National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-02-11
PETITION TO Be PRESENTED TO CONGRESS-.
GENERAL STATEMENT OF GRIEVANCES.
Speeches Of Citizens on the Subject.

Speeches Of Citizens on the Subject.
short time since TIE NATIONAL REPUBLI-
CAN published o communication from citizen OF
North Carolina giving all the facts In connection
with the eessiUn Of o portion Of Virginia 10 tho
District Of Columbia, and its retroeesslon to tho
Sthte. The article was copied In the Georgetown
Courier. and some days afterwards the following
circular Was distributed 10 the people OF George
town:
"Retrocession 10 Maryland "A mass meeting
fthe people Of Goorgetown and OF the county OF
Washington west Of Rock creek will be held in
the URTket-house hall next Wednesday night,
Feb1uary 10, Is;5, at 7 O'Clock, to consIder the
propriety OF peHtiOning Congress to retrocede to
Maryland ali that part OF the District Of COlum-
bia lying west of Rock creek"
ORGANIZATION OF the MEETING.
At the hour announced for the meeting there
were q dozen or more in the hall, and by o'clock
there were probably one bundled and twenty i've
persons present, consisting Of hiteen to twenty
employees on the canal and the remainder busl-
ness men ofGeorgetown.
The movers Of the meeting coming to the COR
clusiOn that the attendance would not be much
larger, at S.15 o'clock Mr. Fred. w. Jones called
the meeting to order, and nominated the following
gentlemen officers: President, Esau PlckreIl;
vice presidents, W. King, W. H. Tenney, Hugh
CapertOn, James Goddard, John T. Mitchell, +.
W. Jones, Jos. L. Simms, w: ID. Cassln. X. Ia
taries. j. NJ. Waters, W. A. Hutchins and J. d.
McGtll, who were unanimously elected. On the
officers being called 10 take their positions it was
found that the major portion was absent.
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
Mr.. Piekrell, on assuming the chair, returned
thanks for the homer conferred, and stated the o.
lects Of the meeting. He said il was desired 70
under the control of Maryland, as IL has been for
many years favored project. Maryland was
willing to receive it. 1t would be better for this
portion OF the District, taxes would be less, and
all interests better served He regretted the slim
attendance, but hoped all would work earnestly
for the project.
Captain James Goddard was called upon to ad-
dress the meeting, but declined as he was present
to listen. He felt deep interest in the move
ment, and desired to hear from those present who
were posted.
THE HALL ON FIRE.
Loud calls were made for Mr.. W. D. Csssln,
but he hesitated, and during the hesitation the
cry Of fire arose, when a rush was made for the
door, and nearly all the audience left without
aEcertainirg whether the building was on fire or
not. The cause was soon made known, for in the
northwest end Of the hall the stove had been
knocked over by the motley crowd that had sur
rounded 1t, and the GOALS therefrOm were thrown
over the floor and quite blaze was made. Some
rushed for water, others stood on the street and
cried fire. and some ran to the Henry Addison
engine house and gave the alarm, but before the
apparatus arrived the fire was eXtinguished with
but little injury to the building. The cries of
fire brought to the scene large portion of tho
Inhabitants Of the city, which sWelled the crowd
greatly.
AN INVESTIGATION.
When order had been restored an investiga-
ton was made as to the cause Of the fire. Some
claimed that II had been knocked over by the
opponents Of retrocessiOn; others claimed that
the cOlOTed men who had congregated around It
nae nae pushed one OF the number who; to save HIM;
pulled It over. Sever other theories were given,
but nothing definite could be ascertained.
VIEWS OF Mr.. CAssIN
Mr.. Cassin, after the investigation was over
arose and said he did not come to the meeting for
the purpose of making q speech, and therefore
would say but little. He favored retrOcessiOn
back TO Maryland as the only salvation to this
back the people Of Georgetown would become
free and sovereign Americans, which they were
not to-day. The reign OF three men, appointed by
the President Of the United States without the
consent OF the people, showed that there was no
freedom. He opposed the Morrill, and Sargent
bills for the government Of the District oFOoium.
biH, and also the appointment of men to rule the
District who were not taxpayers. In the entire
movement for the government Of the District
there was sinister motive. He referred to the
retrocessiOn Of one portion of the District (Alex.
andria) back to Virginia, and claimed that the
people OF Georgetown should be allowed the same
right. AS matters were, an effort was being made
to swamp out the very lfeblOod Of the citizens Of
Calls were made for Mr.. F. W. Jones, but there
came 70 response.
THE PETITION.
Mr.. Cassin moved that committee be ap.
pointed TO prepare and present proper memo
rial to Congress praying for retrOcessIon.
Capt. Goddard called upon Mr.. McGIII for his
views, but Mr.. McGll was not prepared. He
TO he Honorable Senate and House Of Reprsssnta.
lipcs n ne United States Of America, in Congress
The undersigned, residents of Georgetown and
Of that portion OF the District of Columbia lying
west Of Rock creek, most respectfully petition
ferocede to the State Of Maryland ali that terri
tory lying west Of Rock creek and now embraced
in the District Of Columbia.
The United States, after such retrocession, will
still retain much more territory than is necessary
for the mere purposes OF q capiIal and the section
in which we live may well De severed from the
District with great advantage to u.s. and no dis |
Thatevert to the Government. We are |
oppressed and burdened without corresponding |
6eLefts; Our taxes are enormously high, and
mainly because we are near the seat Of govern
ment and supposed to be ready to maintain its |
splendor whereas we do not participate to an ap-
probable degree in aught OF the numerous bless
ings bestowed upon the capital We are entirely |
ignored land naturally sol in all appropriations
made for the capital, and but q single member of
both your Houses resides among US. We are
only recognized as belonging to the seat of gov
ernH ent by its tax gatherer, and feel that our
condition would be much bettered If we were |
from the District and allowed to man
age our own affairs.
And as in duty bound, VIC will ever pray, &C.
Mr.. M'GILL RAMPANT.
He also read n letter from the District Commis- |
sioners granting permission to hold the meeting |
~ the uIdIhSIHOusef GeOERetOWu, una also Lnat |
they should pay to the market master the eX- |
pense of and So the latter to be returned less
the amount Of damage done the building. This |
he thought very tyrannIcal, as the people of |
Georgetown had built the market house aud |
they had to ask permission to occupy it.
Mr.. Cassin moved the adoption Of the memorial |
as read. Agreed TO.
These present were invited TO step forward aud |
sign the petition, which q large portion did aud |
the meeting adjourned, and thus closed one OF the
greatest farces ever witnessed in the District OF
Columbia. The movement If there is any merit
N It, did not receive the support last night of the
business men and taxpayers of the city, but on |
he other hand the meeting was attended by |
many who came out OF curiosity, while others |
we're present because they had no other place to
20, and was shelter from the cold for few
hours.