The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1860-02-24
pespicablc DiaboIism in the District.

Despicablc DiabOlism In the District.
Some three months since, two colored men,
free citizens of Philadelphia, returned from tue
Paraguay Expedition ON board Government
vessel, and were landed at the Nayy-lard III
Washington, where they were honorably dis
charged. Wishing to return home after their
long absence IN the service OF the United
Stat, 8, they repaired to the rniroad depot NJ
Washington 10 take the cars for Philadelphia,
when they were met by regulation which re-
ouires all colored persons, ere they can OBTAIN
tickets, to file a bond TO indemnify the railroad
company against loss in case they shall be
claimed as slaves Having no friends ornc-
ouaintances in Washington, OF course they
could furnish no sureties Tor such q oohd, anu
so had to abandon the idea of going to Phiia-
delphia for the present; and, finally, they OBJ
tanned employment as servants AT the Avenue
House, n hotel in Washington.
But the slayc-fend would not let these inno-
cent young men alone. About ten days since,
being still nj work mt the Avenue House, they
were arrested under municipal regulation or
ordinance, as nonresident negroes; TINS ordi-
nance requiring that persons OF African descent
coming into Washington shall have their names
registered and pay fifty dollars, or be liable To
fine of ten dollars for every hye days that
they remain in the city without complying Win
the ordnance.
These Young men, discharged at the Federal
Capital from ON board United States vessel,
on which they had performed faithful service.
when met with this rascally Federal ordinance,
knew nothing about the requisition rs to regis
tration, and they had no fifty dollars to pay
for license for remaining In Washington. In
fact, they did not wish to stay there at all, but
were doing their best to 90 to their homes in
Philadelphia. when they encountered this OPP
pressiye railroad regulation, which compelled
them to remain and seek emf loyment on the
spot, for doing which they subjected themselves
To other penalties.
The fact of the arrest became known to Mr..
Potter, Member of Congress from Wisconsin,
and Mr.. Coyodc, Member from pennsylvania,
who board ut the Avenue House, and upon
whom these colored men were in the habit Of
waiting. They nterfered to save them from
these oppressive fines. In So doing, they ex-
planned the case to the Ma yor Of Washington.
lie admitted the law to be u hard one, and sug-
Cested that, rs these young men were servants
at the hotel of Messrs Potter and Coyode, they
might properly claim that they 1.-THE colored
persons) be exempted from the operation OF The
ordinance as their servants; and that. in this
way, and this way only, could they be saved
from the payment Of the $50 each, and fine
of $40 each for every five days during which
they had neglected to register their names
Under these circumstances, and at the sugges.
tion of the Mayor, Me1srs. Potter and Coyode,
having meanwhile employed these colored men,
addressed notes to the Mayor claiming them as
their servants; and thereupon they were dis
charged.
In return for their humane interference in
behalf of these defensecss boys, the press OF
Washington, and especially The Constitution,
the organ of Mr. Buchanan, pours out its foul
est abuse upon Messrs. Potter and Coyodc,
perye ting the facts, representing them rs hay-
ing been purchasing negroes, as trying to eyade
the municipal laws Of Washington, and mere OF
the same sort Their notes to the Mayor are
published, accompanied by characteristic COM
ments. Through whose interposition this turn
has been given to the affair, whether by that
of the Democratic Mayor, or the officer to
whom one third Of the fines was payable, we
know not, nor do We care. We aim mt higher
game than vulgar tipstafs and brawling news
paper organs, in our comments upon These
scandalous transactions. We do not so much
blame the officer rs the law, nor The Coasfiiu-
fion newspaper, rs the system II defends. The
Marshal and the journal are but laboring in
their appropriate vocation The former picks
UP n precarious living by enforcing n cole that
would be secuted ont OF the Feejeee Islands
The latter coins money by arguing its adoption
to the state of society which exists in Washing
ton.
Turn VIC, then, 10 the remedy. This oppres-
siye railroad regulation, and these infamous
ordinances, exist by the special permission
nay, more, by virtue of the positive enactments
-cf Congress. We insist, therefore, that these
rules, regulations. ordinances, or Whatever
name they bear, together win the system VI
which they are a necessary and homogeneous
mart. instantly cease at the Federal Capital
And II the dcnizens Of the District demand that
This dcspicable diabolism shall yntinue IN iorce
then LET the Capital be removed To some COM
munity where civilization and Christianity are
not contraband commodities:
II must not be forgotten that these outrnges,
that make the blood of frcemen turbulent III
their veins, are not perpctratcd IN q siNe s.n,e
that they are not the Legitimate offspring o, tue
pcculiar institutions OF Virginia, ueorgia, Lou
isiana, with which the North has no rlgn,.o
interfere; but are committed right unuer 'he
eve and by the special permission OF Congress
and for which the people OF New YORK, REM
sylyania and Ohio, are as directly raspons'o,e
az II nerpetuated under codes enacteu NJ hi-
bany. Harrisburg, and Columbus.
We repeat. then, that these wrongs, togetner
with Slavery and the slave-trade, the ioaulain-
crime whence they flow. shall cease, or the cap
;,,i no removed. wearc quite In earnest In en-
n,..;nr dis alternative upon the consideration
n Congress. The leaders OF public opinion in
Wa,binrton have no claim upon their rulers
s'r forbcarance. A bully assails Senator,
with bloody intent, for words spoken in debate,
sending him into exile for years. and Washing
ton fines the miscreant $4,000. An estimabIe |
member Of the Society Of Friends. an old resi- |
dent, utters the Evolutionary opinions Of his
sect against slavery, and Washington arrests,
srraigns, and imprisons him. During the con-
test for the Speakership, assassins. armed to
the teeth, pack the galleries, threatening death
to the Republican Members Of Congress, ana
the press OF Washington cheers on the blood
Thirsty williams. The publisher OF the .Nsh9I.
al Era is assailed in the street, and carries nis
Life in his hands for many weeks Tor spcaA"s