Evening star., 1870-03-04
THE TERRITORIAL PLAN OF GOVERNMENT.
An Enthusiastic and Important Meet.
ing.
Speeches by Hen. A. g. Riddle, Gen.
o. q. Howard. w. HI. Philip,
Prof. John ~. Langston,
clinton Lloyd and
Others.

ritorial form of government for the District of
Columbia was held last evening at Lincoln Hail,
to ratify the action Of the Committee Of $50 ap-
pointed at the late meeting at that Hall to pre-
pare a bill for that purpose, Sc. There was a
large attendance, comprising full representa-
ton Of prominent business men OF the city
Among those present were j. j. Coombs s. p
Brown, X. NJ. Hall, Hawkins Taylor, Col. NJ
Thompson, j. W. Green, r. s. DAVIS, Clinton
Lloyd, DR.. VIM: Gunton, W. 8. Huntington. j.
Z. lewis, Gen. ~. iussey, Hallet Kilbourn,
Col. j. A. Magruder, Chief Justice Casey, j.
NJ. Latta, A. q. Riddle, Q: s. Noyes, Col. W. III.
Wise, G. 1. Garfield, J.R. Mcconnell, DIR. Clay
ton, j. II. Crane. Major Bates, Alex. Adamson,
j. H. Crossman, Gen. Chapman, Col. .. d. Bar
CSInsman Wan, fPer r .G.tt C. HeSet Rnp RI d.
hardt, G. l.. Walker, A. Cluss, ex-Alderman
fenwick, A. $. Solomons, and w. Il. Fletcher.
Col. j. A. Magruder called the meeting to or
the chair, and Mr.. Hallet KiIbourn chosen sec
retary. MIR. K. NJ. Hall moved that four vice
presidents lie elected; adopted, and Messrs. j.
- Lewis, .: w; Green, :; r; ca brown, ma and >; y:
from General y. .. Howard, regretting his ina
bility to preside over the meeting, on account of
the meeting of the medical faculty OF the Uni
veTsity for final examination OF students.
Judge Fisher, AZ chairman Of the committee
of $50, appointed at the mass meeting, reported
that the committee had prepared a bill prOvid-
ing for Territorial form of government for the
District of Columbia, and this meeting was
called for a ratification of the same. Ju ige
Fisher then read the bill agreed upon by the
committee, heretofore published i'm THE STAR.
Mr.. Clinton Lloyd offered the following resO.
luton:
ResoIred, by the people of the District of Columbia
in general yenton assembled, that do heartily
approve the plan of Territorial government for the
District OF Columbia embedded in the bill presented
as best adapted to the peculiar relations
which We sustain to the General Government, and
Congress- to the end that the great right to
ernment enjoy ed by ELL other citizens of the pub
also, and the only remaining anomaly in our poiit.
cal system be speedily destroyed:
Mr.. j. j. COombs said the bill had been altered
In form, but not in substance; some sections had
been transferred and the language revised;
winch work had been performed by Mr.. Clinton
Lloyd In very satisfactory manner
REMARKS Mr.. RIDDLE.
Hon. A. q. Riddle was then called upon and
addressed the meeting. Mr.. X. said he did not
propose to discuss the details of the bill 1t was
before the people for criticism or amendment
The people had no purpose in being deceived.
"A measure which proposed to abrogate the
rights and privileges of the people was not
friendly to them; and, on the contrary, mea-
sure which had for its primary object An extern
sion Of the rights and privileges of the people
was for the people, and he who opposes such a
bill and seeks to show them it is not for their
benefit, does deceive the people. OF course, the
change in the government would be
opposed by those holding office under the city
government, not because the bill would be bad
for the people, but bad for the Office-hOlders.
lApplause.l The District Of Columbia is at
present governed by body of men who to
the District are fOreigners-men not elected by
the people of the District, and not responsible
to the people for anything they do, undo, or
misdo. 1t was now proposed to get this govern
ment from these gentlemen and put it in the
han'is Of the people, where it belonged. Was
1t was not, and he who said it was did not un-
derstand the measure, or wilfully misrepre-
sentedit. Some calling themselves workingmen
W. were declaring the Dill 20 oe against the rights
He had nothing to say about the opponents of
the bin being good or bad Republicans, but GER
tainly they were not wise cOunsellOrs. The
opposition Of those who hold Office would not
damage the bill, but only compromised them.
