The critic. (Washington, D.C.) 1890-1891, 1891-03-14

sembled TO protest against General Ord
ways action. The meeting was called 10
order by Lawyer Harry J. Smith. After
be had stated the details of the case,
Lewis II. Douglass was elected chairman,
Robert II. Ferrill secretary, and the fol-
lowing committee appointed to draft reso-
buttons immediately: Henry u. Baker, z,
Smith and Charles II. Douglass.
The secretary read letters of sympathy
from number of well-known colored
men who were unable to be present,
among them Hon. John II. Smyth, ex-
Collector John Il. Cook, Principal George
William Cook Of Howard University,
Hon. John X. Lynch and Hon. ID. X.
Bruce.
Speeches denouncing the conduct of
General Ordway in mastering the men
out were made by Recorder J. M. Town
send Of the Land Office, Messrs. Arnold
Fisher, Holland and Douglass.
The committee on resolutions presented
the following, which were adopted:
Whereas the Seventh and Eighth Battallons
Of the d. G.. N. q. are composed OF citizens OF
tins District, and represent In their ranks
many OF those who were the first to be mus
tered into the service Of the Government; and
Whereas said battali0ns are commanded by
cOlored officers who wear the button OF the u.
A. r., and one of them wears "a medal OF
honor" sent to him by vote OF Congress for
Fourth United States Colorcd Troops, septem-
Der 20, 1864, In front OF Petersburg, Va. after
three men had been shot to death trying TO
keep them from trailing before the enemy: and
Whereas said battalions, under the opera.
| lions OF communication signed by Albert
Qrdway as brigadicr-gcncra OF the District
militia "a copy OF which IL hereto attachcd)
| are 10 be diabanded and mustered out OF tho
| service OF the Government; and
| Whereas said battalions form the entire rep
rctcntation OF the colorcd citizens In the DIS
| tricf militia. and n muetered In
| OF said communication, tho said battalions
| cannot, by reason OF their color, he CONSOLE
dated with or merged into, any other battalion
| OF the National Guard; and.
| Whereas, by the record OF their efficiency,
| department, and military proficiency the said
battalions have never fallen behind the average
| OF the other battalions OF the ID. g. N. g., and
have always been within the requirements OF
| section 49, OF mn act providing for the organ
ization Of the militia Of the District of Column
The only authority given the commanding
| officer TO disband, consolidate or muster out
the militia OF the District OF Columbia is pro-
| yided In said section rs aforesaid. and that
there i no suggestion, direct or indirect, from
the said Brigadier General Ordway, In his said
communication OF March y. 1891, OF any failure
on the part OF either OF said battalions to con-
form to any OF the rules OF the said organic
act; therefore, be 1t
Resoired, That we, as citizens OF the United
states and residents OF the District q Co,
States, who, by virtue OF his office, is COM
'mander-ia. CHIEF of the Army and Navy OF the
United States and OF the u. G. N. g., to set
aside and nullify the abovc-namcd communica-
tion, dated March q, 1891, and signed by Albert
| Ordway, brigadier-general ID. c., the enforce
ment OF which would work an irreparabc In
justice upon the colorcd citizens OF this Dis
| trict and be II further
Resoirtd, That the operation and enforce
ment OF this said communication would prac.
iically remove from every colored citizen In
| the District the opportunity OF u military
education and training, and thus practically to
deny to said citizens under any emergency or
circumstance, any representation whatever In
| lumbia.
| A committee composed of James II.
Smith, Walter S. Thomas, a Census Office
clerk; Hon John r. Lynch, II. NJ: Hew-
lett. John II. Smytb, Hon. Il. X. Bruce,
d ID. w. Jones, H. II. Terrell, chief division
in Sixth Auditors Office; X. w. Themp-
kins Of the Second Auditors Office, Lewis
II. Douglass, Milton NJ. Holland, division
chief in the Sixth Auditors Office; John
+. Cook, William Il. Matthews, George n
Arnold, j. NJ. Townsend and Henry t.
Baker were appointed to present them To
l the President at 10 o'clock this morning