The national Republican., 1867-04-04

churoh, corner OF fourth street east anu ~ street
south. II
Quite a large number Of persons were present.
both white and oolored, and We noticed several
whits ladies on the front seats, together with
large number Of oolored ones.
II there is any truth In the old adage-that the
side the ladies advocate In politcs s sure Of sue
cess--the radicals will hsv. II all their own way In
the Fifth ward In june next. ...y... 49,. ....
Mr.. j. II. A. Bhuremau (oolored) took the chair,
and Mr.. A. P. Clark (whitel was secretary.
The exercises were opened with prayer BY a
Col. R. J. Hinton vas introduced by the Chair,
and he addressed those present.
In the course Of his remarks he said those
present, he doubted not came here week after
| week TO learn their duty In their new position.
and much could be gained BY comforting together.
The duties Of voters In this District was greater
than that Of voting for the President Of tho United
States They wore the pioneers in the work Of
emancipation, and now they were the pioneers In
the work Of universal enfranchsement. Their priv
iege was noble one, and II was their duty to avail
themselves Of the benefit Of those privileges They
| should be careful OF new converts TO this po-
ltical faith He would not say TO the meanest cop
perhead In the world, not even r. Z. Lee or Wade
Hampton, they should not come into the Republi.
can fold. He would have them take back seat
| for the present, however Let such prove them.
| selves 70 be what they profess TO be. There were
colored as we'll as white men, who we're qualified to
all Offices In thoir gifts; who were oompetsnt and
| fully able to perform their duties with credit They
| should select the best men no matter what the
color, and then support them manfully. This Dis.
| triot should be made model municipality. He
would always be found with the party, and working
| for 1t.
Col. Edward Daniels, Of Chicago, was here In.
| troduced, and spoke substantially as follows:
He could congratulate the white and the black
man that after many years Of struggle the right
had prevailed, and he was permitted to see so many
present hero tonight to rejoice with him In that
| result. His heart devoutly thanked God for II.
| When first he saw the banner floating over the
dome Of the nations Capitol his heart leapod
| proudly within his breast but as he turned down
the Avenue, every second man. woman, and child
was slave His heart Immediately sank almost
| to despair. When he saw mon and women, and
| even little children, marched down to the ships
waiting on the Potomac. they being hand-ouffed
slaves. his national pride almost forsook him.
Now, thank God, there was freedom for all
equality before the law; and they were now raised
up on the platform Of equality. They should thank
ail who aided to effect all this whether in Office or
out Of Office, and, above ALL they should feel proud
| Of the noble action Of their martyred President,
Abraham Lincoln. Every man Is entitled TO equal.
ity before the law and he Is entitled to the ballot
TO keep him equal before the law In many Of the
Northern States they had not won this vantage
ground but they would contest II manfully in order
| to do so. When the Legislatures pass laws making
black and white alike before the law then will the
Government assume its proper shape and attitude
before the world II was an infamous injustice
that they had not ballot for the President In this
District. They should have II, and he would guar
antee that the electoral college would be abolished
In less than four months, and they should have
their rights. This was progressive age, and the
old customs and rules should now be reconstructed
to suit the present form Of government. The
electoral college must be done away with, and II
the Senate don't quit admitting new States they
do, that must be abolished to, or Robert Z. Lee
may be President Of the United States.
A Voice. And Dick wallach Mayor Of Washing,
ton.
[Just here Mr.. Charles L. Lathrop, foreman Of
the Government Printing Office and others moved
back 10 the room to take back seats, when some oi
those present thought they were some persons who
started out In disgust at the tone Of the speech
then being made, and they commenced to shout and
huszs With much spirit They soon saw their mis-.
take, however, and quieted down.
| Col. Daniels, resuming said there was dead
atmosphere Of egotism resting on this capital They
were all fifty years behind the age When Con.
gressmen came here they would deteriorate, and
would have to leave to tako 4 revivpg bath. Those
Of the West would 20 In for electing tho President
direct by the people, Representative In Congress
from the District, and appropriate more money
to beautify the capital city Of the nation. This
would be but returning to the ideas and plans o
our forefathers from which they had apostatzed
There was time when the Government demanded
that slavery should be regarded as divine insttu
tioh.
The time was, the speaker said, whom he did no
expect ever to sec Salmon p Chase and Charlie
Sumner hold office under the Government. The.
were considered as insane and dangerous men Blu
thank God the past Is dead and now 1t remain
, that these newly. .enfranchised men shall be edu
Gated Every little boy white or black shall b
. educated; for who can tell what is In the mos
ragged and blackest little boy in the streets. 1t
due to those millions Of children, and those presen
should SEQ that system Of schools should be estab
lished here. [Applause He believed that non
would stay away from the polls ut the coming cleo
tiOn any than they would desert the aag In tn
/: heat Of battle. Applause. When he thought Q
his old friend, Colonel Hinton, now present, as b
! saw him with 0ssawatomie Brown, on the plains
Kansas, he could but think that was the beglnnin
of the freedom Of slaves the approach Of their bel
ter days the emancipation OF 600 OOO slaves.
The chair here requested the ladies to take seat
up stairs, so as to leave seats for the voters VIII
: were standing In the aisle.
= By request, the hymn commencing 80! ho'
happy are they" was sung.
Capt. o. 8. b. WALL (colored,) Of Oberlin, Ohio
was introduced, and said he thought he could de
|, monstrate that Mr.. Johnson--at the other end o
the Avenue--was n poor prophet. Mr.. Johnso
!, prophssied that II the electve franchise wer
i granted to the coiored people II would produce
war Of the races. Certainly he saw here white an
Q colored, both male and female. and they appeare
i to be quite harmonious, and did not appear to b
desirous Of q war Of the races. He feared that th
colored men here had not been sufficiently apprise
of the Importance of the elective franchise to them
: and he hoped they would inform themselves full
b on that subject They need not fear the whit
IS men Of the Republican party, for they would no
outrage them or iujure them.
IS The speaker said he had been acting with th
. Republican party for the last fifteen years at obel
i lin, Ohio, both as delegate and as an ordinar
voter They could aid in running the macbiner
OF this Government Just as well rs the white mar
they could cut down the forest and till the land
they could fight In battle manfullyi and when th
fight was won they could lay down the sword an
take up the ballot. Where the colored men wer
allowed they were the foremost In the defence OF th
o GoYernment. Never put your faith in the eleventh
J. hour men. Don't let them bedazze you with an
u phantomi don't be led by copperheads, but DO tru
70 TO the Republican party, for 1t will be true to you
10 De Us true with the ballot as you were with tn
n bayonet, and you will always be in the right.
K Hon. Mr., DriggS of Michigan, was next pre-
ID sented, amid applause. He said, in the remark
d he made, be was gratihed to SEQ so many present
oi He hoped all the voters present would vote, an
P, vote intslligently and keep sober on that day
1t They did so in Georgetown. Do not forget to
registered, and thus prepare for the enjoyment
the elective franchise. These shareholders had
n give It up, and they died hard. They tried to d
N the matter through the gentleman at the other en-
al Of the Avenue. There was an old lady who had