National Republican., 1876-11-11
GOVERNMENT OF The DISTRICT.
TConifnued from Fret Page.l

elected by themselves, Congress recognized
legislation the right of the citizens OF the
''ten miles square" to "manage their own
affairs in their own way" and the recognition
of the fact that the citizens of the seat OF gov
ernment were American citizens, and entitled
to these privileges, began at the first session OF
Congress in the Federal city, and extended
through a period of sixty-iye years, to JAN
uary, 1867, when "tbe charters'twe effect
ually crippled and finally destroyed by in
ficting upon the District cities
THE HYDRA OF FREE SUFFRAGE.
The cities struggled along for three years
under the free suffrage act, when Congress
endeayored to repair the evils which unwise
legislation had produced by abolishing the
city governments and establishing territorial
rule; but as the free-suffrsge feature was re-
tained in the election of the popular division
worse confounded." After three more years of
painful endurance by the citizens It became
necessity to abolish that experimental organ
ization of the power of local government for
the District of Columbia, and Congress as
sumed direct control, through its own officers,
over all the interest of the citizens In the i'm
provement and progress of the cities.
The loss of their local governments, the de-
struction of which practically begun in 1865,
and all the evils of government which the citi-
zeDs of the District have had to contend with
for the last eight years, are justly attributable
to the unfortunate act of 1867, which, while 1t
justly admitted and confirmed the right of
colored taxpayers to participate In the cleo
tion of the municipal governments, and who,
In equity, should have been either admitted to
that right or relieved from taxation at the be-
ginning and throughout all the years of the
operation of "the charters" vet the introduc-
tion of free suffrage by the same act not only
neutralized that right, but would have newt
ably involved, IL It had not been arrested by
the abolition of the Territorial government in
1874, both white and colored taxpayers in one
common ruin, by placing their property at the
mercy of men who had no interest in nor pay
ing taxes towards the support of the District
governments, but could outvote those who are
responsible, and who, in relation to the local
governments, can alone be
FULLY cLAssED AS CITIZENS.
The preservation of the right of free suf-
frage-the right of every man to voice in the
election of legislative bodies which have the
power to make laws affecting his life and lib
erty-is essential to the existence of free gov
ernment, but when that great defense against
despotism, that conservator of the liberties of
people, is perverted to operate in the election
OF corporate bodies whose powers of legislation
extend only to the interest of property, 1t then
becomes tyranny exercised by the irrespon-
sible over the responsible quite as obnoxious
to reason and equity as the claim of the en-
ployees of a railroad would be to voice in the
election of its officers because they are en-
ployed in the construction of the road, or of
the depositors in or borrowers from bank to
participate in its management because they
use the institution for their convenience and
profit.
That smany-headed monster thing" free
suffrage in city elections, destroyed during the
six years of its baleful operation the whole
structure of the local government of the Dis
trict of Columbia, which had been in success
full operation from the beginning of the CEN
tury.
The committee of gentlemen appointed BY
Congress to reconstruct the local governments
have now that duty In their hands, and can re-
store to the citizens the inestimable privilege
of selfgovernment, and vindicate their claim
to the common heritage of man-'sthe right to
manage their own affairs in their own way"
HoRATIo N. EAsBY.
WASHINGTON, November 10, 1876.
Meeting Of the Congressional Commission.
The Congressional Commission to frame q
form of government for the District, which
was organized at the Arlington in September
last, reassembled yesterday in the room Of the
House Committee on the District of Colum-
bia. Senator White and Representatives Hun
ton and Hendee were present, with the secre-
tary of the commission, Mr.. Thomas c. Cox.
The commission soon adjourned until ten
O'Clock Monday morning. Since the organi-
zation of the commission Messrs. Hunton and
Hendee, who were appointed to prepare the
necessary data, have been hard at work, aided
| by Mr.. Cox, in collecting all possible facts to
be considered in devising a plan of govern
ment. The commission will be glad to receive
the views of representative men of the Dis
trict between now and next Thursday. They
wish 1t understood that they cannot hear every
man in the District, but delegations or COM
mittees win be received eourteously, ana care
full attention will be given to their PROPOSE
tons. After Monday the commission viii
hold daily sessions, in order to hear the views
of citizens, the Invitation being limited until
Thursday. After that they will go to work
at framing bill, which they desire to present
to both Houses Of Congress on the first day of
the next session.