Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-20
LOCAL NEWS.

IHf NEGRO SUFFRAGE QUEsTToy-k..,!sJ
large number OF the citizens OF the SeyrEth
Ward assem- bled last evening at Potomac Half
10 consider the question Of the extension OF tho
order BY Alderman Noye. and M Mr Jonas r. r.
Ellis was called 10 The chair. Mr.. wm. Yea;-
man was appointed secretary.
Mr.. }. q. Dudley moved the appointmCn IT OF
committee of five 10 draft resolutions express
sIse OF the sense of the meeting, which was
carrled and the following committee was ap-
Eoin.eocLC. = Moves. j. w. Martin, George
White, George r. Thompson and Jacob yieh-
myer.
In the absence OF the committee, DR. Charles
Allen was called on, and addressed the meeting
IN forcloie language, urging the injustice OF
visiting upon this Distinct as a punishment a
measure rejected by immense majorities in the
Republican States North.
Does the question rest with us1 Confress
may pass laws which may become OBLIGATORY
on us, but every American citizen has the right
of petition and IL behooves us TO let our senti-
ments be known. Shall IL be because charges
are made against us by men in fat Offices that
meme but rebels will vote, men whose loyalty
consists of the greenbacks they draw from IN
Gle sam bscause we are opposed not TO raising
the negro TO an equality with us for thar is i'm.
J osslble but 10 The degradation of ourselves to
the level Of the negro that we will keep away
from the polls. Are we TO be charged with
dis oyalty because we are opposed 70 this in the
face OF having in the dark days of 81 raised
400 men for the protection OF this District, and
since having raised men to fill our most en ces-
siNe quotas, while agents from the States wers
allowed 10 come here and recruitf We are
v hiie men and should claim our rights and Lee
th' sc CHARGES recoil on the traducers who ars
OF class having no interest here. Are these
coloTed people able to appreciate the dignity
and value of being an elector Do they noE
furnish fye-cixtbs Of the criminals 10 the pen-
iienilaTy (tbat is the last batch) and are We no.
in fear every night we lie down TO sleep that
our goods will be stolen
The Bowen dodge, advising voters to keep
away from the polls, was that all who did not
vote might be claimed py them. This was be-
Cause they cannot poll 500 votes, OF half thas
numter. Let us work mp a large majority;
bring out as near the full vote as possible, and
let the vote lie sent TO Congress, and he be-
heNed that il would have its effect; for even &C
The bill passed there were enoush h conservative
men 10 prevent a two-tnirds majority.
Mr. John Ill. Semmes was called on TO sneak,
and be said he would vote against negro suf-
mage, and hoped every one present would do
so. He was determined 10 vote. and no busi-
ress duties should prevent him. He did not
think ~ would have much effect on Congress,
but lt would with the President, who was al
ready committed as regards the States, and be
did not think he Preside MT would disregard the
wishes Of the District. The object was not 10 put
negroes on an equality with the whites, but I'd
dep prade the whites; for some ofthese men classed
lie people of the District with the disloya alists.
He never rTatGd about his loyalty as do some
men " ho hold six or eight offices. He had not
read the communication OF Mr.. Saylcs J.
Bowen, an did not wish TO, but had heard OF
". He bad been on friendly terms with Mr..
Bowen heretofore, but could not again meet
dk a lIltHO man " no trannCP0 his fellow clfl-
zf ms as Mr.. Bowen had done, and never again
would offer his hand 10 him. He wished it un-
derstood that from this time forth Mr. Bowen
was his enemy. Mr.. Bowen held at one time
the position of clerkship in the Senate COL
lector OF Internal Revenue, Commissioner OF
Police, and n member Of the Levy Court The
negro negro never can enjoy social equality in this
District with the whites, that is impoesible
They were brought here by the ancestors OF
inese very men who now try 10 force the
measure OF negro suffrage upon us. Let them
and Gnf
VIII 90 their heads, and be believed that short
ly Mr.. BowPn's head will be of politically
Mr. }. q. Dudley, having been called, stated
mat ne had done all he could 10 get the Question
before the people and he trusted that there
would be full vote
The committee on resolutions here appeared
and through Mr.. Noyes, the chairman reported
adopted:
Whereas bin is now pending before Con-
fress having for its object the enfran chisemept
OF The colored people of this District and
whereas efforts are being made 10 misrepresent
he sentlm' nts and loyalty of the white people
OF o. ms city, which does us the grossest injus-
Resolred, That we are opposed to the passage
ofsuch bill, believing that 'sthis Government
was made by white men, on the white basis,
tor white men and their posterity foreyer;'
and that the attempt 10 give those of another
and an inferior race the right 10 exercise the
most precious right OF man, against the estab-
llshed and continued usage of the Republic OF
The United States from its foundation to the
present time, and reiterated by the action OK
The States of Connecticut, Wisconsin. and
Minnesota, and the Territory Of Colorado, ie an
innovation fraught with the greatest danger 10
iBe liberties of the country.
ReSotred, That as States. where the propor-
non ot colored population is but one 20 five or
eight hundred. have by large major it1e. re-
inted @ 10 allow THIS extension; that whereas in
this cen munlty the proportion is one colored
o cne and one-half white. this question be
- N es one of greater importance and OF greater
anger.
EsSolrsd. That The argument i'm favor n, M.
40 snflafe, 10 the effect that negroes are as
w'H fitted 10 vote as large numbers OF white
bic nc ainst such measure; for ifit is admitted
hat large proportion of our voting popula
ticn is already unfit 10 exercise the right OF
sufIage II would be in the highest degree dan
eerous and impoltic to further deterorate and
debase that voting population by adding 20 it
the ignorant negro masses.
ResOlred, That the further argument ad-
yanced in favor of negro suffrage, to the effect
that they have earned the right to vote through
having done military service, is equally un-
tenable, since the same argument would give
The right of voting TO the large number OF white
minors who did military service IN suppressing
the rebellion.
that every voter in the city should deposit his
ballot on Thursday next against negro suffrage,
even If such vote on the part OF citizens should
serve only as a matter of record 70 show that
we entered our solemn protest against a meas
ure believed to be ruinous TO and fraught
with danger 10 the best interests of the coun-
try.
Dr. Allen moved the appointment Of COM
mlttee of three to each precinct to distribute
tickets, &c, on the day of the election, which
was carried, and the following were appointed:
- Grinder. John Hill, VIM. Cammack, first
precinct Cornelius Desmond, VIM. Tucker,
- Lawrence, second precinct.
Adjourned 10 meet at the polls
>
HoNoRs TO THE MEMORY OF THE IlTH
HON. THOMAS CoRwIN.-A meeting of Sena-
late Thomas Corwin, was held yesterday in tho
tors and Representatives, and the friends of the
retIring-room of the Senate chamber, for the
purpose of taking action with regard to his
death. There were a number of ladies in al