The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-07
he. MILITARY OCCUPATION OF THE DIS.
TRICT OF COLUMBIA.

me following important correspondence Just taken
aoe between Mayor Berrct and Major General Weight
aa Commanding the militia Of this District the latter
having been duced TO make tho inquiries at the in
tapce OF General scotty IL shows up the fascy of the
scheme wrich the black republicans started time
ago. Of contemplated seizure Of the city by people Of
Maryland and Virginia
LETTER o, GENERAL wremxAS TO TUE MAYOR.
fEHRUAay i, 1851
DEAR siR-He pleased TO send me- your earliest con-
day and for oight service II the assistance
- ,h zoe should he required IT IL mpoital TO have
The mrss OF r~cning hcm ~ carly as practicable Very
respectfully '0u'i wEiGHra.S, Major General
ro HIS HosoR yAs g. BsRss-r. Mayor y washington.
1nK mAyoRs Ksffy.
MaYoRs 0rTfcE, CrfY or TAsrrsaroSt
reb 4, 1861. \
prAn eaI have the honor 10 acknowledge the receipt
Of your The let INST reqaestng me TO cen you
at my eail convenience, list Of tho names aud
rsid.pcss OF the poiie force cf this city for day
and ngtt service. the reason assigned oy you
% for making x The tons soce ,ee'ess ssoad Ds required
important he means o. reaching them as early
as practicao'e" when, by whom, or apon toe occur.
what the Df The po1cs 10 ce
may be required not site, but arm efs 70 inter
thai xao,anary emc'g ncy is, N year judgement,
likely " ar,se when II will be incumbent upon me 70 d.
y,et u sell - N, ohcsl functions chief magistrate
OF the city and transfer to as or General OF
,ne s es ssc,us,vey upder nv directisn In other
vuas atm avey requested by you, the absencs of
any ~hevef III refo', virtually 70 renquish one
tbs ncst important prefogatves % the Mayors ofc,
and 10 dong 70, subordna. the civil authority OF tho
CITY of Washington to the mtagy power OF the
District Of Columbia The police of IN. city has bc,n
constituted nm ,rsanize purpose of main
tsnu hc public peace, OF enforcing the lass, and u ar
fcrcpe adequate security AID protection 70 ihe persons
b. o. gned exclusively the Mayor aud know Of
cf co. ordinance q the Cooperation which
him with discretion place she police force, In
a., ncy, under the orders OF any officer per
sun civil r military otbr than those 70 whse charge
Il " expressly conhded by law still less sensible
the existence 81 any hsh provision whch empowers
mitafy oihccr however high IN rank, in the pro-
srros Of the mot imminent danger, 70 assume com
n,ano of the police, or 70 make a reqnisti,h upon
tho Mayor for its service. On the clntrary, have
unersooa 10 BE- universally conceded that the military
ia expected aud required, except ouy when MAJ al Inv
n ms CLAIMED 70 b. held strict sub rlnaon 70 tho
c,v authority ard is ony IN cases whore the latter s
ia rquae 10 maintain b. po,lc psace enforce The
Mws that the ali Of the former lawfully Invoked.
wfb snth OF the relations beiweeu the civil and
m,,'ary esabshwsnts, aud o. my own powcrs aud du'
ihs You will readily disc0ver the mpsssbtlity OF
pisnce my pai with your request, without vocation
ot sghat | bold to be paramount official obi'gn-
on, had you furnished me with prona:
bic evisenco Of q contemplated violation q the
laws, intended invasion of the peao8 ~ the city by
cooo % iawicss men er ey og,nizsa p,ics an
time tee that snuuld be wanting IN candor ami ren-
der m, se justly Liable 10 The inpaatio Of dsiagonpis
ness were to thts connection To aIset extreme H'o
rance q the causes wocb NJ probably mpclc1 You 70
look to TIE eorvccs of the police force Of tue CITY w
the oscnion OF the contingency which presume yar
letter am ignorant OF the reports which have
been extensively circulated. are stul rife thro ghrnt
tir land 70 the elect that secret Organizations baye
been SIT on foot; and are now In cxlstrnco
In this city and In the adjoining Slatos Of
maryland and Virginia for the purpeee II saiz
w upon tho District OF Columbia by iorce of aslns
with view Of preventing the iaa uraiiun of tho Fyos
en ol.c, tie AN q March next, and II ecilng 4 re
Ealu ION III the federal government. Nor am 1 wholly
nacnslbs tc the TACT that 10 certain hah qusrters ~
small measure crodeicc seems 90 have been sccfdei
n th.so reports and that 70 oppoac ana hwar Inc so
se. en- prst.rs IN the execution Of their ush3y d
ssna orders have been issued, and 10 process q,
xeetnn fr enrolling the militia OF Tho District, yyhiie
An he same pur ae unusual numbers " federal troops
~. hong concentrated NJ this point and qaarcret ia Va,
ious aec,ona the city. AZ ts chief mag srate charg
y ~isb tho artaspnoe Of the p''bc paace, u becomes
nv semD duty in the prcectcc Of Al. these surround