Evening star., 1870-02-07

at Lincoln Hall met AT Metzerott Hall for q con-
ference and exchange Of views ON the subject of
consolidation of the conflicting COVER nments in
this District. Among those present were Judge
Fisher, A. g. Riddle, John K. Elvans. HaiIet
Kilbourne, 5. =. Brown, j. 0. Wilson, Dr. Will
liam Gunton, W. s. Huntington, w. H. Bald
win, w; G; Metzerott, james A. Magruder, w.
T. Mitchell, X. NJ. Hall, j. d. Defrees William
Syphax, Samuel Norment, X. d. Muzzey, Riley
A. Shinn, G. Il. Stansbury, z. ID. Gilman, c. H
Nichols, A. II. Shepherd, John Purdy, j. W.
K. b. Mohun, w. o. Morrison, Charles Craigen'
Samuel Bacon, o. d. Barrett, w. s. Fletcher
| j. .y. Coombs, Dr. j. b. Blake, j. d. O'Connell.
and others.
w. S. Huntington called the meeting to order.
He thanked the committee for naming him as
their chairman, and said that his business duties
were sueh that 1t would be impossible for him to
attend to the work assigned to the chairman and
he would nominate Judge Fisher as permanent
chairman.
Judge Fisher was thereupon unanimously
Hall as Secretary.
Col. j. A. Magruder moved that the Chair
man be authorized to appoint 50 additional
members of the committee, as many experienced
business men had been overlooked IN the APP
polntment of the list of one hundred.
MI U. ID. Barrett suggested that as the acts
OF tins committee would be closely scrutinized
u might be said ifthey increased their members
that 1t was a self constituted body, and certain
~ would look strange TO assume such powers,
not authorized by the mass meeting.
Col. Magruder thought their action would be
sustained by the people, as there were many
good men outside whose counsel would be valu-
able.
Mr.. KiIbourn said the action of this meeting
could be reported to ANOTHER meeting at Lincoln
Hall for the approval of the people, and they
could disapproye if they thought proper.
Its discretion as to enlarging its numbers, his
understanding OF it was that it was a quasi COM
mittee OF ways and means, and to urge upon
Congress the necessity for a wholesome change
On motion, the names of S. wolR, d. F. Ham
link, Hawkins Taylor, L. q. Robbins, William
Wall, and Z. Ill. PhilbrOOk, were added to the
committee.
On motion of Hallet KiIbourne, Esq, the
names OF the following persons appointed at a
meeting the night previous at Union League
Hall, one from each ward, Georgetown, and the
county, were added to the cOmmittee:-First
Ward, Col. A. M. Bland; Second Ward, Wm
Rutherford; Third Ward, r: P. Tannia; Fourth
Ward, J. r. Tunnia; Fifth Ward, w. s. Fletcher;
Sixth Ward, e. nj. Barton; Seventh Ward, Il.
I. Fowler; Georgetown, Maj. Beverly Tucker;
UniOntOwn, Mai. j. III. Young.
Mr.. X. NJ. Hall said that as there seemed to be
misapprehension among the people as to the
plans proposed by the mass meeting, he would
submit the following:
Rtsotred, That committee of nine be appointed
by the chairman to prepare address to the people
upon the proposed Change in the government Of the
MIR. A. X. Shepherd thought the Chair should
appoint sub-commttees and assign to them the
duty OF preparing business to bring before this
General MuZzy made a motion for committee
of five, to be appointed by the Chair, to report
business to present before this meeting at once;
carried.
The Chair appointed the following :-Messrs
X. ID. MuzZy, William Wall, James A. Magru-
der, j. ID; Mcconnell, and A. X. Shepherd.
On motion of Mr.. w. L. Mitchell, the resoIu-
tiOns adopted at the Lincoln Hall meeting were
read for information.
