Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-02-16
Exclusion os coIored -crsons from
Cors-pOlitIcaI and social Equality
OF the Negro.

State Senate on the 10Th ins'.
Nr Sumner. | offer the following resolution.
and AK Tor it- present consideration:
Rssolssd. That the Committee on the District Of Co
lambda b dir etsd 70 consider The expectancy cffrriher
rem The equal Enjoyment q al railroad privileges
IN The District Of Columbia.
There being objection, the Senate proceed
ei 70 consider the resolution.
Mr. Pomeroy: ! wish the Senator would so
amend bis resolution as thai il night prevent the
difficulties which coiored met have in getting
out Of this District They cannot 20 on a rail-
road car get out Of the District
Mr.. Sumner: The FIRST question Is on taking Up
the resolution
The Vice President: The resolution is now be
fore the Senate
Mr. Sumner: My special motive in offering
this resolution u TO call attention recent out
rage which has occurred in this District | do it
with great hesitation. At one moment WAS dis
posed 70 keep silence with regard 70 II. believing
that upon the whole the good name of our coun-
try required silence; bat notice that il has al
ready found It's way into the journals and think
therefore it ought TO find is way into this Cham
Der.
An officer Of the United States with the com
mission Of Major. with the uniform Of the Uni
ted States. has been pushed of one Of these cars
on PenBsy lyania avenue bv the conductor for no
f,
/ am free to say that think We had better give
up railroads in the District Of Columbia if we
cannot have them without such All outrage upon
humanity and upon the good name OF our cOun-
try. An incident like that, sir. il worse for or
country at this moment than defeat in battle.
IL makes for our cause abroad enemies and sows
dlstrust. | hope. therefore, that the Committee
the District Of Columbia-I know the di<po
stion of my honorable friend the chairman OF
hat ntif he Vxh ich
slider relative to the railroads IN this District will
take care that such safeguards are established
as will prevent the repetition of any such out
RACES.
Mr. Hendricks: Let the resolution he read.
The Presiding officer, Mr. Foster in the chair: ,
Il will be again read
The Secretary read It.
Mr. Salisbury Let Us have the yeas and nays
on that proposition.
he yeas aud nays were ordered
Dir. Johnson: have not heard the resolution
Is Il resolution OF inquiry Onyg
The Presiding Officer: Ii is a resolution di-
recting the committee TO inquire into the subject
named.
Mr. Wilkinson: ! saw in New York news
paper the other day account Of "A transaction
similar to the one alluded to by the Senator from
Massachusetts, | was in hopes then. and indeed
| thought there was some mistake about il, be-
cause | did not know that any colored persons
we're commissioned with the rank of major by
the President oil the United States; and | was in
hopes, for the honor of the cOua'ry and for the
honor OF the capital. that there was some mistake
la regard 10 it,
Mr. Sumner: He was surgeon in the mill
tary service
Mr. Wilkinson: II appears that he was a
surgeon in the army / suppose surgeon of a
colored regiment
Mr sumner Certainly
Mr. Wilkinson: Sir, | hope this reference
will be made; and that the Committee on the
District Of Columbia will see TO it that no
corporate shall hereafter commit such an out
rage.
Mr. Hendricks: | would have given silent
vote on this resolution. indeed. should not have
cared 20 vote any way except for the expIana-
tons that have been made by the Senator who
introduced il and the Senator from Minnesota
lt seems TO be considered great outrage that
the negroes in the District of Columbia are not
allowed to take their seats in the same cars with
the white men and women who travel on the
railroads OF this city If were to express any
opinion the subject l should say the outrage
would be the other way But perhaps it is due
TO the company to say that have observed the
fact. as suppose other Senators have observed
1t, that there are cars furnished for the cOlored
people of the District. and those are plainly
indicated, so that there can be no mistake.
do not understand from the Senator who has
introduced this resolution that any negro has
been denied the right to ride in the which, at
the expense OF the company. have been provided
for their accommodation; but the difficulty,
suppose. has arisen because the negro declined to
ride Oh the cars that are provided for persons of
his color, and claimed the rs lat to ride in the cars
that are provide for the white men aud women
who travel or these railroads
| am perfectly willing that upon ali questions
the committee shall investigate and report what
their Investigations require them to report 10 the
Senate and this being mere resolution OF in
qulry there can be no objection to it, perhaps ex-
cept for the meaning that is given to it by the ex-
plantations of Senators, and therefore shal vote
against the resolution
Mr. Crimes Dir President have no obec.
ton 10 this inquiry. and am in favor of it, al
though | hone aud am inclined 10 believe that
there must be some mistake about the facts. [
saw Geographic dispatch that had heeu sent
through from this city To one OF the New York
papers, making this statement. ana that the mat
ter had benn referred TO Gen. Martindale, who is
the Military Governor. believe. OF this District
l had supposed situated | was. that it there
was any occurrence OF this kind. it would be
brought TO my attention by somebody or in some
manner other than through a New Y urk news
paper. but have never heard any allusiou to il
by anybody either before saw IL in that paper or
has been mentioned in tie papers of the District.
but i escaped NY observation
| think the Senator from Indiana is right in
sayiag that there were ar have beer cars for col
oree people. but 1 doubt whether there are any
now At any rate not one has attracted my at
tentOn tor some weeks.
Nc Grille: | saw several Yesterday
Mr. Sherman: | role in one a day or two
ago.
Mr. Hendricks; l will the Senator from
Iowa that very recently: without observing it,
found myself crvwding on the colored population
in one OF their own cars, aud as did not choose
to press upon their rights. of course gave them
the ear. Ii was their right: il was provided for
them. aud OF course did not question that right
So | am sure that provision has been made for
their accommodation.
Mr. Grimes: have found myself in some OF
the carr aud did press myself upon their atten-
ton and rode with them. and dbl not consider
myself disgrsced by riding To the Senate Cham
Der III a with some colored people
Mr. sumner: Mr. President. am sure that the
Senator from Indiana l. mistaken i'm regard to
the provision for colored persons They NAV be
here and there, aud then. once in a long in
teryai OF time. car which colored persons nav
enter; but ANY person who traverses the Avenue
must see that those ears come very rarely: anu Il
anv person takes the trouble TO acquaint himself
with tha .ctn.l c,nltfop Of thfp~S ha urfli lv,,.,