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

BOARD OF ALDERMEN, Special Meeting, Dec.
1.-THE President (Mr. T. E. Lloyd in the
chair. Present Aldermen Barr, Garfield, q Gu-
lick, A Lloyd, McCathran, Noyes, Owen and
Turton.
MI Barr presented the petition of N Zanger
for remission OF fine; referred to the commit
tee on claims.
Mr.. Owen presented the petition of George
Taylor, accompanied by a bill to reimburse the
said Taylor for money enormously paid for a
license; referred to claims committee.
Mr.. Garfield introduced a bill relating TO the
issuing OF contracts for improving the streets,
which was amended on motion of Aldermen
Gulick and Turton, and passed. 1T provides
that the Mayor, in awarding the contracts for
laying pavements, curbstones, paving cutters,
and other street improvements, which are given
out in January and February, he shall not
give TO one contractor work in more than one
ward at the same time.
The bill from the Common Council author
izing special election TO be held in the city on
the 2lst of December for the purpose of ascer-
tanning the sentiments of the citizens on the
subject of extending the elective franchise to
the negro population in Washington was
Mr.. A. Lloyd moved that the bill be put on
its passage.
Mir. Gulick said the bill was a very imper-
tant one. There were some Objectionable fea-
lures in the bill, particularly the short time
allowed before the election. 1t would take a
great deal to arouse the people, they having
began to consider G the passage Of negro suf-
foregone conclusion. He did not believe that
Congress intended to force the matter He
should not vote against this bill, but he
thought this action rather premature, and
would result disadyantageously to the citi-
Zens. There was no doubt that there were
many congressman who would vote for ne
gro suffrage bill, simply because they thought
the citizens were opposed to it, In his judg-
ment ID would be better TO pass resolution
asking Congress to submit any law they may
enact on the subject Of negro suffrage in the
district to the citizens for their approval or re.
lection.
Mr.. Noyes said there was no doubt the peo-
pie OF the city were decidedly opposed TO negro
suffrage, as were the people Of the country
elsewhere in their own localities as shown in
the recent elections, but he thought next Thurs
day might be too soon TO get out a full express
sion OF the sentiment OF the people, and as Con-
gress would almsst certainly not take any ac-
ton upon the matter until after the holiday
postponed for a fortnight. He was inclined to
believe with Mr.. Gulick, that some members
ofCongress would vote for negro suffrage pure.
posed to IL: but as it was desirable to act with
unanimity, and the lower Board had passed
the bill for an election unanimously he be-
lieved 1t would be best for this Board to con-
cur.
Mr.. Garfield said II they held the election
this month, the voters would not be required
TO pay the school tax, as would be the case il
the election was called after the first Of Janu.
Mr.. Gulick moved to amend the bill by SUBJ
stituting the 2eth Of December for the date now
specified.
Mr.. Turton said there was az much time given
now as there was at the general elections. This
subject had been considerably agitatsd, and
with reference to IL.
Mr.. Gulick withdrew his amendment
The President (Mr. 7. +. Lloyd) said there
or of the sentiments Of the people of Washing.
ton. The people were undoubtedly opposed TO
negro suffrage in this community. He knew
the impression had been formed that a large
in 70 -
negro suffrage, but those who had mingled
most with the citizens Of the District knew that
there was nothing more repugnant to their
feelings than the granting Of the elective fran
chise to the negroes here. He could not see
why Congress should seek to force it upon the
people of Washington, except upon the princi-
stituents Of the Senators and Representatives,
where this question was presented, and where
there were comparatively few negroes, it was
determined by an unmistakable vote that the
people would not permit negro suffrage. The
question was presented in the States at a time
when it was supposed that had the necessity
existed, the people would have granted the
right OF negro suffrage. He would say for
himself that had he been a citizen OF those
States he would not have hesitated to vote for
giving the right Of suffrage to the small num-
Der OF negroes there, because their vote could
not have any appreciable effect, but in this
city, crowded with negroes from all sections Of
the south, such a measure would be positive
ruin: He entertained the hope that Congress
would calmly consider the matter, decide
that the people of the District shall
have some rights. and grant to them
the same privileges given TO its constituencies
The great argument used in favor of negro
suffrage was that of the services of the negroes
rendered in the war. He was not there to
decry those services; but at this time, when the
negroes had set forth in memorial TO Congress
that out Of population Of fifteen or twenty
thousand they had furnished a fighting force Of
six thousand, and that the whites, ont of sixty
thousand, furnished only fifteen hundred, IL
was their duty to nail the lie To the commit NJ
once. All knew that of the negroes who were
here In 1861 and 1862. not one hundred went
into the service, and those who did 20 were
refugees, who had come here for the purpose
OF seeking bread, were taken possession OF by
others OF their own color, carried into cellars
and sold into the service for one, two, and
three hundred dollars apiece. The negroes OF
the District who are most active in this mater
are not those who have performed dirty in the
United States service. Every one knew how
the nrst coiored regiment was raised here A