Fisherman & farmer. [volume] (Edenton, N.C.) 1887-19??, 1894-05-04
A WARNING TO COXEY,
Proclamation OF the District Of Co.
lumbia Commissioners


Although General Coxcy's army" was not
expected to reach tho borders of the District
of Columbia for ut least "a week, tho local Su.
thorities at Washington decided to take
time by the foreiock and warn or "a
vaGrants and trespasScrs the col
umns converginS upon tho National
Capital. 1t was decided that Coxoy's
battalion of CommonwcaIers should not be
allowed to invade Washington as an organ
ized body. and that II any such attompt
were made the District authorities would
not hesitate to call out the military. Il
necessary. The advance guard OF tho army
and its sympathiZers who had been talking
about turning the Capitol grounds into
camp and demanding that Congress provide
subsistence for the men determined to re
arrange their plans
The District Commissioners held long
executive session and consulted in detail
with s. I. Thomas. the attorney for the Dis
trict. Then the following nanifesto was pre-
pared and given out:
OFFICE or THE COMMISSIONERS OF THEl
DISTRICT or COLUMBIA.
WAsHINGTOS, April 23 1894
To Whom it May Concern
Whereas. 1t is reported that several or
Eanized bodies of men are approaching tho
District of Columbia with tho avowcd pur-
pose OF securing such Congressional action
rs will relieve the condition of unemployed
laborers throughout the country and
Whereas, All unemployed men and others
throughout tho country who may be in sym
pathy with the movement have been invited
to assemble in front tho National Capitol on
the first day of May proximo. for the purpose
of compelling favorable action by Congress
by mere force OF number and physical pres
Cnco and
Whereas, The constitutional right of petit
tion does not Justify methods dangerous to
ND nr lnr Nvh fan
quiet of the National Capital, which arc con
trary TO law and opposed to tho ordinary
means of obtaining legislative relief nm Ter
our system of government and,
Whereas, 1t is declared to be the intention
of this body of unemployed and destitute
people, not only to gather together for tho
purposes aforesaid nj the city of Washing
ton, but there to remain until their mission
shall have been accomplished AMI,
Whereas. The National Capital is chiefly de
voted to public business and is the centre OF
Federal legislation, and. AZ al result OF its lack
of ordinary means of afTording employment,
Is now taxed to its utmost capacity III chart
table efforts to care for its own poor and I'M
employed now, therefore,
The Commissioners Of the District of
Columbia, who are charged with the duty of
maint aiming peace and good order and with
enforcing the laws in said District. being
sensible OF the gravity of the situation and
fully appreciating the hardship which must
come upon many innocent but misguided peO-
pie If this ill-considered movement should loo
continued do hereby appeal in the interest
of humanity and in furtheranCo Of the peace
and good order which are cnjoinol hy tho
laws In force in said District, To the good
sense and patriotism Of all those engaged i'll,
or who contemplate takiI part in, the pro
posed demonstration and urge them TO re-
consider their intention to come into tho
District of Columbia for that purpose.
No DOSSible good can Ot such
gathering, and, with no proper preparations
or means Of subsistence, suffering and uti-
mate disorder will certainly ensue. No wrong
can be righted, no condition of labor amelio-
rated no remedy for any existing evil real
lied by the contemplated demonstration OF
physical force. Every desirable on can
be moro certainly and effectively accom-
plished 10y ordinary and lawful methods. Tho
Commissioners, while in ontiro sympathy
with all people out Of employment, and hav-
ing no desire or purpose to deal hhrShly
with unfortunate but honest men, who
seek relief by reasonable and lawful means,
are in duty bound to give notice to thoS" who
are tempted under any pretcXt to swell tn"
number of unemployed persons already
here that there is neither work for thom
nor means for their maintenance In tho Dis
triet that the law does not permit tho soltc-
iting of aims in stroets and forDidS
paradeS. aSSemblageS or OratlOnS In tn" Capt
tol grounds and the obstruction of anv pub
lie grounds, streets, highways or avenues
and the approaches to public or private
buildings.
The Commissioners give notice also to tho
criminals and evi-doers who. under cover OF
d crowd of unemployed men in our streets,
may come here for the purposes OF crime
and disorder that all such will be aPpre-
hended and summarily dealt with.
And finally they give notice to all who
come here against their advice and protest
that the laws in force in the District OF Co
lumbia are adequate for every emergency
and will be rigidy enforced.
john w. Ross,
GEORGE TRUESDELL,
CHARLES F. POWELL,
Commissioners of the District OF Columbia.
In the United States Senate Mr.. PETERS
resolution to appoint committee to receive
and hear the complaints Of CoNeys crowd
was defeated by the following vote
Yeas-Adrich, Allen, Allison, Culiom,
Davis, Galinger, Hansbrough. Hawley, Kyle,
Martin, PETER, Perkins, Power, Shoup,
Stewart, Teller and Washburn-l7.
Nays-Bate, Berry. Blanchard, Chandler,
Cockrell Coke Frye, George, German, Gray,
Harris, Jones (Ark.), Mcmillan, Mills, Nit
chell (Wis.), Morrill,, Palmer. Pasco, Pugh,
Roach, Sherman, Turpie, Vest, Voorhees,,
md Wbita-D6