The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-03-31
LOCAL DEPARTMENT.

April. ...r...
The meeting was called to order, In the
absence Of the president, by the secretary,
Charles II. Peters, aud Palmer Briscoe was
elected president pro TEN.
A committee Of one from each district rep.
resented was appointed to examine oreden-
tlals. The committee consisted OF Cornelius
Clark, First ward Joseph Brooks, second
ward, Aaron Russell, Third wardi Q. W.
Guthrie, Fourth ward, D. r. Parker, Fifth
ward; Abraham Dyson, Seventh ward.
Just as the committee retired, the regular
president, Rev. Anthony Bowen took the
chair.
He took the ground that the officers of the
association should make their report to the
citizens present as q mass-meeting prior to
the organization Of the convention.
Various gentlemen differed from him as to
the mode Of proceeding, aud general dis
cusslon ensued as to the status of the meet
ing.
A motion 10 receive the report Of the Com
mittee on Credentials was finally adopted,
and the secretary OF the committee read the
names Of the following delegates
First ward-John A. Gray, Cornelius
Clark, VIM. Minor Williams, jerome john
son, VIM. schooler, VIM. T. Thomas, VIM.
II. Bell.
second ward-Henry Piper, Jos. Brooks,
Henry Beverly, A. Hedgeman, D. Hudncll,
J. Racks, J. Barker.
Russell, George W. Renfrcw, Alexander b.
Thomas, Alexander Hayes, John Freeman,
James Coleman.
Fourth Ward Lewis Hickman, Palmer
Briscoe, Geo. W. Hntton, William Scott,
William Edinburgh, Charles Goodrich, John
Hawkins.
Fifth ward-w. A. P. Cooper, W. II.
Brown, IT,, ID. Il. Parker, Samuel Williams,
James Green, James Cephas, William A.
Wayne.
Sixth ward-Not represented.
Seventh Ward Henry johnson, Isaac
johnson, Rev. J. W. Green, Perry Carson,
Abraham Dyson, W. W. White and George
ii. Newman.
The return of Messrs. John 7. y. Wilkin-
son and Sampson Meadcr as delegates at
large from the Seventh ward caused another
lengthy discussion as 10 the position they
occupied, during which the Georgetown del
cgatlon entered the church.
Mr.. g. Waters, of that delegation, was
added to the committee on credentials, and
that committee again retired, and In few
Georgetown delegates; j. W. Lee, A. /.
Brown, G. d. Morton, @. Waters, J. d. Row,
z. Z. Cokcley and James r. Carter.
A committee of one from each ward was
appointed on permanent organization, as
follows: jerome johnson, A. Hedgeman,
George W. Renfrew, william Edinburgh,
James Green, George II. Newman, and A. T.
Brown.
The secretary read report of the financial
committee, which showed that the Fourth
and Sixth wards and the Twelfth sub-lis.
trict had failed to pay their assessment Of
SIS each, which left the treasury some two
or three dollars In debt, while there should
have been a balance In the treasury.
Mr.. d. X. Parker thought the report
should have been submitted to meeting i'm
mcdlatOly after the celebration, and not let
these matters hang over.
Mr. Geo. W. Hatton defended the officers
Of last year, and said this was a matter in
which the whole people were Interested, aud
their honor should be maintained.
VIM. II. Brown, IT,, questioned the pro.
priety of fcasting the officers, but expressed
himself satisfied with an explanation from
the president.
The committee gu permanent organization
returned and reported the following nominal
tons: For president, Charles II. Peters; vice.
president, Gassaway Waters; secretary,
Aaron Russell; treasurer, Anthony Bowen.
Mr.. Charles II. Peters declined the nomi-
nation.
Mr.. D. r. Parker asked IL member Of tho
president, and attempted to get a definite
answer, but great deal Of confusion sprang
up with the usual points of order," "privi
legged questions" and rising for informa
tion," during which the question before the
meeting was entirely lost sight Of
Motions Of all kinds were offered, from all
portions Of the church, but the Chair failed
TO understand any Of them until motion
was made TO lay the whole subject on the
tables which motion prevailed.
Mossrs. Peters, Hatton and Bowen were
put in nomination for president, aud the vote
taken vigd Uocc. Mr.. Peters received %, Mr.
Hatton 10, and Mr.. Bowen votes. Mr.
Peters was therefore declared elected.
The first ballot for secretary resulted rs
follows VIM, II. Bell 90, VIM. II. Brown
IL, J. 7. n. Wllkson o, Aaron Russell 8.
The second ballot stood Bell 2s, Brown
II, Wilklson !.
MIR. Anthony Bowen was unanimously
elected treasurer.
Mr.. Bowen then took the stand, and pro
cceding to speak upon the destinies Of the
race and other matters foreign to the subject,
was reminded by Mr.. Clark that the hour
was growing late, aud he suggested that the
meeting proceed TO Its regular business.
Mr.. Peters then took the chair, and thank
ing the convention for the honor conferred,
asked their support In the discharge OF his
duties.
Mr.. Geo. W. Hatton then introduced u
preamble and series OF resolutions, as fol-
lows;
Whereas God in His all-wise providence,
through the means of carnage and bloodshcd
compelled the American people 10 withhold
no longer from us our God-given rights; and
whereas God, still working in our behalf,
has raised up mighty army on the island
of Cuba in defence of right against SPANS
despotlc rule, whose every step or tramp
speaks In thunder tones the glorious princi-
pie that all men are born free and equal, and
that the black and the white are alike equal
in the sight OF God and in the sight Of the
laws Of the landi and whereas the 10th day
of April Is and will ever be to us a day Of re-
joicing and Thanksgiving, it being the day on
which God commanded the liberty-loying
representatives, of the nation to abolish the
cursed system of slavery In the District OF
Columbia therefore be- it
Rssol"ed, That we, the colorcd people of
the District Of Columbia in convention as
scmbled, recommend to our people the pro-
priety OF dispensing with the former mode
OF celebrating the 10th Of April, and recon-
mend TO them that they assemble at their re-
speclye churches and give thanks to God for
what He has done for them, and pray that
lie VIII continue 10 carry on the work that
$50 ~ iiiul III lulb GllNs until
our people throughout all the land shall be
Tree from slavery, ignorance and superstl-
lion. And he 1t further
hf'9I"ed, That the pastors of the several
chnrches he requested to call their congre-
vice.
inc resolutions were debated with some
warmth by Mcssrs. liatton, Bowen. Plper.
w. H. Brown, Hayes, \. T. Brown and
others. N
When Mr.. Bowen rose to speuk. d. r.
Parker rose TO point Of order, which was
the signal for a general uproar and cries of
Sit Down" ''Shut up!' "Put Him QUIT,
Sr., &c.
The Chair appointed Perry Carson ser
Scant-at-arms, but he failed to restore order.
Mr. Parker finally stated his point, which
was that Mr.. Bowen, not being a delegate,
was rs, not entitled to the floor.
me CHAIR oyerruled the point, aud Mr..
restored.
Inc resolutions were opposed by Messrs.
Parker, Hayes, Russell. CLARK Williams
Nichols, Freeman and several others mncb
time being occupied in dcbntc. md 49, r.,
points of order" Finally resoin,inO v.a aa
adopted to lay the whole question over 90 90
allow the delegates TO consult their constitn1
cnls, and the meeting, a little before MD
night, adjourned anu