Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-02-22

Il
to proud too do that let them be disfranchised.
Mr.. y. T. Mitchell said he was not here as an
apOlOgist for the rebellion or any other man who
took part in it, He had brother who was edu-
Gated at the expense of the Government and
fought all the time on the Union side therefore
the remarks of Judge Fisher did not apply tn
him. The speaker had fed sick and Wounded
soldiers of the Union army at his own table,
nursed them in his own beds, his wife had visi-
ted hospitals and niristered to the sick and
wounded to the best of her ability, but the war
was over now, al d he thought 1t time to forgive
these people. How can we expect to be forgiven
il We did not forgive? He ALWAYS had opnosed
the rebellion and did all in his power To AID the
Government, but now ne pleaded for mercy for
those who had done wrong.
Judge Fisher said there were thousands OF
cor eVloi"n Joys who had been convicted OK
,,esling dollars worth of sugar candy or tht
ike and for that they must be excIndei rom
citizenship. The highest crime was llaI %
treason because it was wholesale murder. and
If 8 poor colored boy could not be excused for
stealing four or Eve sticks Of sugar candy man
guilty Of treason should not be excused.
Mr. a. c. Lewis hoped Judge Fishers amend
ment would be sustained. Ii it should be voted
down they might as well go hone, for ii Com
grsss heard of such action no territorial bill
would be passed
After some further debate. Judge Fishers
amendment was adopted with but two negative
votes
Mr.. Coomhs offered an amendment providing
hat ii any person not entitled 90 vote under the
act should wilfGliy and knowingly vote at said
first election he shOud be liable TO the pains and
penalties imposed by existing laws for illegal
voting in the corporation OF Washington.
Adopted.
In the 9th section. prohibiting the Legislative
Assembly from passing ex post facto laws, taxing
property OF the United States, anu requiring a
two-thirds vote to borrow money or issue stocks
or bonds. Mr.. A. l.. Sturtcyant moved to amend
10y requiring an act of Congress to authorize the
Legislature to borrow money. HSthought this
a dangerous power II be vested in the LegisIa-
tGre. For instance, If there was proposition to
build a road from here TO the Ohio, there m sht
be money enough il 1t to buy out the Legisla-
ture.
Mr.. Shepherd thought IL this amendment he
adopted TIE District woCii be H. better oil than
II is now. Every one knew how the corporation
Mr.. Barrett thought they might be authorized
to borrow not e7.cee ding Certain sum, as the
Legislature of New ork had suffered from ex-
travagance ofthe kind.
Judge Fisher said New York had been cited
he desired to say it had Outgrown all her sister
hood of States in every point of view.
Mr.. Sturtevants motion was lost.
Mr.. Lloyd was opposed to the restriction on
the legislature from taxing Government proper
ty. of al things he wanted to do that. He
thought the District had perfect right to tax
the Government property here. He knew many
members of the Lower House of Congress who
were in favor Of paying tax on Government pro-
perty.
Mr.. Shepherd thought it wild proposition
for the District to undertake to tax Govern
ment property. That was desirable, but it was
Mr.. j. c. Lewis thought there was no wisdom
in making any alusion TO the matter in the bill.
The amendment Of Mr.. Lloyd, striking out the
States, was adopted Sections 10, H. IL, Is, IA.
Is and Is were adopted. In the nth section
giving the Legislature power to create corpora
tons and repeal the charters Of Washington
and Georgetown, abolish Levy Court, &c, Dr.
Lindsey moved to amend the section by giving
the assembly the power to alter, amend, or re-
peal the charters of the Washington Gaslight
hprrppDlitan nd thn
tor and Georgetown Railroad Companies"
To this proposition Judge Fisher proposed an
amendment, which DIR. l.. accepted, viz.:-"That
the said assembly shall have power to create,
alter, modify or repeal within said District cor
pOratiOns aggregate for religious, charitable
educational, industrial. or commercial purposes,
or purposes of public Improvement"
| debate ensued as to Congress giving to the
legislative assembly the right which it had re.
served to itself when creating these corpora
tons. Judge Fisher thought il Congress could
give to the people OF this District certain legis-
| lative powers, they could then all such powers
Dr. Lindsiey's amendment, as amended by
Judge Fisher, was adopted.
MIR. Elvans thought the provision giving the
Legislature power to abolish the Levy Court or
repeal the charters Of Washington and George
town would create opposition to the bill.
Mr.. Shepherd thought the time might come
when they would want to repeal these charters,
and should have the power to do so.
Judge Fisher offered an amendment providing
" That neither Of said municipal corporations
shall be abolished without the consent OF the
people Of said corporations respectively, ex-
pressed at a special election therein to obtain
the sense OF the people on that subject -
adopted.
Sections IS, 10, 20. p, %, %, "a and Is, were
Mr.. Easily offered a resolution that Congress
be, and are hereby, respectfully requested to
extend the corporate limits of the city of wash
ington as 10 embrace the whole District OF
Columbia, and place il under one municipal
government, with such power as Congress NAV
deem advisable to accomplish the true intent Of
all government, the best interests of the people;
which was lost.
MIR. Lloyd moved that a committee be ap-
pointed to rearrange the bill-arrange under
proper sections powers conferred, duties de-
tred, Sc, as nearly as practicable.
Mr.. COOmbs thought il had better be recommit-
ted to the committee of five which prepared it.
Mr.; Shepherd moved that four additional
members be added to that committee, who
should put the bill in proper shape, present it to
Congress, &c, which motion was adopted, and
the Chair appointed as additional members to
the committee of five, Judge Fisher, Messrs. X.
ID. Muzzy, Clinton l.. Lloyd, and Halet Kill
bourn.
Judge Fisher, as chairman Of the general
committee, announced as additional members
Messrs. X. j. Neigs, j. M. Langston, James
Goddard, Enoch TOtten.
Mr.. Shepherd moved that the campaign COM
mittee be instructed to hold meetings throughout
the two cities and county of the District for the
ensuing two weeks, so as to present the bill
to the people, and obtain signatures to me-
MORALS to be presented to Congress. He also
moved that the Committee on Memorials be in
structed to prepare them and lay them before
the meetings for signatures.
Gen. Nuzzy requested that the memorial COM
mlttee meet at his office to-day 70 draft plan
OF an address.
The Chair stated that the labor of drafting
this bill had been performed mainly by Mr..
CoOmbs, who had been assisted by Messrs Phil
lips and Cox. He, as chairman, of the com
mittee, awaiting himself of his high privilege,
got the work out of his associates. fIaughter1
On motion of Mr.. Hall, q vote of thanks was
rendered to the sub committee referred to.
Judge Fisher thought a camraign to carry the
bill through successfully should last more than
two weeks.
MIR. Morrison moved to keep up the campaipn
until the defeat or success of the bill. Adopted
Mr.. Brown stated the District Committee of
the Senate was anxious to get hold Of the bill
Adjourned.
RELIEF OF THE POoR.-A special meeting of
the directors and visitors OF the Washington
Association for the Improvement of the Condi-
ton OF the Poor was held yesterday afternoon,
Major A. &. Richards presiding, and s. Wolf
secretary.
The Chair stated that the object was to hear
the arrangements for the distribution of the
Government relIef and to come to full under
standing as to the duties Of visitors. He had
found many impostors. He had been told that
Capt. Bridges would keep a minute record of
those relieved, which would be reported to Con-
gress, and on the manner the relief is expended
this winter would depend the future action of
Congress. He would therefore urge that the
greatest care be used.
DIR. Roberts moved that the lieutenants and