The weekly union record., 1864-05-07
The Buckeye Abroad and the Roman
Citizen of African Descent.

The following is the full text OF the telling
remarks of Mr.. Washburne of Illinois. IN reply
to Cox. in the National House of Representa-
tives, recently:
I wish to make an excuse for The author OF
the pamphlet from which the gentleman from
Ohio has read such copious extracts. | think
that author has been corrupted by my friend
from Ohio. think he must have been reading
book which the gentleman from Ohio has
written, which l now hold in my hand, and
which | have read With great pleasure. The
gentleman from Ohio said that be had hereto
fore answered this book in the House, and that
| had heard his speech. always liked 10 hear
the speech be made to day. laughter
have listened 10 it several times. Laughter
We shall not probably have the pleasure at the
next Congress of hearing my friend from Ohio
rehearse this speech here, because think, in
the light of the recent elections in Ohio and
particularly in the district of the honorable
gentleman, I can say to him in the language OF
Watts and in the spirit of the utmost kindness:
''You living man, come view the ground
Where you must shortly lie.
| desire to show the House what the gentle
man from Ohio has written in regard to the
African" in a book entitled a Buckeve
Orient. BY S. S. Cox" He is describing ST.
Peters, and says: In the meantime serapbic
music from the Pope's select choir ravshes the
ear, while the incense titillsies the nose, Soon
there arises in the chamber of theatrical glitter"
-wbat?-"a plain uuquestioned African !.
laughter and be utters q sermon 10 facile
Latinity, with graceful manner. His dark
hands gestured harmoniously with the round
high order of intelligence" Laughter. What
was he? Let the gentleman from Ohio answer:
He was an Abyssinian. What commentary
was here upon our American prejudices. The
head of the great Catholic Church surrounded
by the ripest scholars of the age, listening to
the eloquence"-of whom ?-"of the despised
negro; and thereby illustrating to the world"
what ?-"thereby illustrating TO the world
the common bond Of brotherhood which binds
the human race" Roars of langhter.l
Mr.. Speaker, appeal to the House if it
does not appear that the author of that PAM
phlet must have been corrupted BY reading the
works of ny friend from Ohio,
But the gentleman goes on 10 say Il confess
that al first il seemed to me o sort of theatrical
mumnlery. not being familiar with such admix-
lures Of society" That was the first impression
of ny yonug and festive friend from Ohio as be
wandered through the gilded corridors Of st.
Peters. Laughter But" says be, ION
reflection, | discerned in it the same influence
which, during the dark ages, conferred such
inestimable blessings on mankind. History
records that from the time Of the revival of
letters, the influence Of the Church of Rome
had been generally favorable to science, to
civilization and to good government. Why?"
Why, asks my friend from Ohio, is the Church
Of Rome so favorable to science, to civilization.
and to good government? Let the gentleman
answer 'Because her system held then, as it
holds now, all distinctions of caste as odous. ;"
IGreat laughter "She regards no man, bond
or Free white or black, as disqualified for the
priesthood. This doctrine has, as Macaulay
develops in his Introductory chapters of his
English history, mitigated many Of the worst
evils of society; for where race tyrannized over
race, or baron over villein, Catholicism came
between them and created an aristocracy alto
gether Independent Of race or feudalism, COM
pelling even the hereditary master to kneel
before the spiritual tribunal of the hereditary
bondman. The childhood of Europe was passed
under the guardianship of priestly teachers,
who taught, as the scene in the Sistine
chapel Of an Ethiope addressing the proud
rulers of Catholic Chrstendom teaches, that no
distinction is regarded at Rome save that which
divides the priest from the people.
"The sermon Of the Abyssinian is, of
this eolored person, this Roman citizen Of
african descent'-'in beautiful print, was
distributed at the door. l bring one home as
a trophy, and as a souvenir of great truth
which Americans are prone TO deny or
contemn." Laughter.
Now, ask my friend from Ohio if be has
still got that trophy and souvenir TO bring into
this ball?'