Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-03


last night. At eight o'clock, the hour fxee
for the meeting, there had assembled eight per
sons-W D. Massey, Walter i. Penn, Johr
Birrel and Thomas Dryer, white, (the lattc
named, however, leaving before the the meet
ing was called to ORDER and four colored per
sons. Lively conversations were carried on by
those present, during which the President O
the club, Orlando Evans, colored was severed,
ccnsured. Tor not (as Il colorcl member assert
ed taking more ''intrtta' in the political at
fairs of the Ward, by being on hand at the ap
pointed hour Various conjecturcs were made
as to whether there would be Il sufficient mum
Der present to conduct the meeting, and every
minute or so one of those present would go to
the door and look i'll all directions to see II any
one else was in sight. But Gt having com
menced to rain about that-time no one could
be seen vending his way in that direction, and
| the chances for 4 meeting We're anything but
promising. At last, however, there was al ad-
diton to the crowd in the person OF Il color
ed man. and then another, until about fifteen
in all were numbered in the aSSenlblagc.
| The President, at last, entered, and, upon
taking the chair, excused himself for, not ar
irving sooner, saying that although nc iau call
cd the meeting, he had forgot all about 1t :;
| hopcd the club would excuse him, &c
The meeting having been called to order, 4
colored member asked that the minutes OF the
last meeting be read, when the Secretary stated
that he had not taken them down, and the
club would therefore have to dispense with
their reading Various complaints were made
in regard to the dereliction OF duty on the part
of the Secretary, who, i'll turn, proved that all
who had held that office before him had been
as negligent as himself. Another orcd mem
Der asserted that he had bought stationery for
the club on several occasions. but as yet had not
been rcimbursed.for his outlay, and that in flu
ture some one else would have to procure the
necessary writing materials.
\ colored member then rose and said MIR.
President, we used to have prayer at our meet
ings before any business came up.
The President-We will dispense with prayer
ON this occasion.
The member still.maintaincl that prayer WAS
requisite, when another member suggested
| that the speaker pray then. ln;l$nuch is he was
So much in favor OF it, but the member called
on said he was not moral caough, and suggest
ed another colorcd member, who, also urged
the same moral excuse. The Secretary was
| finally prevailed upon to pray, after which, on
motion, the election of officers the first bust
| ness in order) was passed over, and every one
so disposed was invited to address the meeting.
| Several members called tor Mr.. Massey, who,
upon rising, said lie had been to 4 good many
meetings i'll his time, and always preferred to
follow after the rrapcrS and pick up the CLEAN
| in@s: that was the old Mosaic custom; hc,thcrc-
fore, was in hopes his friend, Walter l.. Penn.
would have been called on first to have fired OFT
his big gun.
| Here the Gazette reporter. who. all along
had been in very uncomfortable position in the
back part of the building, where very little
light was shed-there being only three kerosene
lamps in the room, one on the President 5
| stand and the other two attached to the wall
was, through the courtesy Of Mr.. Birrel, es-
corted to the Secretary's table, where better
| facilities were afforded.
The PRESIDENT would ask the members Of
| this club if reporters are allowed to come IN
our meetings and parade everything said here
through the newspapers?
Several colorcd members then rose and SAID
the reporter was entitled to come to the meet,
ings whenever he felt so disposed: and hoped
all present would remain
criticise and parade whatever say from, one
end of the globe to the other. am not a>han-
ed to have what say made public.
Mr.. Birrell-Mr. President, never heard OF
| such thing. Talk about excluding anybody
| from the meeting; it would be unjust and mex
| cusabe!
1t having been settled in regard to the re-
| porter Mr. Massey resumed his remarks. lie
regretted such a slim attendance, and sad the
Republicans of the city should be untlrng III
their efforts to support the interests OF the
party. The City Council he said had committed
an act unparalleled in the anna IS OF history; 1t
had adopted new charter, the intent OF which
was to deprive col0rcd citizens OF their rights.
| A.. - l,,t In Vra
| COMPOSED Of men antagoniStic to the privileges
or rights Of the colorcd element The drift OF
the Conservative party was To elect those OF
their own stripe Us Councimcn, and they in
turn would elect only such Us they deem proper
to the various municipal offices, which would
throw the Republicans out in the cold alto
ccther: he understood the scheme. The color
ed voters would be bound like Sampson OF old
and shorn of their locks and would inevitably
20 up, as he termed it, This thing of elect
iny men on mixed tickets H. c., voting for some
popular men on the other partly WAS bad policy.
| He would not be chagrincd were the party
| beaten fair and square he wanted no body bnt
| sound Republicans nominated, and urged his
| colorcd hearers to vote the %fr"trH Republican
ticket scratch nothing cut of it. Several col.
urcd members I've does mt know no other
ticket He then told IN lnccdotc of l)avy
| Crockett, and made use ct Il latin quotation
the latter being received wlthapplauSe, although
it would be safe to say that very few Of those
present knew very much about real English,
and certainly knew less Of Latin; that is Judging
from the conversation INDUCED in previous to
the meeting, one colorcd member perssting in
saying the Republicans should ''crp"flcfc
things. &C., &C. Mr. NJ then said Conscrva'
tiycIsm, in its true meaning, meant to
dcrriv, the cnlorcd Dcoplc OF their rights;
they would employ colored men, would pay
them but would eventually make tools ofthem.
When nc was Mayor of the city he had given
the colored people more rights than any who
had ever held the position, either before or
after him, and that he was the first one III
Council to nominate a colorcd man Tor olnec'
He done 50 at Il time when it required nrrr",
but he did not care for that, and pointing t"
the reporter, said, take it all down; don't
care / suppose my remarks will lie duly criti
cizcd but [ say what mean. ans! them thai