Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-22

Board, It seemed to him (Nar. Orockerl as il tha
way was open TO harmonize aud remove al
difficulties. He then spoke of the suffering o.
IN creditors Of the Cor poration, and the damage
to the interests OF the CRY by the present state
o. .hair.j the necsssity Of passing appropria.
and earnestly appealed To members to do their
duty here as men and as gentlemen. Let them
suike hands together like men, and 20 ON and
GO hat they were elected to do. He regretted
that ne could not see any thing Of 8 conciliatory
spirit here on either hand, and tina, the body
should quarrel about so trivial IN after as who
should occupy the chair, while the interests of
the city We're suffering. The pride OF the gen.
tleman claiming to be elected President would
not yield. He lMr o. was unwilling 10 do
anything unkind or ungenerous as regarded
either OF them, more particularly the gentleman
ne had voted for for President, and would
again huAdred times over, bat everything
should give way when the welfare of the com.
munity was concerned. Mr.. q. again coun-
seied cancellation and harmony; when he was
interrupted by
Mr. Talbert who asked, "what does the gen.
ueman wish to have reconciled ~
Mr.. Croker said. in answer to the cues ton,
ne would frankly give his individual opinion l..
Inc Republican party was entitled to eight
votes In this Board. Eight members were
elected by Republicans, and It was expected
that they would organize by electing their OH {.
GERS, and direct the legislation of the city. The
people held them respon slble because they con.
MT Taibert.~"We don't recognize the Re.
PuohSdu party VI any OtutT party mere. OOn-
gress elected one member. We don't recognize
him.
Mr.. Croker said one party recoxnized one
member from the Fifth Ward, and the other
party another member. Cor gress in their
wisdom and rightly too, he thought, passed a
law giving the seat to the member who had the
certificate OF election, at the same time proyId.
ing way to settle the controversy by an
appeal to the court, and recently steps ha va
been taken to bring it before that tribunal.
Who would say that Mr.. Clark was not an
Alderman, that Congress had not the right to
give him his seat!
Mr.. Talbert.-"l stand in nv place here and
say that Congress had no right to direct any
gentleman to take his seat here who was not
elected by the people,
Mr.. Crocker.-'Congress has the right to
elect the whole board-to say who shall he or
who shall not be Aldermen. 1t is the supreme
authority in this District
Mr. Talbert.-"Our elections here then are
farce"
Mr.. Croker did not believe there were ten
men in this city who did not honestly belieye
the Republicans had elected their candidate by
$50 me- joIity instead of 80. He then referred to
the votes OF those excluded by act Of Congress
resident tor less than a year-said the unber
Of votes Of that kind given for the party in the
Fifth ward would be shown in court, that the
fact OF such votes having been polled was
brought to the attention of Congress, hence the
remarkable majority in favor Of giving the
Republican candidate his seat and sending the
other party to court. &c.
q.
man that there were hundreds Of voters here
on .nat day who were nigsers from the county
Of Washington"
Mr.. Crocker was glad that the gentleman
nad made that statement here. It had been
said repeatedly that thousands of negroes from
Virginia and the county Of Washington voted
here. He did not believe there was q single
coiored man voted in the First or Second wards
who was not 4 resident Of those Wards for six
months and OF the city for one year, and the
same In other Wards. These charges had
been repeatedly made through the press and
otherwise, but they We're false, eyery word
false. On the other hand he knew and he be.
heved the gentleman (Mr. Talbert) knew that
hundreds OF colored men. many of them prop.
votes at the late election, He (Mr. C.) knew OF
three hundred himself, who when they Offer
10 vote were refused, and were cheated out of
their votes Tor some trivial informality Ii
the initial letters Of their names were wrong
they were debarred from voting, and il a vhite
man came up and his name was misspplled
his vote was received. Had the legal vote
been pol'ed, Mr.. Bowen would have been
e.ected Mayor by ten or fff6en hundred major.
lty, instead OF eighty five ma ;Ority
Mr.. McCathran regretted that any remarks
OF his bad opened up the old sores He had
some mere not to decide as TO the legality of
congressional acts or the correctness of the de.
eision OF courts. but to organize this Board
Let them now commence again aud decide fair.
ly and squarely who will be President of the
Board and get to work.
Mr.. Lloyd called the yeas and nays on the
adoption of the resolution.
The Chair sand he had allowed debate, no.
Knowing the contents of the resolution. He
had since read 1t and one or two words were
very objectionable. He objected to the word
.'rretensions." One of the Presidents surely
does not pretend. He did not pretend but
claimed 70 be President. One, no doubt did
pretend. They would have to 20 back and
commence de moro should they adopt this reso-
luton, and litigations and troubles would r..
snit. He had published TO the citizens that
a. in r.vn1 -.
should so decide, and he would abide by their
be would not recognize the resoIu-
ton. Mr. Richards also called attention to the
manner in which they ATTEMPTED to drive him
out Of the chair. He had been accused of living.
and OF usurpation, and had been attacked as 70
bis religious character, but he did not care a
farthing for that.
Mr.. Fenwick.-Pity but what Won did.
= The Chair.-lt appears this hurts others
They feel il.
Mr.. Fenwick.-Pity but what You did. 1t
was all the truth.
Mr.. Richards said he could not entertain a
resolution in which he was called upon to re.
sign his "pretenions' TO the chair. Suppose
UGH resolution was offered in Congress re-
quesung the Speaker TO resign his "pretensions"
would he entertain it! Mr.. Richards claimed
that had been elected permanent President
and the other members Of the Board at the time
did not know what was going on, for they were
trying TO do something else in the same room
Directly after he was elected president. Mr
Hall was elected secretary, seven votes in the
Affirmative and five in the negative. TWAS 40
recorded, and he was recognized as legally
elected.
Mr.. McCathran.-Do You accept the report
Of the Chronicle Of the following morning.
Mr.. Richards.-There were two reports In the
Chronicle. He was willing to accept the Sec.
reiary's report.
After considerable discussion as to the pro.
ceediDgs on the first day, &C.,
Mr.. Croker proposed TO have Mr. Richards
remain in the chair, TO elect Mr. Moore Vice
President Of the Board, and to 60 on with their
legislation.
Cries of ssOh! no." 81 guess not,
Mr.. Morsell-You cannot do 1T now. The
resolution Is before tf g Board
MI. Grinder desired to make q statement
Mr.. Lloyd called for the yeas and NAYS,
Mr.. RIchards.-I will not recognize the res.
olution.
Mr.. Moore here desired to strike out the word
and insert the word sclaimsr
He did not desire to have any words in the res.
olution that were Objectionable to any member
Of the Board.
Mr.. Richards desired TO say that il that reso.
luton passed it would break up all that had
been done by the Board, and 1t would throw
the corporation into litigation and the mem.
bers into difficulties.
Mr.. Fenwiok.-Never in the world.
Mr.. Grinder.-I have assurances that the
other side will undo nothing. Mr.. Moore has
said so.
Mr. Moore had no idea that the resolution be.
fore them would affect any legislation hereto
fore made or the position of the Mayor. That
day had passed, and the Mayor was in posses.
sion of his Office. That was q matter beyond
the province Of the members Of this Board. II
any competitor Of the Mayor desired TO contes
his seat, he would have to go to Court If tn
gentleman wished to be competitor for III
position of President Of the Board again he