Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-04-12
RING PERFORMANCES THAT
EID.Nr ((sHE OF.
The Boys IN Blue having made Arrangements

the tcfnvrity 20 invite the friends oil terriorlai
gov, rEme Mt to unite with them, every ehort nas
been made by the City Hall ing 10 crush ,he
movement Coaxing, threats, anu even us
charge OF CORPORATION laborers for daring 10
propose TO participate in the celebration, were
{, sorted in vain The work was going on, ana
adoption of tie amendment was oounu 70 "
ca LIBERATED, and 1t was found more than All the
City Hall clique could do TO Kill 1t on Inc
colored people could not see why they shoald
not celebrate an event OF snch vitai importahce
even if tire ssterrihle ferritoralists" did assist III
it. Things were getting desperate. something
must he done; and as the thing could not he
crushed .there was nothing to do but to steal the
thunder Of the other party.
: Accordingly the subject was sprung upon the
convention which met to make arrangements
for the regular annual celebration OF the pro-
elamation OF emancipation ~ tne Dssrict oi
ceiel rate it on the 18th, and call 1t in honor of
the fifteenth amendment. BY TINS arrangement
il was hoped to come just inside OF the celebra-
ton fxed for the 18th, and scoop out the glory
of the event. leaving the Boys in Blue out in
the cold, with nothing but the shell Of the nut,
while the "Ring" picked the meat. To give
the thing eciat and insure success, carefully
resolution WAS drawn and presented yesterday,
granting the use Of the Hall OF the House of
Representatives to the "colored people OF the
District of Columbia" for the purpose OF hold
ing a meeting to celebrate the adoption OF the
fifteenth amendment.
Recognizing the importance of the event to
the col0red people, not only OF the District, bat
:,
trickery, the House, by a large majority, (yeas
113, nays $50 adopted the resolution. 1t was
not long, however, before there began to be
misgivings as to the genuineness of this appeal
in behalf Of the .colored people," and recollec-
tons of q similar occurrence during the last
Congress fitted across the minds of many men,
bers. The appearance lurking around the
lobby of the Corporation Alto rney did not tend
to set their minds at ease.
At four O'Clock the Sergeant alarms an
n,unced the Committee Of Arr angements on the
H., usaffp, NNxAlr
cry OF North Carolina, Maynard Of Tennes-
see, Allison of iowa, Cox Of New York, and Ed
ridge of Wisconsin, to meet in the room Of the
Committee on Claims.
ON entering the room the committee were
confronted with some fifteen or twenty corpora
ton officials, and Messrs. Sella Martin and
George T. Downing, unattached.
After some general conversation the question
was asked if any gentleman had anything to
suggest Ev ,,,,o. u po,.r. ,o,,,,,.s,o,., -, a..
Second Ward, said he had. He was proceeding
to speak of the celebration and its Importance
to the Republican party, when he was inter
Mr.. Eldridge. who informed him that he and
Mr.. Cox were cOsmOpoltans, and had proposed
to ignore all party and make this a general eel
ebration. ...
Mr.. Peters said that was just what they de-
sired, to have all unite with them.
Mr.. Cox.-Since our arrival in this room 1
have learned that there is a delegation of anti
Bowen men present. Shall they be heard?
Mr.: Henry Bowen Garbage Master Of the
Mr.. Cox.-Are there any differences among
the colored people OF the District? Are you all
Gen. A. Grant, appear here, gentlemen, to
speak for the Boys In Blue, an organization
which Bowen and this man Cock (pOinting to
the Corporation Attorney have done their best
to crush. The Boys in Blue are soldiers, and
fought the battles of this republic, while there
is not man in this crowd (poin ing to Cook. j.
Brooks, Peters and others who ever carried a
musket.
Mr.. Peters, forgetful that the Boys i'm Blue
had Inaugurated the movement, charged that
these men were disorganizers, and should be
%ns s in ss
come in and Join with them, and celebrate the
event without any division.
