Smyrna times., 1867-01-16
The Negro Legislators.

1t will doubtless be remembered that in Bos-
ton, last Fall, two negroes were elected to the
Legislature of Massachusetts. A correspon-
dent OF the New York Times, in speaking of
the conyening of the Legislature, says
Edward Garrison Walker, by far the most
able man of the two. was nominated by the
Republicans of Ward Three, in CharlestOwn,
but on election day the men of that party in
that city had failed to support him. At 2
o clock in the afternoon of election day, 1t be-
came apparent that he would not be elected
The polls closed at o'clock, and he needed
about fifty votes to place him among the cho-
sen at o clock, and those fifty votes were cast
by members Of the Democratic Party, which
insured his election. He is a lawyer Of con-
siderable ability has an extensive practice in
Charlestown and in Boston, and is extremely
popular as u man and an orator in the first
named city. He evinced warm interest III the
Fenian cause last June, which doubtless gain
ed him the Democratic votes. 1t Is stated that
the latter party did as much toward his cleo
ton as the Republicans, though he has always
been identified with and an exponent of the
principles Of the latter Mr. Walker is a son
Of that Walker who more than thirty years ago
caused such an overwhelming excitement in
Charleston, South Carolina, by a pamphlet
distinguished in the annals Of Anti-Slavery
warfare, and his son has been enabled to create
a somewhat similar excitement in CharlestOwn,
| Mass, by being chosen a legislator. 1t was
! thought that his nomination was not made in
good faith by the Republicans, and that his
chances of obtaining scat in the halls of leg
islation were slim, and the astonishment and
excitement on the evening when his election
was declared was great He has studied well
! into the great questions aDDcrtainIng to OuI
national welfare, is well informed Oh all sub.
jects discussed at this day and as an orator he
will have few equals in the House Charles
L. Mitchell, the colorcd representative from
Ward Six, Boston, is printer by trade, and Z
worthy, intelligent man, but is not by any
means so well qualified tor his position as Mr.
Walker. The last-named represents the peo
pie irrespective of color, but the former was
sent to appear for the colOred population OfhiI
ward, and was not sent on his individual mer
its, but rather to represent minority OF the
party in that section of the city. The coloreC
men in that ward are numerous, and have Ions
desired representative, but have heretofore
always been divided on the fitness Of three OF
four of their number for the position, and con
sequently have not succeeded in electing any
body. This time their wandering and divided
opinions were, it seems, concentrated they
have been reconstructed" hence the result
Until his nomination, Mitchell was not gene
rally known in the city. He was for man,
years an employee in the Office of the LiJerator
and during the war enlisted as a private in tht
Fifty-titth Massachusetts (ColOred) Regiment
He was rapidly promoted for bravery and goo(
conduct, and was one of the very few men wht
served in Massachusetts, colored regiments
who received a commission as Lieutenant.