The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-01

CONCENTRATION Address or the Col.
oRED People OF THB UNITED STATES TO
HoS. B. +. wADE-RErLr OF Mn. WADE
At a late meeting of the National Executive
Committee Of Colored Men, Prof. yashon
submitted the following, which was adopted
Rooss % rHn NlrIosAL BxseyrIvEl
m, ,,.,,,, gyis;Hi%;s sS. March u, iss.
sIRi In common with all truly patriotic
citizens, the colored people Of the United
States have noted with regret the train of
events which have resulted In your retire.
ment from public life; and we, the under
signed, acting for them In our capacity rs a
national executive committee, take the earli-
est opportunity afforded 10 us since the close
OF your senatorial career, 10 give expression
to the sentiments Of continued regard and
esteem which you are still and we doubt not
ever shall be held by them.
Nearly the flfth Of century has passed
away since you were called to take part In
the deliberations of the highest legislative
council In our land. We cast our gaze back
ward over that lapse of time, and we CRATE
fully acknowledge that, throughout Its entire
extent, yours Is an unbemished record.
II matters not at what period that
record be examined; whether Il be within
the last few years when the hearts OF nearly
all our statesmen have been constrained,
through the sense Of threatening peril, TO
beat In consonance with freedom, or In those
earlier days which followed the conversion
Of the free North into great hunting
ground OF fugitives from Southern thral-
dom-days when the voice OF outraged hui
manity could only here and there, either
within or without our Congressional halls,
awake n sympathizlng response. At what
ever period that examination be made, your
earnest ability, your lncorruptible zeal and
your unfaltering fortitude confront the
search and challenge alike our gratitude and
our admiration. We congratulate you, sir,
upon that change in the political sentiment
OF the nation which finally installed as the
presiding officer of the Senate one who, at
his advent therein, belonged to an organiza-
ton so unhealthy as to preclude him from
service upon any important committee.
As you withdraw from the arena which
has so long witnessed your devoted cham
plonship Of right, be assured, sir, that you
bear along with you our sincere prayers for
your future health and prosperity, coupled
with the wish that your retirement may not
be OF long duration; but that, In some post
of highest honor, the country will feel that
II still stands In need Of you. Whether this
wish be realized or not, we are confident
that the cessation Of your labors In behalf
of the public will bring with II no cessation,
quital In a peoples love. We forget not
that Cato, in the seclusion Of his Sabine
villa, was as devoted to his country, and as
fondly cherished In his fellow-countrymen's
regard rs when their eager gaze rested upon
his revercd form In the Senate house at
Rome.
In behalf of the National Executive Com
mittee of colored men.
GEO. 7. DOWNING, President.
F. G. BARBADOS, Secretary.
To George 4. DopHilg, esq, aud Others o.
tic "Ndtiondl Executive Committee Of Colored
Men."-GENTLEMES Since my retirement
from public life, | have received many kind
and complimentary communications from
my friends, which | value greatly, but
nothing has given me so much pride and
satisfaction as the proceedings Of your Ma.
tional Executive Committee. To know that
ones labors are appreciated and approved
by those on whose behalf they have been per.
formed, is indeed gratifying.
II Is true that for more than thirty years,
whether In the Legislature of my own State
as Judge upon the bench, In the Senate OF
the United States, or In private life, have,
with resolutc and determined purpose,
labored to bring the Constitution and laws Of
my country into harmony with the laws Of
God, who sis no respccter Of persons"
Equality before the law and exact justice
to all men, without respect to race, color or
nationality, has been the polar star to guide
me In all my efforts, and the prize for which
l have fought. Nor am ! conscious that
have ever during that time subordlnatcd
those great principles TO any other, or com.
promised them for any other consideration
NrIN nj Il latt nj maj fnF
this; 1t was but the performance Of a plain
and palpablc duty which every man owes to
his God, to his country and to humanity.
Had ! done less, 1t would have been self
degradation for which should have dcsplsed
myself, even as / have desplscd all others
who may have compromised these great
principles through cowardlce, sclf-lnterest or
ambition. And now, thank God, after q
thirty years. battle, have lived to sec hest
principles triumphant, every man In our grea
Republic equal before the law, and the Ia
borer relieved the foulest and most degrading
violation Of his rights.
But, In my judgment, much more remains
TO be done; for can never believe govern
ment perfect while 1t Is possible for one man
to appropriate the avails Of the labor of thou
sands, while those that perform the labor
pine away their life in poverty and destitu
ton, or to monopollzc an unlimited extent o.
Gods earth to the exclusion of others. These
evils are yet to be corrected, and may l mol
expect that you who have been so lately
emancipated from the foulest oppression aud
injustice will take the lead In these great
and necessary reformsi
Please accept my thanks for the kind sen.
tlments contained in your letter.
Yours, with respect, b. +. WADE.
JEFPERsOS, ONO, March 90, 1869.