The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-05-05

MEETING OF CONSERVATIVE CIrIzEss.-
Last night, pursuant to call, meeting Of
Conservative citizens was held at Union Hall,
on Fourteenth street, between l. street and
New York avenue.
Among those present were q number Of
prominent colored citizens heretofore allied
with the Republican party, and also many
white citizens Of Washington, whose object,
as stated, was to discuss matters tending TO
the good Of the city and Its citizens, ire
spectlve Of party and color.
The meeting was called to order about
$3.50 o'clock, by Mr.. Charles Stewart, who
proposed that Mr.. John D. Clark take the
chair.
Mr.. Clark, upon taking the chair, said he
understood the meeting not to be political
one, but one calculated TO reform the affairs
Of the city, as Il was much in debt, and now
required the selection Of good men TO repre-
sent the interests OF the city in the next
Councils. lie thought every citizen would
be pleased to sec the city out Of debt, and he
believed that the colorod people of Wash
lngton had been the best humbugged people
In the world, by supposlng that few people
whom they had elevated to Office had made
them FREQ. II was q mistake; God had
freed all people, though the war had the ef-
feet OF abollshing the Institution Of slavery
In the South.
At the conclusion Of his remarks, the
Chair was asked what the object Of the
meeting was.
Tho Chair replied that Its object was to
form a reform society In order to elect good
men to city offices.
A Voice. Is II to affect race or color1
The Chair. No. The man who IL black
has q vote, and he is MS good as any man
who votes In this District. In fact he hoped
that the colorcd people would select one man
Of their color to represent them In the
Councils from the Second ward. For him
self, he was ready to use his influence to
secure the election Of such a person, IL he
be q good and faithful man. He thought
the colorcd men could elect one Of their
color, provided the opposition Cthc Republl-
cans) do not bring vessel load OF illegal
voters to usurp their rights. He was
stauuch friend Of the Legitimate colored citl-
gems, and he hoped they would watch
closely all illegal voters.
AT this stage Of the proceedings, Mr.. Thos.
Hinton was appointed secretary.
Mr.. Hewitt, OF the Third ward, was called
on and addressed the meeting, saying that
Il was not his practice to make speeches, but
he had In his employ a number OF colored
men, who had been led estray by designing
white politicians, and he never asked the
colored man to vote any political ticket, yet
as taxes were very high, and some 1000
colored persons were employed by Conserya-
tive citizens, II they persist In electing to
office men who squander the money Of the
citizens, the colored people cannot expect to
retain their positions. He did not care who
the colored people voted for, SO they were
good men, Identified with the interests Of
| the District.
Mr.. George T. Raub said he was In favor
of the colored man enjoying his rights, and
he thought Ii could be accomplished by over
| throwing the present DYNASTY.
Jerry Robinson said he had only been In the
| city about five years, and he wanted to know
how he could support the citizens ticket.
The Chair. A bona Jide resident of the
District, whether Of five or fifteen years, was
a good citizen II Identified with the interests
Of the city.
Mr.. John Hawkins said Nr. Robinson
was under the impression that II was told
citizens" lie was mistaken; for he under
stood the ticket to be ''citizens' ticket,''
not "old citizens" Therefore legal voter
OF one year might be regarded as citizen.
Me- David Brown being called upon, asked
to be excused from making a speech.
T. II. c. Hinton then addressed the meet
ing, saying that the only interest he had In
1t was free speech, free education, an open
and indebted ballot, and free country.
The meeting was open for free discussion,
and there were plenty Of "rough and ready
| men present who were not afraid to utter
their sentiments. In conclusion he stated
that II the colored people are right In the
step they arc now about to take let them 20
on; IL not, let them take the back track
but he said, in good faith, the colored men
have too long been entertaining sheep In
VOLTS clothing. lie wanted the colored men
to teach the Democratic and the Republican
parties that they were competent to know
right from wrong, and let them teach the
people Of Washington and Georgetown that
the present city administration was an OIL
garchy, where tho zone man" ruled the
party, and not the people the "ouo man."
Several other colored people made short
addresses In favor of a "citizens' ticket"
and with the exception Of few unruly per-
sons the meeting was quite harmonious.
Some disorder was attempted, but II was
promptly quelled by the police.