Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-12-15

Treasury building the COMPANY halted each
soldier seized negro follower, carried him OF
TO Analostan Island, and made a soldier OF him.
| He had nothing TO say against the nghting
| qualities of the negro soldiers. They bad done
| well enough, but of those who were urging the
passage OF a negro suffrage law for the DisSiet,
| not one had been in the service As 70 the
| statements in that memorial 70 the Senate, re-
| speeung the Gums paid by the colored people
for the education Of white children, q more
| sroclous lie was never placed upon paper.
The negroes had paid the small sum OF
received in proportion 70 their inyestment A
hundred fold more benefit than had the white.
| such statements as had been made IN that me-
gro memorial TO Congress were published and
| a great many believed them, but more atrocious
| falsehoods were never perpetrated. Could NJ
be possible that this little community, this
Corporation organized only for the protection
| and improvement Of property, should be con-
4 trolled by contrabands nocking from all
smons the negroes sGSa ISa. the rishs Of .1Ss.e
| had been extended 70 them they would flock
here by thousands, and then the question would
| arise, is the elective franchise q boon 70 them
| There was deep seated antagonism between
the two races and as soon as they were put on
| political equality that antagonism would be
| developed. Would the white laborinx class
| allow the refugees who would crowd into
| Washington TO vote, TO be put in the work-
| shops and monopolize the labor of the city
| Connecticut and other States had refused TO
allow this privilege, and the result OF all this
agitation would be 10 put the negro in the came
unfortunate condition that the Indian lie in.
wOuld come out and vote. Their sentiments
| he well knew, but so indignant were they at
The thought that Congress will vote upon this
| District what they will not do elsewhere, and
| regarding ii as a foregone conclusion, many OF
them would not vote al all. 1t was the duty
| OF every man, whatever his condition. mirht
be, TO put In bis vote on this question, for HE
| tory st least. Much had been said of disloyslty
| in this community. There were many in Con-
gress who believed that the city was disloyaI.
| but how they got the idea was marvellous At
| what time in the history of the last four
years, did il require the most nerve TO be loyal
| No one could deny that the year 1861 was that
time. Did the citizens OF Washington manifest
any indisposition 10 defend the country Did
they not furnish over three fourths of their vo-
ting popu lation at the call of the President
| such being the facts, might we not ask that
| our wishes in this matter may be considered Z
Might we not appeal to the generosity OF SEN
| ators and Representatives, and ask them 70 do
| as they would be done byi That tins people,
| numbering 100000, without representation, who
| have sustained the cause of the Government
| with their treasure and their blood, NAV not be
| subjected to this ignominy.
The bill was then passed-yeas. Aldermen
barr, Canheld Quick, A. Lloyd, McCathran,
| Noyes, Owen, Turton, and the President; nays,
| none.
| The pill from the Common Council REQUEST
| ing the Mayor TO supply the two boards with
| copies OF the general laws OF the Corporation
since ls60, was passed; and the board sd
| journed.
BOARD OF COMMON CoUScrL.-President
Moore in the chair, and ali present
| except Messrs. Smms, Stewart, Talbert Ty-
Han, Walker, and Williams.
| Mr.. Peugh, from the special committee ON
| the Mayors communication relating TO the in
| PRODUCTION Of bills in Congress providing for
negro suffrage, reported a bill authorizing the
| Mayor TO cause a special election TO be held on
the - day Of December, that the voters NAV
express their sentiments on the question OF ne
| gro suffrage
The Chair Mr.. Moore) said that he did not
| like the preamble, and that some would take IL
1 as an imputation on the Mayor, and suggested
the following substitute which was accepted
| by Mr.. Peugh:
| Whereas several bills have been introduced
| In Congress having in view the extension
| OF the elective franchise in this city so az TO
confer its privileges on the negro population;
| and
Whereas the members of the National Legis-
| lature, TO whom is committed the protection
| Metropolis, should be correctly informed OF
| the sentiments of this community on a question
so materially affecting their presentand future
| interests as well as the interests OF the coun-
| try generally; therefore, be il
| ResOlred, That the Mayor be and be is hereby
| authorized to cause an election to be held on
| -, the - day OF December, 1865, and cause
| polls to be opened on that day, and be kept
| open from - o'clock in the morning until
= O'Clock in the evening, TO enable the legal
| voters of the city of Washington TO give ex-
preston in a formal manner OF their opinions
on the propriety OF extending the elective fran
| chise to the negro population now residents, or
hereafter TO become residents, within the limits
of this Corporation.
| Sec ?. And be IL enacted, That the commis-
slOnerS OF the last eIectlOn shall be and arc
hereby authorized to act as Commission ers %
the special election herein provided for: and
IN case OF the absence, disability, refusal of
any OF them TO serve, then such vacancy or
vacancies shall be filled in the manner provi
ded by existing law.
Sec.3 And be it enacted, That the commission
ers OF this special election shall under the di-
rection of the Mayor, have prepared and print
ed the necessary ballots to enable the legal
voters of the several election precincts 10 give
a full and fair expression Of their sentiments
upon the question herein submitted TO them,
and that the votes received shall be counted by
the commissioners aforesaid and returned 20
the Mayor who shall transmit a copy Of the
said returns TO the presiding officer Of each
house Of Congress, to be laid before those bodies
and order the same to be published in the news
Mr.. Peugh said that the people were taking
such an interest In this question and that it
would not be difficult TO get out a full vote at
three days notice. He thought that "a hours
notice was sufficient.
Mf. Hall moved to postpone the day OF eIee-
the general election day. He did not think
there was any power under the charter to hold
81 Lecial election Of this kind.
This motion was lost-yeas I, (Mr. Han,)
Mr.. Ferguson moved that the polls be opered
at eight O'Clock and closed al six, which was
| carried.
Mr.; Peugh moved that the election be fred
for Thursday next
Mr.. Hall moved to set the first Monday m
Mr.. Anderson moved to lay the resolution ON
| the table.
Mr.. Herrell said that the election may as wen
| be held at once, and he had ne doubt but that
the vote would come out without much trou-
l ble
Mr.. Halls motion was lost.
On Mr.. Peugh's amendment designating
Thursday next, 2lst inst, the vote stood I3 in
the Affirmative and two in the negative, (Messrs
Hall and White.l
The bill was passed. Yeas-Messrs Ander-
son, Dudley, Edmonston, Ferguson, Hamilton
Hazel, Herrell, Joyce, Mead, Peugh, Rheem,
Wright and the President, Mr.. Moore, Hl3,
nays-(Mr. Hall)-1.
Mr.. Ferguson introduced the following:
Whereas a petition has been presented 70 the
United States Senate, which petition purports
to be from $500 negro inhabitants OF Mas6inr-
ton, and who represent themselves 10 be tax
payers: Therefore
Be IL resolved, That the Mayor be, and he i'm
hereby requested, TO inform this board of he
number and names Of all negro propertv.hoId-
ers in this city; and the Mayor is hereby fur
ther requested, If possible, TO obtain a copy Of