The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-21
.aTha CITY Charter

The leading editorial of the Integencer of this morn
ing, under the above caption, strives produce the
preston that the action of the House of Representative
yesterday, relative to the charter of Washington does
rude violence the feelings of the people, and is SUBJ
versve of the rghts" and sdearest interests Of COM
munity of thirty three thousand citizens" It &c
have been expected that the editors of the 1ntegencel
should with adherence any approximation even to an
equality of "rghts between the richer and the poorer
class of citizens The partiates, if not the Interests, OF
those gentlemen, have long since persuaded them that
the dearest interests of the many consist only in admin
isterng to the wishes of the few. This repeat is
nothing more than what might reasonably be expected
from such admirers of corporations and monopolies
the editors of the National lnelligencer But that il
should single out Mr. Payne the ostensblc object OF
its attack among the 1876 members of both political par
ties who voted for the amended charter against only
SO in the negative, is to be accounted for, we pre-
sumo, from prurient desire to vent its spleen on a
large number of gentlemen in the opposition, who
were unwilling to continue the present restricted fran
chise and refused TO allow party ammes to overcome
their sense of Justice
The sheer that "some gentlemen in Congress are so
mbuea with the principles of democracy as to suppose
that the will of the governed has nothing to do with
the laws enacted for their government means Gf it mean
anyhng) that but 80 members of the House of Repre-
sentayes have any knowledge just perception OF the
rights of the governed and that all the rest are anarchists
and dsorganzers But the fact happens 10 be- that in
this case .the will of the governed is precisely that
sought to be attaned very large portion of the gov-
erned" having at present "nothing TO do with the
laws enacted for their government and hence, all
amelioration of their condition being otherwise I'M
attanable, Congress Justly and rightfuly nterpose
for their relief And wherefore should they not !
However respectable may be the mayor and other
officers composing the head of the little oligar-
civ ruling the civic affairs Of this metropolis, are
impressed with the conviction that there equally
good citizens who under the present charter exclud
ed from participation in its affairs, and who largely
interested in its prosperity, and well acquainted
with the sentiments of majority of the people. The
latter will we are satisfied, heartily thank Mr. Payne
and other gentlemen of both parties who voted with him,
for their efforts foul and mschievous defect
from the city chartera defect alike with the ber-
v of the citizen his best interests and the spirit of our
republican institutions
Since the above was in type, we learn that Mr. PAYNE
condescended to reply to the cynical illusions OF the In
eigence above adverted to- in the course of some re-
marks which he made in the House this morning show
np that the governed" had been suited in reference
10 This very measure and that they had, from year to
year presented petitions numerousy signed praying for
the abrogaton OF the roen borough SYSTEM and ask
ing the passage of just such measure as this bill is
calculated TO afford.
Mr.. Ashmun, for the monoposts, Zone of the dstin-
ruished 49, who constitute almost entirely that class OF
members who advocate an extension Of suffrage the
pro tauntingy asked Mr. Payne why, if he DEM
ocrc he did not extend the franchise to the free color
ed man of Washington He thought the hue OF the
skin made no difference (Cres of ooh pD And to
this we respond "Oh Oh ~ What says the intelligent
Ger