Mr.. J.J. Coombs said it became them to con-
slider well what kind of bill Congress was likely
to pass for the District. He said the terms of
the Constitution gave no authority to delegate
the power OF self-government to the District,
the Constitution requiring Congress to have
exclusive jurisdiction over the District of CO.
lumbia, and after all that might be done it
would be necessary to submit any legislation
which the authorities of this District enacted to
Congress for its approval. He saw the early
territorial acts Of Congress required the Gov
ernOrs OF Territories to forward all acts to Con-
gress for its approval. Many who had taken
prominent part in this movement had over
looked this.
Mr.. A. G. Riddle addressed the meeting at
considerable length, saying it was quite obvious
Ii at the matter suggested by Mr.. j. j. COombs
should be discussed and understood, but our
forcfathers never for a moment contemplated
that Congress should prevent a single citizen
ritOries sprung as much from their national
rights as from the constitution. The District OF
Columbia is Tot to become a State as was the
case with our other Territories, but it had been
permanent Territory, and now the proposed
change gave the right of self government to the
people. Our fOrefathers Lever intended to set up
mOnaIc chy in any part OF this land. They
fought to emancipate themselves from such
rule. lApplause] Congress had conferred
lowers upon our two Corporations by authoriz-
Ing them TO levy and collect taxes to sell prop
cry in default of payment of taxes, to regulate
the police, to make laws and enforce them and
it could certainly 60 further. The execution
of these powers by this District had given
slnt ton to these acts of Congress. If Congress
had given such enabling powers in the past
they could even relinquish all jurisdiction over
the legislation for this District He said that of
all the objectionable governments made by NOR
| tai man, this of ours was the worst. There were
more inherent vices in the government Of this
ten miles square, than could be found in any
government under the sun. lApplause.l The
Fenians could not stand such government as
ours; Laughter, !, or, rather, he should say, mis-
government. He was not speaking Demo-
crat or a Republican,; he did not come there as
either 1t was a primary uprising OF the people
tor a reform OF rule. No members of Congress-
are interested in this District; it not natural
that they should be; they arc not sent here to
| govern this District; they did not want to be-
come our governors, they had no time nor incl-
nation for it, and they are not fitted for it. What
would the proprietOrs of Wizards Hotel think
to give up the regulating OF their affairs to their
| guests? ILaughter.l And this is Just the state
OF affairs in this District under the government
OF Congress. We are sometimes without any
government here. lLaHghter.l What had been
sald of the inclination Of Congress to act for us
might be said Of the Executive branch of the
| government for the President, if he was SO in
| clined, could do nothing except through Con-
gress. He is the President Of the United States.
and not elected to govern the District OF Co.
iumbia. The very first qualification that was
necessary in a legislator, is wanting in Con-
gressmen to act for us-that of residence
Every State was to a certain extent foreign to
| the District OF Columbia, and how can we be
| governed by foreigners? He alluded to the old
| laws which we are obliged to live under, saw
| ing that in many instances 1T would take a
| centenarian to interpret them, and called the
chairman to bear him witness that both the
| bench and bar found difficulty in explaining
their meaning or bearing on the present genera
| ton. Something was necessary to stimulate
our business; our energetic men of capital can
do nothing in consequence of this cid medieval
usnry law. Yet here il is i'm force upOn u.s.
Think Of Cincinnati, Chicago, st. Louis and
other great cities that have grown up around
| us, and then think Of Washington. A change in
our legislative powers was needed to stimulate
enterprise here, and they must secure from
Congress what he believed they stood ready to
give to this District-the power to legslate for
themselves. tGreat applause.l
MIR. d. j. COOmbs said he would be only too
well pleased If the gentleman could convince
Congress and the Supreme Court that the Con-
sttution would admit of such relinquishm ment of
power by Congress. He had grave doubt him
self about such transfer OF power. He agreed
with what had been said as to defects in our sys-
tenn, and cited many instances which had come
to his knowledge in his practice before the
courts, among them the doctrine of survivorship
OF tenancy, and others, which our Councils had
no authority to change.
General MuZZy, from the Committee to Pre-
pare Business, reported, recommending the ap-