, 1876-11-24

members. Is 1t right, or proper, or eafs for
tho public interest that tho National Capital,
during tho ollloial action Of Congress concor1-
ing this election, 10 loft 10 tho domination Of
contonsling mobs of armed, desperate mud
exoited peoplo7 With such M nssenablnge
Of maddened and hot-headed partisans, there
must be constant danger Of violence, and
blows once struck, who can toll whom that
violence will end7
The President Of the United States. with
wiso pracnuttop, has called to the sent OF
Government small force, under tho immo-
diato command Of tho cool, conservative Con.
SHERMAN, to preserve the poace. Instead Of
having these troops there to threatcn
or coorce Congress, or to Interfere
with tho FREQ deliberations Of tho
body, they will bo there to protect
tho members, aud to protect tho two Houses
whom in session, aud to suppress nil violence.
disorder, and unlawful proceedings Of tho
turbulent crowds. aVe have no idoa tllat tho
American people will ever engage IN war oyer
tho question whether A or u has beon elected
by one vote. But to reach satisfactory
conclusion on the subject tho national pence
must be- preserved. Civil war may DO
avoided with less trouble than terminated
when once begun. Tho President would DO
doroliet In Ills duty II ho permitted tie
National Capital to bo exposed to tho perils
Of riots, nobs, or actua1 strife, without any
precautions to preserve the peace, and pro-
tect the several branches Of tho Government
from tho violence mud intimidation Of con-
'fo.7 {nnb will In t,at,1
in Washington for simply police duty. They
cannot bo held there for MI unlawful pur-
pose. II they were employed or permitted
to monace Congress, or ovon member, or to
arrest the FREQ deliberations Of tho National
Legislature, their removal would bo In
staptly ordered No officer Of tho army
would consent to be used for any such pur-
pose. They can only be used for lawful
ond, md the highest Of all purposes undor
the circumstances must be to preserve the
peace and suppress violence.
Tho presence Of United States troops at
Washington, called there for the special p,lr-
pose Of Presidential Inauguration, is nothing
new. At the Inauguration OF POLK, in 1845,
| the whole force at Fort McHonry in Balti-
more, including a fargo body Of artillery, WIS
| summoned to Washington. At the inaugura-
tion Of Gen. TAr1on, in 1s49, the military
force was very large. Tho same display oc-
CURED when PIERCE and BUCHANAN were in-
augurnted. In 1861 Mr.. BUCHANAN gave the
orders by which several Thousands Of troops
infantry, cavalry, and artillery-wero called
to Washington, and under the personal
direction of Gen. scorT held military occu-
patton Of tho city, both before, during, and
inter the Inauguration Of Mr. LINCOLN. II
SIr. BUCHANAN could thus summon troops to
Washington, and 30 dispose Of them to pro.
tect Congress aud preserve tha peace, car-
tainly Gen. GRANT mny take tho like pre-
caution for similar purpose, under circu1n.
stances Of like popular excitement. II the
presence Of these troops in Washington dur.
ing tho next three months Of excitement,
turbulence, and possibly attempted revolu.
ton, shall have the effect OF preventing
violence, b1ootlsbed, and the contention oi
armed men. then the President will have
earned new claims upon the gratitude of tlt
American people for faithful service to hi
country.