Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-02-18
PUBLIC MEETING IN WASHINGTON.

PUBLIC MEETING IN WASHINGTON.
At public meeting of the citizens OF WASH
ington, held in the Common Council Chamber
in the City Hall, on Friday evening, February
7th, 1884, to take into consideration the "Sys-
tenn of civil and criminal Law for the District oil
: Columbia, and for the organization of the Courts
therein,n as reported by the Joint Committee
of the two Houses of Congress, on the 18th Fee
bruary. 1S33-Gen. JOHN P. VAN NESS, May
or of the City, was called to the Chair, JAMES
CARBERY, Esq appointed Secretary.
The Chairman stated to the meeting the OBJ
iect for which the citizens has been invited to
assemble; whereupon, Mr.. Sweeny offered the
following resolutions:
RESOLVED, As the opinion ofthis meeting, that
the law for the government OF a free people
should emanate from, and be established with
the free consent of the governed: therefore,
Resolred, That Committee Of = be appoint
ed to prepare and present memorial to Con-
gress, praying that the people OF the District OF
Columbia be authorized to elect, In their respec-
tive cities, sections, or divisions, sufncent
number ofDelegates to meet IN Convention Tor
the purpose of celebrating on the matters and
things contained in the code of laws reported to
the Senate of the United States by MIR. Cham
hers. and to the House of Representatives by
Mr. Wilde, on the 18th February, 1888; and TO
suggest such alterations and modification OF the
same, and Of the present system OF laws, as may
be Judged expedlent; and that said convention
be authorized to report the result OF their dello-
erations thereon to the Congress OF the United
States at the earliest convenient period.
Resofred That the Chairman be requested
to communicate copies of the foregoing resolu-
tons to the Mayors of Alexandria and George
town. and request the cooperation OF the people
of those towns in promoting the object OF this
meeting.
& MIR. c.. L. Coltman moved to amend the reso-
buttons by striking out all after the word 'resov-
ed" in the first resolution, and inserting sub
sttute.
Mr.. Lee offered as a substitute for the whole,
the following preamble and resolution:
Whereas, the people of the District being I'M
der the exclusive jurisdiction of Congress; and
whereas, from our peculiar disfranchsed condi-
ton as citizens of the United States, we never
have had and, under existing circumstances,
never can have, any constitutional agency d.
rectIu in the enactment of the laws by which
we are governed; therefore, in our present mel
ancholy political situation, we deem it our in
terest for the purpose of Kidding ourselves OF the
tardy and grievous administration of justice
under which, for nearly thirty years, we have
been patiently suffering be it, therefore,
the code of laws now presented to them by
Congress- is, with all its defects, better than the
judicial system under which we have been for
years suffering--hoping, however, and conf
IDENTITY expecting that Congress will amend
and alter the same in such parts as the expert
snce and necessities of the people of the Dis
trict may hereafter suggest and render useful.
The question being taken first on Mr.. Lees
resolution, it was rejected.
Colk
mans amendment to the resolutions ofMr. Swee
ny, and carried, in the following words
ResolDed That committee of sixteen cti
zens be appointed by the Chair, as follows
Three from the First Ward; three from the Sec
ond Ward; four from the Third Ward; and two
from each of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Wards
to take into consideration the code of laws
reported to Congress by a Joint Committee o
the two Houses, on the 18th February, 1888; anc
toreport their opinion of the said code to ar
adjourned meeting of citizens, with such alter
atoms as they may deem expedient and proper
Resotred That when this meeting adjourns
il Will adjourn to meet at this place on this day
four weeks, at six O'Clock, P. M. (the 9TH Marct
next)
1t was then
Resolued, As the sense of this meeting, thai
the Joint Committee appointedby the City Coun
cils to attend to the interests of the Cooperation
before Congress, and the several Ward Com
mittees appointed by the citizens to memorial
ize Congress for relief from the burthensome
taxes on the property of the city, should, anC
they are hereby requested to unite and cooper
ate, as to the mode and measure ofreief which
should be for Congress to assume the paymen
ofthe current interest on the canal loan; or, as
alternative, the assumption of the canal debt o
the Corporation, in whole or in part.
JOHN P. VAN NESS, Chairman.
J. CARBERY, Secretary,