The people Of the Corporation of Washington
majority of the people OF the Dis
The measure proposed is in exact
accord with the principles and professions of the
Republican party. Leaders of that party, as
they call themselves, oppose it and seek to ar
ray the party against it. In urging the people
to oppose the measure, they would deceive the
people. The plan proposes to place the COrpo-
ration OF W Washington under the control of the
new government; and as it eXtinguishes the
holders Of Corporation offices, they oppose it.
tApplause.l
There has been times when the Corporation
OF Washington had expired by its own limitation
and months elapsed before Congress found time
to give it push forward or kick backward. AS
to the necessity for q change OF government all
agreed. II is claimed that this plan of putting
the Corporation of Washington in the hands of
the new government is for the purpose of insur-
ing its destruction. Let us examine il, ana let it
be a test of the candOf of those who oppose this
me asure on that ground. The population of
OF the District, and they will therefore control
the new government. What must be thought OF
the candOr of those who dare not, or will not
trust the people with their own city. II they
really desire the continuance of the Corpora
ton, it can only be secured by putting it in the
hands Of the new government, for Congress may
now abolish !. Or permit it TO expire. The ne
cesstyy ssor a change IS conceuo5: On all hands,
force by endeayoring to Tepedyy the difficulty in
xtending the powers ofthe two corporationsand
of the Levy Court.
The time for a change has come. The oppo-
vents Of this bill propose to meet this exgency
by somewhat enlarging the powers OF the Cor
pOration of Washington and Georgetown and the
Levy Court. Have we not had enough of these
Corporations? These three poor stalled Corpo-
ratiOns. have three poor dOnkies hitched to them
each pulling against the other, and 1t is pro-
posed by their wise drivers to give each probably
q handful Of shelled peas to strengthen them.
aSax r;. a;sghhteI hb enn Inese poor Corporations
plause.l
The District has existed seventy years. This
Side OF the Potomac II contains less than 16D .09D
it should have been 500 ,OeO. Ii is
the political metropolis OF this great Republic
the residence Of Its government, the sojOurning-
place OF all the great, profound, and brilliant
men who controlled its destinies, illustrated its
greatness, adorned It's history, enacted 1t laws,
and led its armies. Here the head of a mighty
nation receives the embassies of all the Powers
OF the world, and this is their residence.
seventy years capital, and what can it show?
There Is here no rudiment of commerce, not
throb Of manufacturing-scarcely a Skilled
artisan. The Potomac, after forming the
noblest unused water-power in the occupied part
OF the country, gathers up its waters and rolls
sadly out to the sea, unrippled save by a lonely
fishing boat or q melancholy oyster scow A
single railroad connects il with the North and
a single track on q rather tottering bridge fail,
often TO onnect it with the South, while a stag
nant, unused receptacle of sewage, called a
canal, spews miasma and disease through the
heart of thoecity
where should flourish great seats OF learning,
iahgulsh feeble institutions; where should be
iound national academy OF art, scarce a studio
can pe seen. Save the public edifces what
can uis Disrlct now present that does not pro-
woke 1erislon and scorn. The people are char
scteriess, suDsistlng precariously upon the dis
oursements Tor the private expenses of the ma
tional offcials and visitors to the capital. What
Is the secret? The people have q fun measure
Of intelligence, are as free from the yicas "a Nh
population of any American city, and have ali
the germs and elements of enterprise and cana-
bilities for all the achievements Of their canntry
men. The District has been under the ercI,-
siye government Of the Congress of the Tinted
States, and, with due respect to that august
bOdy IL this Ia the hest of what il can do ~ wbe, q.