Mr.. Eldridge asked il his party would be al
lowed to come in, too? uLaughter.l
MIR. o. ID. Barrett said it had doubtless come
to their ears that there was City Hall clique
in this city, claiming to control everything. and
claiming alone to have influence in Congress.
This clique had boasted that its friends will
celebrate the 18th. and that the celebration of
the 18th was headed by the opposition. The
Boys in Blue announced their intention Of cele
brating early as March 4th. A short time
since they fixed upon the 18th as the day. The
City Hall clique thereupOn resolved to celebrate
the anniversary OF emancipation i'll this District,
which is the 18th. But to get ahead of the Bows
in Blue celebration they resolved to celebrate
the emancipation on the 18th: This fact was
enough to show the character OF the celebration
proposed OH the 18th. Its object was 80 to us
Congress as to make it appear that Congress
would stand by the City Hall ring.
Mr.. Maynard asked what action 10 you de-
sire.
Mr.. Barrett-That YOU recommend rescind-
ing the resolution granting the use of the hall.
MIR. Maynard.-You would then consider that
defeat of Mayor Bowen.
Mr.. Barrett.-It would show that Congress
was not disposed to be used by Mayor Bowen.
Mr.. Sella Martin urged that the House had
passed the resolution with their ewes open. and
attempted to evade the issue, as to its being a
trick to defeat the BOYS in Blue, BY assuming
that the objection was on account OF color. Ii
was useless to come here and ask to break up a
celebration in which all the colored people de-
sired to participate.
Mr. EldIidge.-NOu agree with me then IN
favor of full ammo sty?
Mr. Martin.-fes, Sr.
Mr. Cox-Do you take in your Democratic
friends
Mr.. Martini do.
Mr.. Martin then went on to argue that there
ought not to be any distinction, that all the
people should go together and wipe out all diff
ferences. He held il as treason to the party
not to stand by Bowen. and charged his oppo-
nents with beng revOlutionists and disorgan-
iZers.
General A. A. Grant said he appeared under
diff culties. 1t was not hour since he had
been informed of the passage OF the resolution.
These men here were all Corporation officials,
in the interest of Bowen, and he had not had
time to see any opposition men.
Some inquiry was made as to his connection
with the affair, as he was not a cOlored man.
and will bring you cOl0red Generals, 10 colored
Colonies, and cOlOred men by regiments to OPP
pose Bowen. Mayor Bowen and Cook, he said,
had gone so far as to discharge Boys in Blue
from corporation work for saying they would 90
out in the procession Of the 18th. Two had been
discharged that morning. He was proceeding
to dfnounce the corruption of the City Hall
ring, when some one entered the hall and an
nonnced that the House had rescinded the reso-
luton. fra. III. Z - u
The CONSERVATION depicted upon the faces of
the ring cannot be described. Better evidence
than that must be had, SO messenger was sent
to the hall to learn the facts. Meanwhile MT.
Cook, with the air Of Christian martyr said
he had hoped that this celebration would have
been above party. As for the personal attacks
upon him, he had too much respect for the com
mittee to reply to them. 1I'.0s -
Mr.. kelsey, who had moved In the House to
rescind the resolution. here entered the com
mittee room, and said the resolution had been
rescinded. $3.50 =. go - Il 80 700 80 :
Mr. CO..-Then suppose We are functa.
cffcioP 60. eHa -. z assfls f..sl - "
Mr.. Cook Ofolding the tips OF his singers and
rolling his eyes upward THE COMMITTEES NAV
be Jnneius etseie, but the great Republican party
Is not fssotHs e6scio. - I'D - ..i..l = :
\ His appearance was 20 excraciatiasly ludic-
rous that every body laughed heartily. :
| Mr.. kelsey said he would state frankly whv
he had msved to rescind the resolutton. No
body doubted his beiD1 n friend of the c0lora3