Daily national Republican. (Washington City [D.C.]) 1870-1872, 1870-01-27
AN ORDERLY GATHERING
Citizens MEETING N SEVENTH WARD
The Territorial Question Considered
COLLECTOR noswELIs SPEECH

ward was held last evening AZ islauo mall
TO consider the question Of changing the
form Of the present government Of the Dis
trlet.
The meeting was called TO order by Mr..
y. A. Boswell, who said that the meeting was
called irrespective Of party TO consider the
question now ngitating the community,
whether II was for the Interest OF the Dis
trict to change TIT form Of government TO
that Of q territory. At was proposed to hold
an adjourned meeting somo days hence TO
discuss tho question. He nominated Reuben
Bacon as chairman Of tho Meeting, and he
took tho chair. Hezekiah Edwards seere.
tary.
On motion OF DR.. Boyd, a committee Of
three was appointed by the Chair to DIAN
resolutions to be submitted at the next
meeting, and Messrs. =. A. Boswell, A.
Watson and NJ. T. Walker were named rs
the committee.
Mr.. Boswell wished the meeting TO dis
tinctly understand that the question TO be
considered was not OF q partisan nature.
He most respectfully declined serving on
the committee. He was q corporation on
Ger, and while he should not yield his prlVl-
lego TO discuss the question, he could not
serve OF the committee. Il would not make
any difference TO the citizens what report
the committee might make, whether In
eminent. It would be for the meeting to
accept or reject the resolutions offered by
the committee.
Mr.. BOYD thought the decllnatlon OF Mr..
Boswell should not DO received. IL had
been left for the Chair to appoint, and he
could not sec why MIR. Boswell should not
serve.
Mr.. T. 7. Fowler thought Mr.. Boswell'S
objections we'll founded, and tho Chair
ahAnId hta Haplinatinn
Mr.. Boswell said ho had several days since
expressed his opinion In open meeting Of
what he thought Of the territorial scheme,
and as one Of the city editors had replied TO
his remarks, he might have occasion again
TO express tho same opinions he had at O
meeting In the First ward.
The Chair subsequently appointed Mr.. 7.
7. Fowler to illl the vacancy, and on mo-
tlon OF Mr.. Bowen, the committee was In
creased 10 five, J. 7. N. Wilkinson and W.
J. Walker being added to the committee.
In response to the inquiry OF q colorod
voter, DR.. Boyd explained the nature Of the
proposed form Of government. Ho said II
was q Democratic scheme 10 deprive the
colored men OF the right Of franchlse-a
peculiar trick to cheat the citizens Of the
rights conferred by the charters Of the cor
porations Of Georgetown and Washington.
He believed in representation, and was down
on monopolies Of every description.
Rev. ]. W. Green could not see what the
meeting was to gain by talking, unlcss the
subject was definitely stated. Until the
proposition was squarely presented, he wa,
opposed 10 blasting the minds Of tho colored
people. Why not have the bill, and discuss
the merits Of the question. He was tired Of
the way thlngS had been going on. The
people had not been properly Instructed, and
he was opposed, earnestly opposed, to this
one-sided way Of considering matters. Again,
he Said the meeting was not prepared TO con.
slider or understand the territorial govern.
ment scheme. He hoped the meeting would
notApplaud fair words. Thatwas why the Re
publican party was In confusion. The lead
ers have deceived the people. They told
them things they never Intended to dos thai
was what was the matter. II was proper 10
defer the subject until the meeting was ready
to act intelllgently.
8. A. Douglass was In favor OF a territorial
form Of government II AZ the officers were
elected by the people, otherwise he should
advocate the present form, preferring OF two
TO choose the least. The plan OF Brown
q Co. was direct blow against the right
Of the citizens Of the District. II was go
up by wealthy arlstocrats, and he warnet
the colored people TO beware Of their sugar
coated pills.
Mr.. =. A. Boswell said he had heard Il
the early part of the meeting that somt
gentlemen fayoring the territorial form o
government would be present to discuss thu
question. He wanted both parties to b
heard In fair discussion. He was 10 fayol
Of the present form OF government, as thu
best and only one the people could exercise
their rights under as citizens.
The preceding speaker had said truly that
the bill proposed the President should ap
point the Governor aud upper Board, aud
the people should elect the lower Board
Having said that, II was all that could b
said. There were some minor Offices to b
filled, but the major part Of the bill wa
comprised In the appointing power OF tn
President. The same gentlemen that hal
for the past three year, been endeayoring Il
get tho commissioner bill through Con
gress had suddenly made their appearance
as the schemers Of q Territorial form ol
government. The same gentlemen composed
the board now that had been united In times
past In urging the government OF the District
by commissioners.
He could tell the meeting that all the gen
tlomen composing that board were not Dem
ocrats. There were men In II who claimed
TO DO good Republlcans-as good as the
blacklist man In the city Of Washington OF
Georgetown. Well, men were entitled to
their opinions, and he could always respect
those who frankly RVow their sentiments.
As for himself, according to his own con
yictlons he should endeayor TO support the
right, and hoped he would always be found
on the aldo Of Justice, whether the press cup
ported him or not. Now, II tho commits
sIoper form OF government Is correct, VIII!
did thew not ask you, fellow-citiEens, to &C
and confer with them then Did they do 1t
You then had the same rights you nov
enjoy. Was not your opinion worth some
thlngf Did you ever sec any OF these gen
tlenien 10 your ward meetlngsi No Until
r.. Of a1n
against them, and that without the people
the popular voice Of the voters, was heard IL
favor Of their peculiar schemei not unit
then did they c0ndoscend to ask your sup
II had been said the bill was imperfect DO
cause II was hastily prepared. He knew
there were many things In It open to crit
lclsm, but the speaker said he knew the bill
was carefully drawn up. IL was quietly ant
Ielsurely discussed, and this devil was con
celYed In the real estate shop Of kllbourr
and Latta, up on Seventh street, and a.
their own appointed time allowed the free
dom Of tho District. Why was II, II they
were 90 anxious TO promote the interests o
all-Nhy did they not invite the people Il
70 Join with them In framing or preparing Il
That would not dol but TO get support the!
appealed to few dissatisfied Republicans
and hoped In that way 10 gain the sympath
Of many OF the voters. lie had already OK
pressed himself as opposed to the chang
and In favor Of tho present form or system
Of government. Now, II a man was eleete
70 once and did not represent the people
the people could set him aside at the mex
election, aud the people Of this city kne'
that men elected to-day were not certain +
represent them six months hence. To tn
people, aud not 10 the few, does Il belong Il
suggest aud present new measures aud 4
settle the questions Of the form Of gOyern
ment best for the District.
He would ask what advantages the labor
Ing men OF the District would gain undo
the proposed change that they do not nov
enjoy. II you cannot eject all the officers
what good would II be to elect the lowe
board Of twenty five, as II proposed Woul
not the governor and upper board eOntrC
the entire government They would be up
pointed for four years, while the lower boar,
could only stand for two years. SuppOslnl
the lower board should oppose the measure
OF the upper board, what would that amour
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