Evening star., 1867-03-05
First Ward Republican Association

meeting to order; Samuel Peirre secretary
Rev. MIR. jones offered prayer, expressing
thanks for what had been done for the race
after years OF suffering and degradation, and
that those efforts IN the future might tell for
good.
The chair stated that Council No IA q. - of
A. had called this open meeting, aud read from
the constitution The objects OF the league. They
had called this meeting because Congress had
given them the right to vote, (the coored race:l
and in twelve weeks they were for the first
time to exercise the right OF franchise. They
Lad heretofore, up TO 1861, osen governed by
the black codes OF Maryland and Virginia
their schools TO that date were allowed by suf-
ierance only.
MI Cook was elected chairman. and Solo
mon johnson (who has lust been appointed TO
a clerkship in the Treas sury DepartnenO sec
Tetary.
The Chair stated that at the last mesting of
the league a committee had been appointed TO
draft an address, and proceeded 10 read AZ.
Inc ADDRESS speaks OF their new relations,
declares il their duty 10 form ward clubs, that
their suffrage may be concentratedly given 10
men who have been loyal TO the Government
and true 10 common humanity, who can
discern between justice and right - sub
stances and not "a shadows: that their coun-
Gil organizations should be filled up 10 secure
concert OF action that The lauUels attained by
their fellow citizens ia Georgetown shsuld
eNcite all 10 sleepless vigilance that as il has
been announced that this right was given as
an experiment, aud If successful was 10 be
made plank M The reconstruction Of the
States whose governments were overtime Tn,
IL was q solemn and SACRED responsibility IN
to At that the rights OF three million o. their
race are not compromised; that while adopt-
ing the sentiment OF malice toward none, they
dblUre their fellow Citizens to vote only for
men wh~ have been or are eyidencIng IN
SpteCn ana acton that they are Ia accord
with the principles Of the party from or
through which they have received their en-
tranchisemenr, and are willing to Cooperate
Ia the much needed task OF reforming the
administration VI the local affairs OF
our common city. The report closes with res
olutIons rendering thanks 10 the 39th Congress
for setting aside Jne pafte and sham erpres-
SION on the question of manhood suffrage sub
mlited 10 portion Of the people in December,
leG0. thanking Congress for the protection af-
forced their people by the military reccnstrGc-
non bill; that each Tor himself pledges iu re-
turn for these efforts that they deserve them
by their actions; that they present the result
OF the Georgetown election TO the nation as "A
practical Justification OF the wisdom Of Con-
gress in the establishment of impartial suf-
frage. and as a complete refGtatIon of the foul
charge so assIduously made by their enemies
mat they would use the ballot as they had
falsely predicted they would use their bay
onets; that they would encourage sound mo-
Tality, sobrety, Industry, economy, and the
acquisition OF property, and foster and en-
courage education among their people, and 10
the trustees OF coloreo schools the employment
OF competent colored teachers; thai they rec
ommend TO the $4,000 colOred consumers to
encourage only those who encourage the race.
that the council have the ward canvassed so
that their political strength NAV be known
June election; that a committee be appointed
TO report form OF political organization.
Rev. ID. w. Anderson and others spoke brief
ly on the resolutions, and they Were adopted
Mr.. W. III. Wormiey offered resol ution ten
derIne the thanks of the meeting TO Major
Richards for the profession afforded the col
ored voters of Georgetown at the late election;
which was amended so as to read - for the
honest discharge OF his duties" and also so a
TO include the police generally, and adopted
MI. j. Sayles Brown, (white,J chairman of
FEfaNaF
was introduced, and spoke OF the importance
OF forming an association, and closed by Of
fering resolution that the meeting at once
proceed TO organize a political club, explaining
how clubs had been formed in the Second
Fourth and Seventh Wards.
Mr. o. ). Baker (white) was opposed TO the
manner OF forming these clubs, and argued
that the colored people were capable of form
ing an association themselves and OF choosing
their own officers.
w. IL WormIey moved as the meeting had
been called for particular purpose, and TO
give those who Tad been invited to speak an
opportunity 10 DO 80, that the subject be post
poned until 10 O'Clock; which was adopted.
Rev. MIR. Singleton Jones, (colored) was in
troduced, and spoke of the importance or the
work before them. For the first time the COL
ored people were about TO cast a vote, which
was an important era, and second in import
ance was the manner in which they used it.
Ihey were now on trial, and the eyes of the
entire nation are upon them. Their friends
had, up 10 Tuesday morning, their doubts as
+ whether they would vote right. and their en-
eInies, with the President, had predicted that
the day the colcred men attempted to vote
something would fly. Well, they had voted,
as TO how well DIR. Addison could tell. Laugh
ter and applause As the news on Tuesday
morning was carried through the land, their
enemies looked downcast. Their neighbors in
Geol getown had made themselves name
They should not fritter away their power, but
act for themselves and examine everything.
Act with care, and work for friends not enc
mics. He went to the Capitol now, flor COL
ored men can 60 there and saw colored men
in the galleries sitting sleeping; and he would
ask them TO tell the black men, GMr. Brown
white men too, u white men can take care Of
themselves-to have respect for themselves
Fix up yourselves. 60 with your best clothes,
boldly, take your seat beside Andrew johnson
II he Is In the gallery. The manner in which
the colored people lost their votes in Pennsyl-
vania was because their enemies invited the
Legislature 10 Philadelphia, and took them TO
the lower portion OF the city, where the low
est oil the colored people resided They saw,
and went back and took the vote away. Now
he would say don't let this happen here. Fix
yourselves up, and put the best foot forward.
Rev. D. w. Anderson. colored, next ad-
dressed the meeting saying that the physical
hight WAS over, but much remained TO be done.
They should notice the white man; when he
loves you he loves you 10 death. They were
like the anaconda tney would slime you all
over and swallow you. To every colored
voter he would say vote for the Republican
party and vote the Offices as much to your
own color as TO the " hite. He intended 70 leave
MS PUPPY dno tdkc t4e stump on W0lc0 he
would do his speaking until q colored m2n
was voted in Office. He would oppose Andrew
Johnson, although he had done much for the
colored man-his swinging rouno the circle
dld it-more than any man save Jefferson
DAVIS. He believed that there were as good
scholars in the District among the black men
as ameng the whites, although not as gnany
He would PIN his destiny to John L. Cook.
He proceeded TO speak of the old political par
ties and of the origin of the Radical party
They should be radical, and in order TO do so
should take black man with one hand and
white man in the other, and when they were
together then IL could be seen whether one was
superior to the other. r".
Rev. Mr.. Foy followed, briefly speaking on
the duties of the race, saying that he hoped
never to hear of a black man voting for a cop.
perhead. He could not describe what would
be his feelings when he cast his vote in Rich.
mOnd-a city in " hich he had seen some OF his
relatives sold on the suction block-against
that contemptible old mayor: GAppIause, and
cries OF 'sHang him." Hang him."l
The hour OF 10k having arrived, the motion
of Mr. Brown, that the meeting organize itself
into a Republican ward club, was taken up
and after some debate adopted.
John 4. Cook was elected president and H
A. Wormley secretary: and after d number
had handed in their names as members the
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