGd ners, and the new Code most triumphantly
vindieaied
SMALL Business Yesterday Henry Leisberg-
or, . rag dealer, bad Mrs. Ellen Foley arrested
and taken before Justice Murphy for the larceny
of ten pounds Of rags from his wagon, under thu