The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-03-15


committee TO wait on the President. This
committee was composed Of the regulation
negro political blather,kies. its speakers di-
lated upon the power If the negro as voter
and openly threatened that unless the Ple,l-
dent sustained them. and resclnded OrdWaN
order the issue should Toe carried IN politics
These threats seem 90 have bad the desired
effect ior when the committee met
the President to-day he did not
wait for stuemont Of gueyan es
"Gputlcman.n lc nndo haste TO say. IF a'n
fully informed 20, % the object OF your call
and I want o. say tha' You have nothing TO
fear. The colored militia shall not be dis
banded. We will have no color line drawn
in the National Guard
UNEXPECTED AcQUwscWcr.
This ready acquiescouce encouraged the
members of the committee 10 80 further
iu their demands than they bad intended
They anticipated that 90 least some argument
would De necessary. They had not e1-
pcctcd the President % surrender with
out even waiting for word ot cN-
planation. The explanation Of the
/ Presidents course is that he adopted
the trade of small politician and
WAS tossing sop 90 tie negroes IN the nope
of appea-lug and diveltlng them from the ou-
iects they have IN view. They are dCmand-
inc the appointment of n negro Worlds lalr
Commi-- ioner. and. as IHr INEs has cN-
planned. the ncgroc are preparing toinsist upon
the appointment of Iaugston upon the new
United States bench. The President thought
I he might allay some Of this agitation hy
readily asserting to all demands a. 10 the
National Guard He did however suggest
that the two baitailous ordered dishand'd
by General Ofdway shall consolidate. and as
single command Use but one aunory.
GENERAL oRDwAY SUMMONED.
the President. and explained that before issu-
ing his orders he endcayOrcd 10 consolidate
the tV0 negro lsttullOu-. which were IN tact
scarcely more than companies IN numbers.
! But this effort # las was met 10y
rank insubordnation. In the FIRST place,
envy and jealousy have existed between
the two lattahous for some time. THIS feel
ing has been encouraged by the officers. aud
has been serious detrimeut 10 discipline.
J But the chief motive for resisting cOn5Oh-
daiIon was that 10 may reduce the
, number of officers one half. and neither
battalion was willing % sacrifice iis
officers General OrdWay further explained
that he had never encountered any trouble OF
opposition ia consolidating white compauies
on battalous and that confronted viii the r.
fu-tl of the negroes 10 merge their commands.
and the necessity of retrtnchWent. he ISSUED
the order of dlsbndment. The President
could not ful T. see the justice and proprcty
negroes are restless ln their support OF The
Republican party, anyhow. he de-
cIdad % appease them. HIS advice %
consolidate. however. is received with bad
grace. and already another meeting Is sus-
gcstel for them % take action 10 resist
General Ordway. despite the fact that he las
converted the District militia from mob t1 ID
most efficient military body. las been mcaulv
a.-aiiel. Political prejudice has been as -igned
a. his motive for ms recent order. he de-
cliues 20 make any explanation at present bee
yond sayinr tiiaf when all tho facts are known
Inc will be relieved uf ccu.ure.
IHE NkW JtboL'iiiP
While nothing has vet been determined I'M
the premises. 10 is NOT unlikely that tine Sen
ate viii be convened iu special session - cone
hrm the new iu' au'I"Il@.n "f tD' ie-,''.-
he, .tatng as to accepting rs final the opinion
of kttorney-G General Miller that he has au-
ple authority t0 appoint these Judges under
the clause of the Constitution providing for
the filling ot vacancies. Tie supreme Court
Judges are known o. favor the opinion that 10
would bee better % have the new Judges con-
frUcd bv the Senate before entering upon
their duties. There is authority for the
statement that the plan recently suggested ~
having the court organize without tie new
Judges and of defcung their appointment
unul next December ha, been rejected. As
these positions are oi great Importance It rs
held hv many Dr most ot the leading luri-iS
and others that There sh' uld he no room Tor
qulbb.c og contest "a, o. Tie validity oi ihrr
appointment. Should special session 'i the