Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1872-11-28

"Avernus' gates are open night ana DAY
Smooth the descent, and easy Is the way
sings the poet, but to ferret out the place Tor
the Radical RctrocesSion meeting, ID the Sec
ond Ward last night,
''Was work oflabor and of pain
Away out on the suburbs in rickety shanty;,
the abode Of some lowly, what they used to call
"contraband,' with a bed in one corner, the
inmates of which we're hid from the intrusive
gaze Of the public, y BY aimsy serene, and
the access to whch-the shanty-ls by dubious
paths, over deep gullies, and through mud
ankle deep, allured from the peaceful abodes
of Buzzard's Roost and like sequcstered spots,
by the flicker of tallow dip, placed on the
window sash, assembled about twenty, incud-
ing two females one baby, three or four boys
all coIored-and Larkin Patton and Robert
Armstrong, for the purpose OF carrying Alex
andra back to the District.
Holiday, colored, moved that Mr.. Larkln
take the chair lat that time there was not ore
in the house-subsequently two or three were
brought in) but not hearing q second, the
mover sat down, when it was suggested that
| there was no such person in the house as MIR.
| Iarkin, whcrcupon the mover amended his
motion by adding thereto the word Patton
| when second was found, and the motion car
ried after some little delay.
The chairman elect imagining from the sui
len silence, that probably anot her would have
been preferred for the exalted position, sug-
gested that perhaps the meeting would rather
| have some one else-somc one better suited to
preside, but was informed that having been
elected twas muffin else tor him to DO but
take de chair.
There being yet no chair, the end of low
bench was used as substitute
The chairman stated that he believed the
meeting was called for the purpose of carrying
Alexandria back to the District" and that be
1.-THE chair favored the move
Robert Armstrong was then duly nominated,
and with proper solemnity chosen secretary
The organization now being completed, a
deathlike silence ensued for few minutes, only
disturbed by the loud snoring of one of the
boys, and the tittering OF one OF the female
portion OF the audience.
The secretary, Robert Armstrong, then rose
and gave his version Of the object and intent
of the meeting, concluding by offering series
of whereases and resolves, covering one side OF
a foolscap sheet, as follows:
Whereas the vast increase Of public bus mess
incident upon the rapid increase of national
population, comprehends in the future develop
ments of the republic an actual requirement OF
territory fully equal to the number of square
miles originally contained in the District OF Co.
lunba for the accommodation Of its concerns;
and whereas the present or prospective necessi-
ties of the country are paramount TO all others,
and our welfare mainly identified with the local
| prosperity of the seat of government; and
| whereas we, the Republicans OF the Second
| Ward hold Congress to be the supreme law
making power Of this nation, the legal opinions
of cy- President Davis and all others to the con-
trary notwithstanding therefore,
| Resolved, That we do most humbly pray the
honorable Senate of the United States to concur
in the House bill repeating the act whereby Al
exandria city and county was retrocedcd to tho
State of Virginia.
Resolved, That we solicit the cooperation
and support of all parties in the furthcrance and
security of the above prayer.
| Resolved, That we recognize Virginia as the
mother Of good and great men, cheerfully
commingle our prayers with hers tor Congress
sional aid in the completion fher James River
and kanawha Canal fraught with advantages to
the great West, gratefully ack knowledge the pa
tronage many of her citizens has awarded US in
the past, and assure them that our desires for
restoration to the district eliminates from no I'M
| kind feelings towards them, but like worthy
brothers, seek the consumation of an object we
verify believe will rebound in mutual benefit.
This was too much for the audlence-they
had heard "a coDglomoration Of heterogen lous
sounds" but did not comprehend one word,
and as a consequence, did not know what to
do. The boy snored, the girl Uttered, the baby
became restless, and things we're getting dcs-
perate when Holiday broke the spell by hop
Ing that before vote was taken some one
would explain what was going on. Heack nowl-
ecged that he was in total darkness could not
comprehend the purport OF the resolutions;
did not believe that anybody in the house
knew what they ment, and finally moved that
they be Expended for ten minutes, IN order
that some light might be thrown on the sub
ject.
The chair said that it did not understand
what the speaker was trying to get at. Did he
object to the resolutions? If so, then then his
proper mode of procedure would be to move to
lay them on the table.
Holiday intimated that the chair was decide
ly hard of comprehension, and was of opinion
that the said chair had not clear conception
of what was going on. He wanted an "expen-
sion of ten minutes for enlightenment. Men
had mouths to talk, and now was the time for
them to speak. He was opposed to this "clique
business ''-one or two undertaking to speak
for the whole people. The speaker warmed
up as he proceeded and fnahy declared him
self opposed to the whole thing, which was IN
his opinion, trick to get the Second Ward to
put her foot forward and be made the derslon
and laughing stock Of the whole city.
The speaker set down, but soon rose again
and poured another volley into the trick, "
declaring that those present had not sense
enough to understand what they were doing.
The chair, with proper gravity and all due
solemnity, then arose, asked if the meeting
had heard the resolutions, and took the afhrma-
tive side of the question, when
HOLIDAY interrupted. He was not ready.
The chair had not put the motion correctly
He should have said, "are you ready for the
question ?"
The chair defended itself; thought it had
been sufficiently cear restated the question,
and asked, lis the meeting now ready for the
question ?"
Holiday was not. lie wanted IN ''expension"
of ten minutes.
A particpant-What will you do when the
ten minutes are gone?
The chair now rose with unwonted alacrity
stated the question; begged Holiday pardon;
HOLIDAY returned the civility; the question was
put, and the nineteen men, boys, females and
baby voted aye; HOLIDAY no.