Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-02-04

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following call:
"Msehonies, Working-nen, and all others In
favor Of the New Code Of Laws invited to at.
tend meeting at Temperance Hall, on wednes-
day, Feb. 3, at 6H O'Clock. Eminent speakers
have been invited to address the meeting.n
The meeting was called to order, and John C.
Hafkness, Esq, was chosen Chairman and Jos.
VI Bradley, Jr., Secretary.
Mr.. Job Angus stated tbs object of the meeting
and Invited those present wn0 had any obiec-
tons to the proposed new Code to state them,
and they who were prepared to defend them
would endeavor to do so.
A voice.-Mr Chairman, how can a man object
TO the new Code who has never had a sight at
it,
Mr.. Cunningham understood that all who bad
oplections could state them. Any one who had
not seen the Code was certainly placed i'm an un-
fortunate position, but doubtless the community
was In possession of its main features. He was
IN favor Of the Code a whole he had looked
through the book and found that all the labors of
the codifiers had been directed to the advance
ment of the best interests Of the people
Mr.. Stewart would like the speaker to show
how the new Code would benefit the echanics,
Mr.. { said that he was showing how the Code
would benefit all classes of our citizens
After some further discussion. the question
was taken as to whether those who had Objpc-
tons should be invited TO state them and was
carried unanimously.
Mr.. stewart then put the question how many
voters was there in Washington and George
town Only 1900 copies of the Code had been
printed for the use OF 5000 voters not one fifth
of whom had got a sight of IT,
Voce-"l am down on that part OF the Code
that relates TO divorce" (CheerS1
Mr. Stewart proposed TO have the book read
from title page to fHis tonight ILauyhtrr1
Mr.. Clayton moved that this De regarded as a
meeting of the citizens to consider the Code, and
that those who Were in favor of it state any thing
IN relation TO its acceptance.
Mr.. Clayton stated that he saw the advertise
lnent, and as 1t was invitation to the frierds
OF the Code, he moved that those friends discuss
the matter
Cries OF "order"
The Chair That il not the question. OBJ
Jectors have been invited TO state their objec-
lions"
Mr.. Clayton-'I shall keep the floor. and now
move that We resolve ourselves into meeting f.,
consider the new Code.r
Mr. Wood proposed to amend the motion SO as
not 10 interfere with the previous motion.
Mr.. Bradley appealed to Mr. Clayton to Weld
TO the wishes Of the meeting, and let the former
motion be discussed first. Applause
Mr. e. was willing to yield The floor to those
We were two parties ~
Voice-'.i move to lay Mr.. CIavton's motion
on the table,
Mr. Stewart moved that Mr.. Ould be requested
to take the stand, and read the new Code pa ia
graph by paragraph: lI.aughterl
MI w God took the stand, aud said that he
was going to vote for these laws any how but
he wished to state several objections to them
One principal one was that part which related to
the sunday law, which was, in his notion, in
contravention of the Constitution of the United
states If man chooses to 20 a fishing on sun
diy-which Is the working mans only holiday
this law nnes him, while the rich man, w no can
AFFORD TO dress well enough to attend our fashion
able churches, can drive to church and keen his
footman waiting outside, and he may not be fined
MI Merrill stated that the first law of nature
was sell pfotecton One Of the laws imposed q
levy OF fifty cents on every male citizen when ar.
rived at the age of twenty lone wears to nav for
Keeping up military system; he objected to
That One act provides that the Marshal NAV re-
possession cd h.,
him. He objected to that
Mr. Bradley refuted this position by reading
Mr. Merrill then went on to state large num
Der or objections from list which he held in his
hand; to all of which Mr.. Bradley replied by
IeSsaIng nom the Code, and showing that the
OBJECTIONS were not In any respect sustained
Great confusion here prevailed through the at
tempt OF drunken man TO speak, in a very inco
heIent manner, for short time, but the confu-
sion was at last quclled by the semi. oblivious
Individual being seizrd md hustled out
MI NJ then stated his objections to the Sunday
provision, which he contended Was made for the
beneht Of the rich and not of the door,
When the speaker had concluded the meeting
was addressed by
Capt. f. Is. Robinson, who stated, that while
he did not oppose the Code as a whole vet sew
erdl serious objections occurred to him The
Code contained several most absurd chapters
He then went on for some time to state his obiec.
lions, out modified them by saying that he was
almost disposed to take the Code and trust to
Providence for reform Of that portion of il that
Is unPalatable to the citizens. He closed by call
ing upon Mr. Robert Ould, of Georgetown one
Of the CodiieTs, to address the meeting.
Mr.. Ould took the stand, and stated in OMEN
ing, that he held in his hand copy of the pro
posed new Code. IL he had brough the laws bv
which We are now governed he would have
brought couple of carloads and at least a
wheelbarrow full Of dust. He knew that there
, Were many interests operating against the adop-
gambling portion and the lottery agencies were
dead against il.
He then went on to explain the popular buy.
bedr-that one Of its fea.u IS is Imprisonment for
debt, and stated that the same law now existed
In the District in full forcee. He spoke at some
length to this point, I'd showed conclusivelv
tnatt the provision Of the new Code was confined
expressly to imprisonm mt for fraud Ohiection
bad been made to the Sunday provision He
would state That the present Sunday law was ffty
times more Objectionable than the proposed new
law the proposed one was largely a modification
of the present one. The point about expulsion
rom school, which had been objrct. to. related
parlcn-arly TO the county, and had nothing to do
with our city school system Under the presrn,
Sunday law all Sunday amusements were tInlaw-
iui Let the DIRECTORS do the cod fers the Justice
TO read and understand that the Code only reIa
ted TO those sunday amusements which ,ver.
hulsances and an annoyance to the public In re-
Jation TO the law Of divorce he would say that but
one STATE IN The L mon had a total divorce law
namely, south Carolina. The law only provided
IN this respect for the reasonable wants of the
community. '
The points were as follows: First. for ,nvc,us.
which, by the laws OF this District, renders a
marriage null and void nb NITRO; and Also when
d. Is voldable, as before provided, by a person
marrying above The age of twelve wears and under
fourteen. Second, the impotence of either party
al the time OF the marriage. Thirdly, for the
adultery Of either party during the marriage
Fourth, where either party Is sentenced to con-
nnrineDt In the Pententary for the term OF life
or seven years or more. where no pardon granted
TO the party so sentenced shall restore such party
TO his or her conjugal rights. Fifth, where the
female, before marriage has been guilty of Illicit
carnai intercourse with a man, the same being
unknown TO the husband at the time Of the mar
rage. Sixth, the abandonment by the party com
planned against ofthe other party for the unnter-
Tuptfd period Of three years. where the court
shall be satisfied that snch abandonment is de.
hocfate, final, and unattended by any reasonable
expectation Of reconciliation.
Could any decent man, said the speaker object
to such 4 law a. that,
In regard 10 the uSury law the speaker con-
uastrd the present usury system with the pro-
posed one, showing the advantages Of the latter
most strikingly.
The proposed law Of admitting an infidel to
equal privileges ufon The witness stand with the
CHRISTIAN, had been objected To our present law
would permit n notorious liar IN no competept