Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-01-27

Ward was held at Island Hall, to consider the
question OF changing the present forms Of gov
eminent in the District There was q good
attendance, those present being mainly Repub-
licans. The meeting was called to order by
Collector Boswell, who stated that the meeting
had been called irrespective Of party, for the
party question, and he regretted that the parties
were not well represented. He therefore would
suggest that an adjourned meeting be held al
which all parties could be represented.
Mr.. Reuben Bacon was called to the oh Air
and Mr.. He zekiah Edwards appointed secretary.
Dr. Boyd moved that a committee be appointed
TO draft resolutions expressive of the sense of
the meeting, which was carried, and the Char
named as the committee: Nessrs. F. A. Bos-
well, Augustus Watson, and W. L. Walker.
Mr.. Boswell asked to decline serving on the
committee on the ground that he was Corpo-
ration officer, and had already given his views
as to the measure. He would not yield his
privilege to discuss the question as citizen, but
could not serve on the committee.
Mr.. Boyd urged that Mr.. Il. should not be ex-
cused: Mr.. I. 4. Fowler thought that he
should be.
Mr.. Boswell said that several days ago he had
gwen his views OF the question, to which the
rialists had replied, and he (Mr. b. might have
occasion to reply to the editors remarks, also
some made at the First Ward meeting.
Mr.. Boswell was excused from serving by the
Chair, who named Mr.. T. L. Fowler in his
place; and a motion by Mr.. j. 5. n. Bowen
having been adopted, Messrs. j. +. n. Wilkinson
~.
The Chair announced that the meeting was
open TO remarks; and a question having been
asked how the proposed plan would affect the
rights of voters, Dr. Boyd took the floor and
sand that it not possible to establish a terri
torial form of government unless the people
were deprived of some of their franchises. He
asked, were they ready to give up the right to
elect representatives in the city government :?
Were they ready to receive q Governor? This
scheme was gotten up by the same parties who
for three years endeavored to obtain the passage
of a bill placing the District under commits
sioners. 1t was a Democratic scheme, and the
commssionership bill had been defeated, and
this scheme came up in its place. He asked
would they allow this elimination from the
grave Of the old Democratic party. If they
allowed this bill to. pass, the Democrats
would get all they wanted, and would
laugh and sheer at them. There was not
State which would allow the Government
to make ii a Territory if it could prevent it,
The men in this scheme were like some of the
pretended representatives OF the people i'm the
old country-they will agree to serve for nothing
but help themselves to the pay, and to obtain
pay would rob them of their brains if they could
get at them. [Laughter.l At present an officer
who was not satisfactory to the people need not
this bill they would remain in fur years, and
would not be responsible to the people. This
government, too, is to be an aristOcratic govern
ment, and a poor man will be unable to reach
it. and none but men with their thousands would
be appointed or allowed a voice in it.
Rev. j. w. Green said that nothing tangible
had been presented for the meeting to CON
slider, and he did not believe that it was right
for the consideration Of this matter until the
people could be fully informed as to what the
proposition is. There had been too much en-
dOrsement by the. cOlOred people OF measures
they knew little or nothing about; and 1t was
they who received the censure, not the speakers
who had worked them up to endorsing such
They had given applause to fOwery
words, which had caused them subsequently, to
weep. They were not prepared to discuss the
measure, for they had nothing tangible and he
was opposed to Prejudicing the people against
a subject which they knew nothing about. How
many understood the two plans proposed?
Voices" Monet Which plan will suit the
people best? The past should be considered,
and the people who had been sickened and
caused to vomit should not be msled. Before
the question is considered read the proposed
bills.
Mr.. s. A. Douglas explained the measure as
he understood it, and said that the bill took away
some Of the privileges of the people. He was
opposed to the proposed government unless the
officers can be elected by the people; and unless
that is done he preferred, of the two evils, to
take the least and remain as at present. Under
the scheme of Brown & Co. the governorship
could be bought, for if a Democratic President
was in power he could not refuse 100000; and in
grumble ten times harder. The measure was a
blow aimed directly at the people, and he be-
heved that not one OF the parties interested
were identified with the poorer classes He
h""-'.-- &c was +: .e.isns re future. and
some are looking forward TO the time when the
House of Representatives will be Democratic,
and taking courage from the fact that Bingham
and others are ihclining that wayy: In coneiu-
SION, he urged that the colored people tane tneir
stand against this measure, unless the people,
rights are fully guaranteed. The white people
had had two hundred and fifty years the star,
and could afford to quarrel over this and other
but the eolored people could not af-
ford To quarrel.
NJ Boswell took the floor, stating that he had
expected some of the supporters of the proposed
measure to be present and to hear fair discus
He was in favor of the present government UNI
der which the citizens know what rights they
had Some Of those asking for the passage Of
this measure have been asking for the Com
missioner bill but had failed, and the bill they
now propose will give the people the power TO
elect the lower Board while the Governor and
upper Board will be appointed by the Govern
and sese are a tns lights ts people
are Republicans and that you (the colored
yoters) are not as good Republicans as they. All
Of them are not Democrats. He would give
every man the right to his opinion and respect
those who frankly avow their sentiments, and he
asked the same. When he spoke against the
proposed measure he was abused the next day
made no difference with him what papers said
and he would do what he considered right.
When these men were asking for the Commits
sioner bill did they come before the people, and
people until they found the doors of Congress
closed to them? No! 1t had been said that the
bill was hastily prepared and was imperfect, but
he denied il, saying that although some parts of
il could be criticised the bill had been prepared
" 18th care. This devil was conceived i'm the real
estate shop of Kilbourn & Latta, on 18th street.
Why did they not ask the people to have a hand
in preparing il? That would not do, but they
must go skulking to a few dissatisfied Republic
cans and asked them for support and sympathy,
and one of them went to a meeting, and after
having his say the proposition was voted down.
If this proposition for the benefit of the peo
pie why was il kept to few?
Now, If an officer was elected and did not rep
resent the people he could be left at home in
one year, and the people know that men elected
to-day were not sure Of representing them in
six months. What advantages will the laborin"
man gain by the proposed change? What good
will il be to elect the lower Board of twenty
five if the Governor and upper Board control
the entire Government? They would be in for
four years, while the representatives OF the peo-
pie would be in for two. IL the lower Board OPP
pose the upper what would it amount to? The
would say help yourselves, and the Governor
will have the veto power, from which there
would be no appeal.
What Is the remedy under the present form of
government? The people can remove their
representatives II they fail to live up to their
pledges; they have done it before, and they can
do il again. He wanted the advocates OF the
territorial form OF government to have the
widest scope for their argument. If thew attend
the next meeting In this hall, they can present
their petition with all the arguments they can
come, he trusted the citizens of the Seventh
ri vo,,ld set OOod exampIe tn fha o.Ia-