Daily evening star. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1852-1854, 1853-06-04
EVENING STAR.
Address Of the Democratic City Convention to
the Voters of Washington.

FELLow-Ur1zENs: By vote of the Dem
ocratic Convention, recently assembled IN
this city, for the purpose Of nominating
candidates for the local Offices to be filled
at our ensuing charter election, we were
appointed committee to draft and pre-
sent to you an Address explanatory Of the
reasons on which the action of that Con-
yention was based.
In proceeding to the discharge of this
duty, we do not wish to conceal the fact,
that amongst many of you, as amongst a
large majority of our political opponents,
the introduction of politics into our city
affairs is considered both unwise and inn
polite. Without questioning the SINGER
ity of this belief on your part, we may be
permitted to claim for ourselves, as Amer
lean citizens and as citizens Of Washing
ton, as true and as devoted an interest in
whatever pertains to the growth, stability,
and prosperity of our metropolis, as any
Of those by whom this opinion is enter
tanned. We invite your attention to the
consideration Of the reasons, which, as we
believe, not only justify, but require, the
steps which we have taken, and only ask
that they may be weighed in that same
spirit of frankness and friendship in
which they are dictated.
1t is known to you all, that the affairs
of our Corporation have been almost ex-
clusively in the hands of our Wing friends
ever since the establishment of the seat of
Government here. For years we were in
so small a minority as to be almost be-
meath the notice of the party who have so
long controlled the destinies of our city.
What has been the consequence The
party in power, with no one to watch
over or oppose them, have perpetuated
abuses, the enormity of which can only
be equalled by the length of time through
which they have been perpetuated. The
Democratic elements, of late introduced
IN our charter, have already revealed to
us facts which justify us in charging upon
those who have so long conducted the af-
fairs of our Corporation a carelessness and
recklessness unequalled, perhaps, in the
history of any other Corporation in this
country. In the mean while, the people,
who have been the victims and the suffer-
ers, have stood by, regarding with list
less Indifference the proceedings of their
agents, and remaining in almost perfect
ignorance of the manner in which their
affairs have been conducted. Are we
wrong In attributing this stagnation, or
rather this retrOgression on the part of our
Corporation, to the fact that it's entire
management has been intrusted to the
hands of an irresponsible majority? Look
for moment at the institutions of our
glorious country-What has preserved
them so far in all their pristine strength
and purity, but that unceasing vigilance
with which the minority have watched
the actions and proceedings OF the party
IN power. Destroy this minority, and
you stagnate the warm blood, which,
flowing in genial currents, gives life,
strength, and activity to the body polite.
We believe, then, that the infusion of
proper party spirit into our local cleo
tons will be beneficial to our city. We
believe, that, while it will tend to excite
an interest and watchfilness on The part
OF the citizens with regard to the pro-
ceedings of thier officers, and legislators,
l" " III VI SchlO ~ llC" lIlC III OuI SOTDUIa-
ton, and enable it to keep pace with the
spirit Of progress and improvement which
surrounds it, instead of being as it is now,
and has been for years, dark spot in the
bright constellation of which it is the
centre. We believe, that, instead of ex-
citing Or fostering i'll feelings amongst
our citizens, as is feared by some, it will
be the means of checking the gross per-
sonal abuse and vituperation which have,
for the past few years, particularly, char
acterlzed our municipal elections. We
hesitate not to say, that no party strug-
gle, however animated it might be, could
give rise to one half the malignity of feel
ing, which disgraced the contest in hich
the predecessor of the present Mayor won
his way to the Office of Chief Magistrate
of this city. The candidates of our Wing
friends running against each other on
their own personal merits, are deemed
tit objects for the poisoned arrows of
SANDER and calumny, and hence the alien
atoms of friendships and the bitter feel
lngs of hostility, which even to this day
exist amongst our political opponents on
account of the ':fanilq Quarrel" to which
we have alluded. Party spirit, if it will
not altogether destroy, may at least d.
minish this disgraceful abuse.
But there are other grounds upon which,