Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1871-05-10
FIRST WARD RADICALs-SEm Gather

Twas dark, rainy night, and no gas light
sent its Pickering CLEAN into the Egyptian
darkness that surrounded Little Zion," at
the east end Of the Tunnel, but as the iron
horse" belching forth it's fiery breath, came
rushing through the cayernous opening,
uuder Wilkes street, making night hideous
with its shrek, it required no over sensitive
imagination to conjure up the tabled Avernus,
the descent to which, is said, to be easy, but
the ascent from which, like unto climbing the
hill that overlooks Little Zion" especially on
a wet night, 'opus est indeed. At eight
o'clock, the hour fixed upon for calling the
meeting to order, but one of the faithful
had arrived, 1.-THE President Of the club and
he walked to and fro in front Of the building
where the proposed meeting was to be held
for some time, until decrepid old colored
man made his appearance and halted in front
Of the church, which at that hour had not
been opened or lighted up. After some min
utes there was another arrival in the person
of white member making three IN alll who,
| dgnant; said there was not enough interest
| taken in the affairs of the Ward by the srh1te
members named several that formerly atten-
ded regularly, but had gotten Offices, their only
intention at the start, and never showed their
faces ut the club meetings now At last :!
colored man arrived, opened the door, and
proceeded to light up but the oil was out
What should be done? Several 'gentcel, 81
cpithets were applied to the party whose duty
it was to attend to such matters, which were
replied to promptly by the colored man acting
Us ianitor At last another coored man en-
tered bearing tin can containing the alumni
ating fluid. when the lamps were trimmed, but
no one had match More Indignation, and
tl,,,, n,ot, tI, i,.yIp fhn
faithful would walk towards the door, with
imprccations loud and deep. \ match WAS at
last. however, procured and the lamps lighted,
when attracted by the beacon light, OF hers of
the Radical persuasion commenced coming IN;
| and in short time there were assembled nine
whites, viz: f. II. Dclahay, W. r. Howard,
| J.. |. O'Ncal, Thos. Dryer, John Blrrell, j;
5. Fowler, W. B. Graves, Robt. Bell ir, and
Geo. c. Iiewcs, an equal number OF
colored persons, as classical spectator rcmar.
ked, mis- erabilc yulgus 81 Black spirits and
white
The meeting was called to order, and col
orcd nan requested to pray. who commenced
by cxclaming vehemently oh Lord. we have
assembled here for the purpose of offering up
our thanks to thee, &c; about as much the
intention Of that gathering rs anything could
possibly be.
f. ii. DcEahay was then told that he must
act as secretary, he having been elected to that
office ut the last meeting; but Mr.. ID. pcremp-
torily declined doing anything Of the sort.
This occaSoned some little comment and many
inucndocs were thrown out as to his not TAX
ing sufficient interest in the welfare of the par
ty, &C.. but Mr. Delahay was firm, and rcitcr
atcd that he would not perform the duties Of
secretary John Birrell, the assistant sccre
tary, was then elected secretary. and ). ).
Fowler assistant ditto Mr. Birrcll said he
did not accept the office us compliment 1t
had been thrust upon him, .&c. and thought
Delahay should have acted in his place
The only business before the meeting being
the nomination Of Counclmcn, on motion OF
,Jno Birrell the selection OF candidates was
deferred until the next meeting.
f. H. Delahay thought a committee should
be appointed to select suitable men to be voted
for, and made Il motion to that effect, which
was vigorously opposed by John Birrcll and
one or two colorcd men, one of tie latter say
ing he had seen Il list in the hands OF one OF
the colorcd members uf the club, which had
upon it the names of &. e. Slnoot, G.. l.. Sea
ton, Jno Thompson, and John Coggswell for
Councilmcn Upon this announcement L col
ored member arose and said, certainly the man
who had proposed offering such men for can,
didatcs was 'black sheep in the flock, and
ought to be Shown up.
Ilr. Brrcll then moved that there be Il
committee appointed by the club to collect
funds and stay by the polls, and watch things
ON election day. He WAS confident some OF the
COMMISSIONS had acted rascally, and that
the Registrars asked many impairment ques-
tons of voters such as how long they had
been in this country &c.
Mr. G. G. Hewcs. as one of the Registrars,
stated that such questions had to be asked for
eigncrs
Birrell-It is incorrect you don know the
law
Hewcs-l won t come TO you any how to lind
out any point. (Cries Of order
Birrell still maintained that it was improper
and impairment to ask such questions and
upon vote being taken his motion was car
ricd. and himself and VIM. Edwards, colorcd,
appointed on the committee The cvcrlast-
ing ''pint Of order was called for every now
and then by coored members, but. rs usual
they could never state their pint.
Robt. Bell jr.. was called on to make Il
speech, but declined.
John S. Fowler was next called on, and arose;
said he was no speech maker that the prlncl,.
pies of the Republican party were correct; hoped
the party would draw on one string that
dissentions and divisions would kill any party;
| hOpcu g0Ou mcu Wouiu NC holniua'co' oI'
During his remarks many Of the members
retired.
ILL., O'Neal and c. G. Hewcs were called
for but both declined to speak. -,
John Seaton, colored, then arose and sand he
had report to make from the Fourth Ward.
He was member CT committee to collect
money for the purpose of enabling colored men
who were ont Of the city, at work, TO come here
| and vote at the ensuing election. dc had Il
list of those who had contributed money for
that object, which he handed to the secretary
to- read The first name called out was Lewis
Mckenzie, who was credited with 50. Seaton
then said that Mr.. Nick had offered him $50
but he had refused it. thinking five was sufh
cient. A memb er-l our head amt t, level sure
Go back after the other fifteen. The name O.
+. +. White was next called with 81 credit,
ed to him l. member-Poor fellow he only
makes ST. 900 ayear, so suppose that enough
for him The other names on the list were