Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-24

MARKRITxR's ART GALLHRY, 4s6 Ith street.
BARLow's ART GALLERY. 23I Pa. avenue.
change Of Governmens for the Dis.
tFfef.
ksctisg Of the Fourth Ward Rep~bl;oa. C7ub-Ar-
nsght Meetings 81 the City Coaaols cosdemned.
regular meeting Of the Fourth Ward Re-
publican Club was held last night 81 the City
Hall, the President (John II. Crane) in the
char, and VIM +. Hall secretary.
Mr.. Crane stated that the meeting was called
10 consider the only great question Of the day,
triet of Columbia wiss statesmen meet eyerv
public question that comes up pertaining to the
Interests of the people. The negro question,
years, had now passed away with the consum-
nation OF the object for which the principle
Was contended for-the equality before the laws
of all men, New Questions were now before the
people, and they ~ Republicans should have
the courage t. meet them. Selfish men we're
now, Tor selfish purposes, sndeavoring to defeat
wise measure The arguments urged against
achange OF government in the District Of Col
nmbia by the enemies of progress were absurd.
The doctrine that the passage of the bill nov
before Congress curtailed the elective franchise
was the most absurd. Many other falsehoods
had been circulated among the ignorant, which
il was the design Of these meetings to disprove.
Mr.. u. IA. Crossman offered q resolution
heartily approving of the plan or Hon. Geo. W.
n
efit of the poor man. He said be had not seen
the bill referred to, but understood il to be tn
furnish land TO those unable 30 purchase on the
usual terms, to he paid for in easy installments
mere were In this city 10, 900 poor persons who
could by the terms Of this bill be enabled to
take fresh start in life, and enjoy the fruits of
Their own labor; and what Is true of Washing
,e n u also true Of every large city in our coun-
OF large tracts OF land lying idle, and by this
means the people everywhere would be ben
e1ssed, and the Government also. In the State
OF Virginia land vas very cheap, and ii the poor
I'm the populous portions OF the country could
get assistance in the way proposed, there would
soon be churches and schools established there.
and prosperity would result.
hhe subject was postponed till the next meet
The Chairman then called upon Mr.. L.. Gle
phsBe, who said that he had never spoken in
thai chamber since he was there as a RepnbI;-
can Alderman Of the Second Ward and the
only one at that time who had been elected 10
The City Councils He at that time opposed
memorial-which was then drawn up to present
% Congress-asking that body 70 pass no bill
giving the elective franchise to colored men i'm
the District Of Columbia. The action ON his part
We ms death blow TO influence or consideration
BY the body then meeting there and the party
then IN power. Was he now to stand idle whe
n great measure to extend the rights OF colored
men was being opposed by similar opposition.
lAPpiause.1 He could not be put down by
Sayles y. Bowen or any influence he might bring
10 bear on this question. 1t was not at this day
necessary to use any further argument in favor
vineed of its Dement'S, and the oniy Opposition 10
from any quarter IN this District was from
Aayor Bowen and his satellites about the CITY
haii-the great majority Of Republicans
an the District were in favor OF its becoming q
law at once. Nothing was more apparent than
this lApplause.l Efforts were, however, being
made by Nr. Bowen to impress upon the COM
nlttee OF Congress, and indeed every member
OF rhst body, the belief that such bill was not
aesiraoie, that IT was a scheme OF the Copper
heads and inimical to the Republican party
mere. What can be more transparent? There
never had been a bill proposed for presentation
10 congress affecting the interests of this city
bat bad been defeated by meddlers who. like
DIT. Bowen, had some selfish motive to prompt
them in opposing II. In this case he would saw
that there never was bill presented from any
people that had met with 50 universal sanction
AZ the Territorial bill for the District of Colum
biz had among all classes OF the citizens When
TINS ten miles square WAS FIRST set apart As the
seat OF the General Government il WAS
net expected nor intended that it would
be great commercial or manufac-
turing town, but a kind of exc uslye
city, where none OF the commercial nfiuences
would be brought to bear on the legislation OF
Congress. But times had changed An inn
merse empire had grown up, and with il a cor
responding growth of legislative business, for
the States OF the Union requireing all the atten-
ton Of our legislators, and this District is left
10 get along the best way it can. Such being
the case, n IT not proper to ask of Congress the
power to enact laws Tor ourselves? As the case
nov stands, there does not seem to be a measure
proposed that there is not opposition raised
from some part OF the District and Congress is
unable 10 determine what to do. The Judges of
OUT courts, the members Of the bar, and, in
TACT. every one connected with all the yarious
branches OF industry are in favor Of the passage
of this bill Then, why should not Congress.
give Us the government We desire: The great
ton : from s J. Bowen and his sateliitee' pTbev
have never been able TO assign any good argu-
nent against the plan proposed. The truth is,
they see the handwriting the WALL
I he -colored and white poor in our midst begin
to see the great advantage Of this change to
them. and >. j. Bowen and his satellites See
that they will hot be able to retain the power,
that their offces NAV be taken from them; this
is the secret Of their opposition TO the bill. The
Republican party of this city is a fixed fact, and
can never be put down or crushed out by such
has done 50 much to divide and distract it. Zap
plause-l Another argument has been urged
that by giving the right to vote to the crfizens
Of the county, together with the Conservative
vote Of Georgetown, the Conservative party
might get into power in our territorial affairs.
Was there ever such silly arguments known.
The fact is, that this bill gives the right to vote
To the citizens OF the county, simply, a right
that they never possessed before, and the right
90 legislafe for ourselves. lApplause.l We are
now taxed like all other Communities, without
the right to make our own laws. IL this bill
passes noone need fear As to the future pros
perity and Importance Of our city. ManufAc-
turing interests would be started, and the poor
man would have an abundance. fApplause.l
Justice q. s. Wall was then called for and
said il was pleasant TO be with his friend Gle
plane. whose name was familiar as household
words with colored people in Ohio. His name
a. associated with the National Ere would never
be forgot by colored people in this country,
lApplause He did not know what were the
local differences that had arisen to cause tae
Republicans OF this city to cast aside such men
A. Ciephane, but he knew that his maine was
syponomous with RepubIicanism wherever
there were coiored men. such men were well
known long before the latter day Republicans
who we're striving to make themselves leaders.
Mr.. Clephsne had helped to fight the battle OF
freedom for the colored man long before the
present days OF sunshine Of Republieanism. He
Was true man and he would ever stand by him
until he was convinced that he was going back
on his principles lGreat applause. He took
no part in the local politics Of the day but he
now announced himself in favor of the change
Of government here, convinced As be
vas that il would be to the advantage of both
whites andsblackr. Living Is he does outside
the CITY limits, where all were disfranchised, he
could take no other course. He could not see
how any one could oppose this bill, a. il gave
the people OF the District legislative powers
which they had never possessed, and without
which they never could prosper. He could not
array himself against Mayor Bowen but he
thought almost any change would be to the adj
vantage Of the people here now. lApplause.l
He was present before the committee OF Con-
gress, and had heard some very strong argu-
mepts used against the bill by some individuals
there. IA yoice--"W. A. Cook.v1 The speak
er-"Ges, and worse than that He helieve6