National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-21
SUFFRAGE MEETING.
Citizens of South Washington in Coz

Citizens of South Washington in Council.
A meeting Of citizens was held in the basement
of Wesley Zion church, on d street, between
Second and Third streets, last evening, for the
purpose of taking action relative to bills now
pending before Congress for the government Of
the District. Perry Carson called the meeting to
order at S:l5 o'clock, about $50 being present. and
stated that he had taken the liberty to call the
citizens of the Eleventh, Seventeenth and Eight
zenith districts together for the purpose of giving
expression to their wishes in relation to the
"MOrrill'' and Wright" and other bills now
pending before Congress. Mr.. Henry Brooks
was elected permanent chairman, and Thomas
H. Commodore, secretary.
Mr. Perry Carson made a short address coun-
selling harmony, aud was followed in the same
strain by the chairman. The secretary then read
Senate bill No. 963, commonly known as the
Wright BILL - which occupied considerable time
After the reading Of the bill had been completed,
Mr.. George 7. Downing addressed the meeting
in advocacy Of the bill Just read and in opposi-
tion to the Morrill, bill, which he considered as
measure tended to curtail the rights Of American
citizens and make slaves Of the residents Of the
He advised his hearers to enter their solemn
protest against the passage of such an act, and
exhorted them to demand the right Of electing
all the officers Of the government that may be
adopted for the District.
In the absence of Prof. Langston, DR.. Cox, F.
A. Boswell and other advertised speakers, Mr..
Joseph Williams was called on and said that he
was In sympathy with the object of the meeting,
and believed in the District being governed by
OLuCOTo ny p6Oplo- ne ulu U6lloNc
that commissioners could govern the District as
well as officers who were directly responsible to
the people. Congress had no right to tax the
people while they deny them representation. He
believed that men and women, after reaching the
age Of tWenty-one, should have right to vote,
and that vote should not be curtailed.
Mr. F. A. Boswell, who entered the hall while
Mr.. Williams was speaking, was called on, came
forward and addressed his hearers as 'Gentlemen
Of Washington, for, said he, 'since Congress has
deprived you Of the right to vote l can no longer
address you as citizens" He advocated the Sar-
gent bill as the one best calculated to serve the
interests OF the people of the District Of Columbia
The nmendment Of Senator Sargent to Senate
bill No. 1858 was then read.
A motion was made and carried by q vote of IS
to indorsDg the Wright BILL after which the fol.
lowing resolutions were offered and adopted;
Resolved, That one of the features Of the Nor
ril bill against which protest is that 1t denies
TO the people the right Of suffrage; object 70 it
because IL s against the spirit OF our institutions
fRvors classes, and . monarchical influence now at
work in the land.
RsSoIred, That the president of each Legisla-
tive district club be requested to select I'VE rep
resentatives to meet at the Galilean hall IN
Monday evening, Janury Is, at 7:3O o'clock, to
make arrangements to hold q mass meeting Of
citizens at lincoln hall on the suffrage question.