Evening star., 1867-06-07

| Undertaking, and made a splendid Hall OF
| voters in This Metropolis of Bliss;'' show are
| You Red Ticket" "Man dam us Cook ed
| The meeting was called to order about half
| PAST eight o'clock, by Mr.. w. H. Chase, and
John r. Cook, Esq, was elected president.
| Mr. Cook, on taking the chair, returned his
thanks for the honor conferred upon him.
| On Monday last, like the rest of those present,
ne cast the first vote Of his life. Since the or
ganizaton OF this District there had been a
| class of people here who had denied the
colored man the right of choosing their own
| rulers The party that had controlled the
| city had tried by all means in their power to
secure the vote of the colored man to the n,
but the coiored men could not see it. Mr.. c.
proposed that the audience sing John Brown,
which was done.
Mr.. Chase then nomin ated as vice presi.
dents-First Ward, o. s. Baker, VIM. Syphax;
Second Ward, Hon. A. G.. Riddle, Walker
Lewis; Third Ward, John r. Elvans, ohm T.
johnson; Fourth Ward, Sayles J. Bowen, Rev.
J. Bouidin: Fifth Ward, Benjamin N Needs,
H. Herbert; Six W ard. Rich'd d Morgan, Henry
Better; Seventh Ward, ]. H. Crane, Anthony
Bowen.
Secretaries-C. A. Stewart, First Ward; Ed.
ward Ambush, Second Ward; N. II. Miller,
Third Ward; r: H. Donnegan. Fourth Ward;
J. r. Arisen. Fifth Ward: q. M Barton, Sixth
Ward; Fred. Myers, Seventh Ward
Rev. John Stock, of England, then opened
the meeting with prayer.
Senator Nye, OF Nev., was the first speaker,
and spoke in bis usually eloquent and effective
style. He said the fight In which they had
been engaged was settled on Monday bv glo-
rious victory, and he hoped 1t was the last
rejoiced to witness this scene. 1t was one to
which he bad given the best years Of his life
to bring about. 1t had been said that colored
men could not fight, bat it was found they
made as good soldiers as any others The his.
tory OF the colored men upon the field was Sc
cured, and their history in the civil strife is
of Monday was but the commencement of
career so honorabl to the colored men and to
their friends. There was large class of men
VINO mad no faith in the de,tiny of mankind;
no faith in the progress of the age no faith in
Just God; for man who had not faith in his
fellow man had no faith in God. The cry
that the old masters would control the vote
was played ont, for n one understood freedom
better than those who had been in bondage
1t was said that colored men could not read
but the speaker would rather trust ignorant
years from now there would be exhibited in
this city that life and spirit which had so long
been needed. The colored men must rely upon
themselves, and work for what they wanted
earn their living by the sweat of their brow.
he counseled them to seek honest employ
ment, and al bove all learn to read, so that no
more more TICKS could De played upon them IN the
color OF their ticket The world was to day
living IN morning where they got up early,
and conservatism was sleeping on the shady
side Senator Nye spoke almost thirty min
ntes, and was frequently interrupted by ap-
plause.
The President, Mr.. Cook, then read a letter
from General b. F. Butler, expressing bis re-
gret that ne could not attend the meeting on
account OF previous engagements, but he min
gled his congratulations with them for their
success To the people Of this District the great
privilege mas been given first to demonstrate
that the lately enfranChised citizens Of the Re-
public have IN the exercise of their newly ac-
qured right of citizenship shown themselves
fully capable OF its execution. If the colored
citizens everywhere initiate your example-as
who now doubts they will then, in spite of
the mach'nations OF the enemies OF their race,
is their future and that of the South secured
Specially is your action timely and important
at the present moment, because even now the
Executive is preparing to hinder the true op-
Grafton Of the benefcent acts of Conpress for
the reconstruction of the South by declaring
that the provisional governments illegally es-
tabllshed by himself without warrant of law
In usurpatlon OF executive power, are the su-
preme law OF the land. Already has an au-
thorltatlve opinion Of his law officer been pro-
no uigated, which restores to political power
almost an those engaged in the rebellion
whom Coz gress deemed it necessary for
their attempted overthrow of the Govern
ment. thus eyadIRg the law and .hyart-
ing and overruling the wise orders of the
generals in command regulating the reg
Istrauon Of loyal men only as voters
In a few days, unless checked by the near ap-
proach OF the meeting OF Congress, an Exec
utlve order will be prom u ulgated proelsiming
that the military reconstruction act does not
give the commanding officer of the district
any right or power TO interfere with the civil
government of those States It must follow
as a logical sequence, now that the fear Of
immediate impeachment seems to be removed
that the gallant Sheridan will be superseded
TO give place 10 some officer supposed to be
more plant to the will Of the Administration
And to what end! That the present orsaniZa.
Ion OF the governments OF those States NAV
remain intact; to perpetuate Ian ded aristoc-
racy, fatal to the advance of the ca use of libsr-
ty and eQ ual rights. Is it not self-eyiden, no.
Itical truth that where the land is held large
TRACTS s SPY Dy ths ne employer, there can be no just
and true field for the exercise of republican
citizenship! And it is one of the pressing ex.
igencies Of the country. as the very basis Of re-
con uct1on, that some plan must be devised
them.
Three cheers were then given for General
Butler.
Mr.. VIM. A. Cook was then introduced. He
SAID ne was exceedingly glad that this meeting
was called. There was a class of people here
in Washington who seemed to think they had
grown up out Of the soil, and insisted that The
election was carried by negroes coming over
from Maryland aha Virginia, and they swear
by the sanctified old Intel1igencer and Tom
Florence. He thought many would stay here
until next June. There was q mayor-a
good, clever fellow In his way, q fine, sociable
man, but Wallach could never be mayor
again. The city ring men OF Washington
were now holding their last meeting on the
night of this jubilee. They should be careful
what they did in the expiring hours of their
rule, else the speaker might get out manda-
mus Turn about was fair play. Laughter
The Conservatives here might just as we'll
give up their Old fogyISm and venerable ideas;
this is an age of progress. and there is no power
that can prevent man from rising to the dig
nifty of his nature The colored men should
not forget that they are in the great training
school of liberty. They should act kindly to.
ward their foes, unless their rights are tram.
pied on or the national banner is threatened.
Let them do right and stand oy the watch.
word, "Never give up"
John X. Elvans, Esq. Alderman elect from
the Third Ward, was introduced and received
with applause. He said that he congratulated
them from his heart on the result Of the cleo
tion Just closed. He thanked those who are
citizens for the first time tor their calmness,
determination, sobriety, and above all for their
Tor bearance. They had passed through the
fires of prejudice aud dinsult-hard, very hard
to be borne by any human being-and had
come forth purified and ennobled BY the con.
tact. Gong INTO political can vass with the
trembling iears Of the best OF the conservative
element in the community that you would be-
come power for evil, your conduct has
wrenched from them approval and acknowl.
edgnent that you are men OF equal discretion
with themselves. Threatened, and vour
rights, guaranteed by Congress, in danger of
being vitiated by preconcerted and prear.
ranged attempt to destroy the registry lists,
yeu have set an example to the city and to the
country at large. of consistent Ia W -and .order
abiding conduct worthy to be initiated NV All