The national Republican., 1867-05-02
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.


FIRST WARD REPUBLICAN, CLuB.-An
adjourned meeting Of the First Ward Republican
Club was held last evening in the Bethel church,
on M street, below Fifteenth.
Tho meeting was called TO order at 8 D. m by
tho president, Mr.. John p. Cook.
Mr.. Dent (colored) opened tho meeting with
prayer afer which the minutes Of tho last moet-
Ing were read by the secretary. A slight cor.
reotion was made In the minutes, and they were
approved.
Tho president rose and said that no had 70.
ceived petition from sundry citizens Of the
ward, now In the employ Of the Government as
teamsters They had not been registered, and
were dssirous Of being, so as to vote at the com.
ing election.
A delegate desired the petition read.
The sseretaty read the paper, in which COM
plant was made against q certain Mr.. Riley,
superintendent, whom they considered was moth
ing more than q rebel AMI Democrat. He
would not leave them OF In time In the evening
TO be registered They also complained that
they did not get full rations, and had to work
from ~ q. m. till 8 p. m. II cost them from ss
to $40 per month extra to keep them from suffer.
ing. On Sunday they were employed grcasing
harness, chopping wood, &e., the whole day.
They asked for something to be done.
Tho letter was signed by teamsters, laborers
and others employed near the Eastern Branch.
Mr.. o, 5. Baker moved that O special commit.
tee Of three bs appointed To investigate the whole
affair and report at the next meeting.
The motion was agreed 10, and Messrs o. 8.
Baker, Martin and Taverans were appointed the
committee.
A delegate wished, II not interfering with the
business Of the meeting. that Major Morse now
address them; but permission was not given.
Chas. Syphax (colored) moved to allow Major
Morse, and all others, an opportunity to speak,
who wished so to do, after the regular business
Of the meeting was finished.
Mr.. Tayerans (oolored) wanted 10 know ifthere
was any regular business; for 1t there was Il re-
quired twothird vote to suspend the rules for
the purpose Of allowing the gentleman To speak.
The chairman Of the nominating COMMITTEES
statsd that they would be able to make their 70.
port BY the 9Th Of May.
The president stated that tho committee were
not TO make their report until the 18th Of May,
or after.
Mr. Stewart (colored) said that ho would 10
very glad 10 hear Major Morse or any other gen.
tlsman; but he wanted the business Of tho ward
attended TO- He called for the reading Of the
journal which stated the business Of the last
meeting. He wanted the business Of tho ward
attended 10 tonight It concerned them, and
ought mot to DO overlooked
Being interrupted for moment or two by Mr..
Clark, Mr.. Stewart said that he did not wish to
be interrupted, and claimed the protection Of the
Chair. He had Cushipg's Manual In his pocket,
which told him Of the rules governing all asso-
citations He did not wish gentlemen to speak
all evening, neglecting tho regular business Of
The motion OF Mr.. syph.r was, by vote, laid
on the table.
The secretary then proceeded to read passage
from the minutes Of the last meeting which was:
That We obtain legal advice as to the policy Of
nominating colored mon on the ticket at tho
coming election.
One member (colored) hero remarked that II
was not safe 10 do II, which remark created con.
siderable laughter and applause. Tho same Nom
ber, and whose name was Wormley, kept inter
rupting the business OF the meeting, creating
much confusion.
A few very judicious remarks from the presi-
dent restored quiet, and he desired to be relieved
q moment from his duties SO as to speak on Mr..
Stewards resolution. The chairman of the Ex-
scutiye Committee took the chair, and the presi.
dent, Mr.. Cook, said:
In this District, since 1900 the slave codes Of
Maryland and Virginia were placed upon 1t; and
he was q slave. Ho was black man and would
say 90; and he was opposed to the resolution and
he hoped that II would be voted down. To whom
should We 90 for legal advice He hoped those
who had any manhood in them would vote II
down. Elect some good young colored man to
Office, II necessary Mr.. Lacy or Mr.. Travernsi he
had no aspiration for office himself he only
wanted the principle maintained. He was In
favor Of making an issue with the charter ofthe
District, and elect colored man to Office. They
had Ave hundred majority In the District; he did
not believe In sxpediencyi he believed In princi-
ciple; and he believed In leaving the issue to Con-
grem II the courts should go against them In the
District.
Mr.. Stewart (colorsd) said that he wished to
call the attention Of the meeting to one fact,
which was an extract from one Of the city papers:
Section 5 Of the charter says:
No person Is eligible to seat In the Board Who
ID not twenty-five years Of age and white eiti'
ser and has resided one year In the District.
Mr.. Stewart said that he was not one to ostrl-
else the eolored racei he had been in slavery
along with all Of themi and ho wanted to see the
man who would wish to 60 II blind in this cleo
tion.
He reminded tho president OF q little matter
which had occurred In which he (the presidsnt)
chad swung around tho circle"
The president rose and stated that Mr.. Stew
art told the truth, but that he had been going
upward since instead Of backward and that was
his apology.
Mr.. Stewart resumed his remarks; he said that
II would bs unwise and impolitio to place q col
ored man on the ticket, though they had many
good ones,
Mr.. Tayerns, colorsd, here rose and said that
The Republicans Of the Ward we're the legal Ad.
yisors to be asked, and no lawyers which created
loud Applause. ..'"... ...''.
Mr.. Stewart again resumed: he said II was not
wisdom he wanted to know what good II would
do 10 tsst II In the courts when the charter stood
in the way, and Congress had not altered the
charter as yet. II they could be elected as ooun.
oilmen or aldermen they could sit in the jury
box Congress had bill before them in refer.
sncs to sitting In the jury box, yet they laid Il
on the table for reasons belt known TO them.
selves.
Mr.. Clark, colorsd, here rose, and intsrrup.
tion Of Mr. stewArt's remarks occurred, which
caused confusion.
. NJ. Stewart SsSin 70" end said that they had