Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-12-20

NATIONAL EQUAL SUFFRAGE ASSOCIATION.
At a regular meeting of the National
Equal Suffrage Association, held last even.
ing, in the absence of the President, WV. L.
@. GREENE was called to the chair. The
following preamble and resolutions, offered
by A. NJ. GASGEwER, Esq, were read and
unanimously adopted
Whereas an act has been passed by the City
Councils Of Washington city authorizing d
special election to ascertain the opinion Of the
people Of Washington on the question Of negro
suffrage" which election is to be held on Thurs.
day, December q, 1855;
And whereas the course Of our City Govern
ment in nullifying an act Of Congress In regard
| to the school fund contributed by our colored
fellow otiIens shows to what lengths Of mi ustics
said Government will proceed in It's efforts to de.
grade and keep in ignorance an uuofending
people;
And whereas the ex -slaveholders Of this Dis
trict have been paid from the public treasury
nearly million Of dollars as compensation fol
Gods image cut in ebony whom they had
held in bondage and deprived Of their wages;
And whereas these same men have so de-
| bauched public sentiment In this District In re-
| gard to the negro, whom they have systemat-
cslly degraded that the result OF said election 10
| n fOregone conclusion. and will only prove the
truth Of the asser ION that Il impossible for them
TO forgive the innocent whom they have injured
Auu WueTthb lhtkc pOrhOu VI Wnltc Iebl-
dents Of the city Of Washington are practically
disfranchised by the fact that they are not regis
tered and according TO the ruling Of the Corpora
tlon Attorney, whose opinion will govern the ac
ton Of those who will hold the elections no un :
registered person can vote, though he may have
paid taxes and hold q receipt therefor;
AAnd whereas the action Of our city govern
ment in regard to colored people has heretofore
been partial, unjust, and iniquitous, and their
present action is prompted by feeling Of preju &.
dice against weak, patient, and uncomplainin z
class OF our fellow -citizens by this appeal to a
pref judicial public sentiment: Therefore
Resolved, That, in view Of the foregoing facts,
we advise the friends Of equal suffrage 10 stay
away from the polls at said election, believing
that its objec Is to foster spirit Of caste and
perpetuate I'M ustice against down -trodden but
loyal portion Of our people, whose hearty patri-
otism during the late war for the Union was In
striking contrast with the hesitating lip 10y atty
but secret or open treason Of their oppressors In
this District.
ResOlped, That we respectfully ask Congress
to declare null and void all laws which make
disqualihcatiOns on account Of the color Of the
skin-an artificial distinction which the cOlored
man did not choose for himself aud for which he
should not be held accountable by our city gov =
ernment, or the people they claim to represent.
Resolved That as the object Of government Is
to ordain justice, Congress should show paternAl
regard for all the people Of the District, and es-
peciAlly should IL protect the weak and helpless
against the efforts Of those who have heretofore
favored inequslity, II 1t would secure the smile
Of Heaven and the favor Of good menj and we
call upon Congress to Orddtn Justice in this, the
capital Of Free Republic.