The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-05-23
GOVERNOR BROWNS SPEECH.

Hon. ALBERT g. BRowN, of Mississippi, first in
troduced He remarked that the citizens of Washington
the of most important election election
not only important to themselves but important to the
whole country The election of Mayor of the city of
Washington at all times looked to with interest by
the whole people of the United States but this year
would be looked to with special and particular interest
because Congress had within few days past closed
a controversy over which the nation had watched with
breahles anxiety and the result of the election in this
city would therefore be regarded the verdict of the peo
pie of Washington for against the settlement of that
controversy and for against the action OF the national
democratic party In this view the approaching election
is of vast consequence not only to the people of
Washington, but to the whole American people. The
future Of Washington city is wrapped up in the future of
the Union; for without the preservation and the perpetu
ity of the Union Washington must become cross
road town. Break up the Unien and her stately man
sons must become batroosts, and homes for other ill
onened birds With the Union going on the hgh-road
of prosperity Washington must continue to prosper
it has prospered in days gone by.
The question rested with her citizens as to whether
the election should DO conducted became Amer
citizens whether it should be marked with blood
she'd the election of last year. He would repeat
what he had said previous occasion, that long
acquaintance with the people of Washington had
satisfied him that nineteen twentieths of themand he
did not know he should exaggerate he should say
ninety nine hundrcdths of them devoted to law
and order. But there dsordery element in their
midst nevertheless. Congress had been appealed to for
protection The Senate voted to give the citizens po
city but the House of Representatives acting under
what he thought at the moment, and still thought,
mistaken view of the subject, had refused to vote for
that police force Washington menaced with
the same disordcrly and bloody which occurred
last year. and what to be done? Congress had done
nothing and will do nothing Then what must the citi
zens of Washington do? Every man of them must
solve himself for that day into policeman, matter
whether he be democrat American or republican. If
he has the heart of man, and is true man, let him
dedicate himself that day to the service of his country
and the peace of the city, [Applause Let those act
thus who love law and order and riot and boodshed
must be put down.
Here delegation from the navy-yard approached
with music which forced the speaker to suspend his
marks for few moments.
Mr.. B resumed by saying that the most effective
of keeping the peace election day would be to
close up every drinking establishment for when liquor
got into the head mind went out The grogshops were
the most fruitful of the mischief which occurred
on election DAYS they were the hot-beds in which
engendered the riot disorder and boodshed that
had heretofore brought disgrace upon the good name OF
the city Let the mayor and city council order them to
be closed election day. and let the great mass OF the
people stand by them to enforce that ORDER cost what it
may [Chcers That the starting point, and the
next thing was to organize strong police force and
at the head of it he would place such as 10.
Gales and Peter Force, and William w. Seaton, and
Philip r.. Fendanot because they were fighting men,
but because of the moral force and influence they would
exert They old men, who had something at stake
in the community. Why, let 10. Gales come up upon
his crutch weak that child ten years Old could
sst him. and let of the rowdies offer him any vo-
lence and q hundred arms would be ready to ayenge
him in an instant. Applause. The presentation of such
would bring to their support every spark of chival
nv in the whole city He would like to Plug Ugly
from Baltimore dare insult old Jo Gales any of
that class. Was there man in that crowd who would
not strike him down as he would the crcest tiger that
ever roamed the ngles [Cheers. II they would
adopt such this, there would be quiet and
peaceable election and that all that they desired
that every could vote according to the dictates of his
judgment and not upon compuson, force or fear and
the result would be that their banner would in
triumph on the evening when the polls had closed
Mr. b. went ON to make some remarks especially adj
dressed those who might belong the American par
ty He did not intend to lecture them, say harsh
things to them for he hoped there many among
them who had real American hearts palptang in their
bosoms But he wanted TO present to them sober
truths and to convince them that they pursuing
erroneous and fatal There nomi-
naly in this country three PARTIES the democratic party
the American party and the republican party but how
big was the American party In the Senate, out Of
sixty -four members there but three Americans aud
in the House, out Of 234 members there were fourteen
all told That the strength of Americanisn, or
know nothingsm
There a great contest going on i'm this country :
but it was not between the democratic party and tho
American party it between the national democratic
party ON the side and the black republican party
which was sectional party, the other He said the
national democratic party because that party existed in
Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New York. and
also in Virginia, South Carolina Mississippi and all the
States to California it party whose existence
broad as the Union ITSELF and of which he proud to
be called an humble member. But the republican party