Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-16
CHAuGK OF GOVERNMENT.
First Ward Republican Invineibles.
The Pending Bill I'm Congress Ell.
dOrsed.
Hon. A. G.. Riddle and GEN. Howard
Defended.


bles and citizens generally of the First Ward"
were reouested by a notice in The STAR of yes
terdav IN meet at the Stevens School-house last
/ EVENING AT O'Clock "to consider the proposed
change in the form Of government for the Dis
| trict Of Columbia In response to this call one
4 gathered in Stevens SchoJl-house assembled
/ there at the hour named.
| MIR Thomas Martin called the meeting IN
| order and nominated Henry johnson for chair
| man. who was elected, as also John L. Clark
The Chair stated the object of the meeting
| and Mr.. Alfred Day offered the following resp
buttons:
whereas the Republcanism of Hon. A. G.
Riddle and Gen. Howard has been assailed by
citizens of this District in words rejecting upo
their loyalty to the great party of progress and
feeling that such assertions were entirely I'M.
called for and did gross injustice to two OF our
most worthy citizens and tried labOrers in the
course Of human Justice: Therefore
Re u resOired, That we, the citizens OF the
First ward In mass meeting assembled regard
Hon. A. q. Riddle and Gen q. o. Howard rs
true and tried friends of the Republican party.
Be nJurther resolred, That especially do we
regard with high appreciation their integrity
once down-trodden and oppressed race.
Resotred, That their labor in endeavOring to
ptlng about new government for this District,
nnlen ~ sadIy needs, we regard with the purest
Oh motives, having only in view the good Of the
citizens generally,
MIR. A. Freeman claimed that Messrs Riddle
needed no ucfence at the hands OF
the meeting. Their Republicanism had been
suhciently indicated by the Senate Commit
tee, and therefore he offered the following as a
substitute for the resolutions:
Whereas, after seventy years experience
the fact has demonstrated itself that the present
form of government Is Inadequate for the Dis
trict according to its present status, and in the
face of the adoption OF the fifteenth amendment
bestowing suffrage upO a large number of
voters in the States, it would be unjust to dis
franchise any citizen of the District of Colum-
hin ont I. fDr
whereas, according 20 the present government
of the District a large number of our fellow
citizens Of the county are deprived OF the privi-
lese OF choosing by ballot those who are to rule
over them: Therefore, be it
"Resoired, That, as citizens of the First Ward
IN mass meeting assembled, we favor any
proposition for the extension OF the franchise;
and having implicit confidence in the represent.
atives of the people in Congress assembled, who
have so generously bestowed the rights of
American citizenship upon a long DISTINGUISHED
and oppressed people, we earnestly hope that
Congress will exercise their own judgment and
pass such bill as may be best suited for the
better government of the District, the opinions
of demagogues and political tricksters to the
contrary notwithstanding"
MI. ). III. Sweetland said they had now come
together as citizens, to confer on terms OF per-
feet equality. Although the emancipation proc
lamation and the fifteenth amendment had made
men voters, still suffrage denied to some
Boundary street. Is that the golden rule?
Among those disfranchised was General How
ard, whose intelligence and patriotism were not
under ,n1 the present form Of government for this
should construct highway in front of his own
door. The speaker then ridiculed the idea that
the colored people would be voting away their
rights by supporting the bill pending in Con-
gress. They only asked one government for ALL
so as to get rid of the distractions i'm the path
way Of progress. Their delegates in Congress
would first look out for the interests Of the peo-
PIE here, and then for those of the people of
other parts of the country, like the others do i'm
regard to their districts. To get commerce We
must get rid Of the present divided and jealous
government.
Mr. o. ID. Barrett stated that Mr.. A. G. Riddle
was absent on account of his duties at Howard
University. He compared the present opposition
to the matter in question to the opposition which
met the change in the postage law years ago, a
change which greatly increased the facilities for
communication between the people. Still that
change was opposed, and SO was this, at least by
the City Hall ring. He then referred to the fact
that the law requires Corporation contracts to
be given out TO the lowest bidder, but Corpora
tiOH Attorney Cook sets all that aside. Congress
cannot attend to such things, but a Territorial
Legislature could. He then explained that the
bill did not do away with city government, but
only provided that the Legislature should have
control of the city government 1t was really
carrying out the principles OF self-government,
and the men who were opposed to the bill were
men who would send the cOlOred people back
into slavery. The speaker then asked, "whom
would you think now most in your interests, a
man who had lost his right arm for the welfare
w n
appeal brought down the house In most terrific
applause, interspersed with cries of " Good
good" =" Hit 'em again." If Cook could only
ear that" &c, &c. He then explained that the
reform proposed would bring here men inter
ested in manufactures.
Mr.. Barrett then said he would answer any
question propounded by those present, and the
following colloquy ensued:
George Wnder.-" Who first originated this
idea ofa change in the District government
Mr.. Barrett" james Madison, about sixty
Mr.. T.. Brooks" Well sir, won't the take. be
higher on account of having to pay legislative
oficers?'
Mr. Barrett" No! The General Govern
ment pays all territorial expenses."
Alfred Day." Will not the legislature have
the power to amend the acts Of the corporate au-
Mr.. Barrett" The relations will be the same
as those existing between the Legislature Of a
stale and the municipal councils of any city
Mr.. Snowden.-" Would there be a new code
of laws nader"
Mr.. Barrett" Well, 1 hope So We need one.
Don't you know that in one OF the present laws
here in force is carried out, any man who does
not believe in the Trinity Is liable to suffer
death? Why, there has been a case also where
coored man found another man, Of his color,
in bed with his wife, and on attempting to take
steps for legal redress, he was informed that the
martial rights Of the colored race were not men
Mr.. George ii. Hatton then made a few re-
marks in favor OF the bill, and explained the
advantages OF having one government for ALL
stating that one point which he was going to try
to make was that Booker and Stewart would
then be obliged to shave 4" niger" as well as
white man; in other words, that niger
should shave Niger as well as white man." He
spoke strongly In favor Of the proposed change
Of form of government for the District of Co.
lumbia, stating that his faith was strong in the
Senate and House Of Representatives, that they
would not pass any measure detrimental To the
interest OF the people. He believed Mr.. Sum
ner had the rights Of the cOlored men as much
at heart as any contractor, and that Gen. But
Ter had their Interests at heart as much as any
ward commissioner that God ever made He
continued at some length, enlarging upon the
advantages to be gained by the proposed change
OF government, saying he was In favor of dig
ging up the present government root and branch.
lie hoped Congress would abolish the Board OF
exceedingly" Common Council and the
Croker" Board Of Aldermen. He felt justi-
ned in speaking OF the board as he had from the
isct OF his being member, and was willing to
| shoulder his portion of the odium Justly at
| ulouted TO them. He advised them to make up
men men nihos calmly, and expect q change I'm the
| ioI IN oi government for the District; for come
| Mouiu, as sure as the sun rises and sets.
/ line resolutions and substItute were bs,tb
| resolution. % 'oP@i"'o
Mr.. William A. Freeman offered the follow.
| ing, which were adopted: 'Ao Aoiio"
Believing the necessity exists for n cbanca ~.