Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-16

cluzens. The Republican party Is not infiamed,
ss some would fain have the country believe
san nenst me white population of the South. Its
-. s, HIe WIDE enough for all truly loyal men
70 nhu within them peace and repose from the
9Ih aiso discord Of angry faction. And be that
Rntn man WI wnite or black that great party Of our
hepuohc Will, II consistent with the record =,
mas ALREADY made for posterity, throw around
him the same impartial sccurity i'm his nnrSnP,
OF liberty ana happiness. 1t a certain Class al
the South had accepted in good faith the he
neyolent overtures, which were offered 70 thsn,
with no niggard hand. to-day would not tind onr
land still harrassed with feuds and contentious.
i remarked, Mr.. President, that 4 rose 10
plead for protection for the defenceless race
who now send their delegation TO the seat of
government TO sue for that which this Congress
alone can secure TO them And here let me saw
further, that the people Of the North owe 10 the
colored race a deep obligation, which IL il no
easy matter TO fulhl. When the Federal armies
were thinned by death and disaster and somber
clouds overhung the length and breadth OF the
Republic, and the very air was pregnant with
the runOrs OF foreign interference-in those
dark days Of defeat, whose memories even vet
did our nation. in ITS seeming death throes, gain
additional and new-found power? Ii was the
sable sons of the South that valiantly rushed to
The rescue, and but for their intrepidty and ar
dent daring many a Northern fireside would
miss to-day paternal counsels or a brothers love.
Sir, repeat the fact, that the colored race
saved 10 the noble women of New England and
the Middle States men on whom they lean to-
day Tor security and safety. Many OF my race,
the representatives of these men on the field OF
battle, sleep in the countless graves of the
South. IL those quiet resting places of our
honored dead could speak to-day what a mighty
voice, like to the rushing Of a mighty wind
would come up from those sepulchral homesi
Could We resist the eloquent pieadings OF their
appeal? All, sir, 1 think that this question of
immediate and ample protection for the loyal
people OF Georgia would lose its legal techni-
calIties. and we would cease to hesitate in our
provisions for their instant relief Again,
l regret this delay on other grounds The
aauSt Hsuns,s is frequently yig flung at us that
personation Of the anger of the Gods
waits her hour OF direful retribution We are
told that at no distant day a great uprising of
the American people will demand that these
reconstruction acts of Congress be undone and
b!otted forever from the annals of legislative
enaf tment inquire, sir, il this delay in afford
ing protecuon TO the loyalists of the State of
Georgia does not lend an uncomfortable sienfi-
cancy to this boasting sneer with which we so
often meet? Delay is perilous at best, for il is
we procrastinate to apply the proper remedies
& .ne more chronic becomes the malady that we
"The land wants such
AS dare with rigour execute the laws.
her festerd d members must be lane u and tented:
He's bad surgeon that for pity spares
Ihe me part tt corrupted li the gangIeene spread
Unto the bad is cruel to the good'
Mr.. President. favor the motion to strike
out 50 much of the bill under debate as tends 70
abridge the term of the existing Legislature.
Let me then, as briefly as possible, review the
history of the case, which SO urgently claims our
prompt action.
In the month of November, 1856, an election
was held. by the authority Of the reconstruction
policy OF this Congress, in the State of Georgia
Its object was to settle by the ballot of her
whole people, white and colored, whether il
was expedient to summon a Convention which
should frame constitution for civil government
In that state. certain class OF the population
declined TO take any part In the election. The
vote cast at that election represented 10000
white, and 80 600 colored citizens Of the State.
II was majority too Of the registered vote, and
nnSSs m SeSrseSggeinSse 81 me Sonyention was called
vention were colored. BY its authority consti-
tuition was framed, just and equitable in ali its
provisions. Race color or former condition OF
sytude smDIe sna,n icnne no barrier in any Of its
those lately in armed rebellion all the
privileges Of its requirements. Thus constitution
scs,06 to the PEOPLE Of the State for rst
could call into requistion to defeat its adoption
was resorted to. The loyal population OF the
state was victorious, and Notwithstanding the
determination of some to defeat the constitu-
uon, that same class sought under its provisions
to procure the nominations for all the offices
within the gift of the people; number were de-
the General Assembly. Under the authority given
by the act of Congress Of June 18th, 1865, the
legislature thus elected convened on the lth of
co:sSe.s s re s g ' Which refer resfirmed certain I
qualifications, which were demanded from ali
rersOns le VINO were 70 hold ofice in the recon
was adopted by the Legislature Of Georgia, de- |
claring that that body was duly qualified; and |
Peace and M in asa shs e STATE
met together, truth and justice to have kissed
each other But their reign was OF short duration
BY and bye, the reconstruction acts Of Congress
began to be questioned, and it was alleged that |
they were unconstitutional. And the IepisIa-
ture, which was elected under the constitution
framed and supported by colored men, declared |
that man having more than an eighth of Afri- |
can blood In his veins was ineligible to office or
seat in the Legislature Of the State OF Georgia.
1 these very men to whom the Republican party |
nded all the rights and privileges Of citizen
ship, whom they were empowered, If deemed |
expedient, to cut on forever from such beneh-
cent grants, 'cere ne men to deny political equal
ity to large majority Of their fellow citizens.
In the month Of September, 1865, twenty-eight |
members Of the Legislature were expelled from
that body, and upon the assumption of the |
they continued to legislate in open violation of |
the constitution. That constitution required by /
its provisions, the establishment Of q system OF 1
free schoolssuch provisions were wholly /
abortive, indeed dead letter, for none
were established. The courts OF Law, at
least SO far as colored men were regarded,
weIe q shameless mockery of Justice. And /
here an illustration perhaps will the better give
point to my last remark. case, In which was \
involved the question whether or not . colored
was taken before the Superior Court, and the /
Judge upon the bench rendered as his judicial |
opinion that man Of color was not entitled 10 /
hold Office. i am told, sir, that the colored man |
In question Is graduate of Oberlin, Ohio, and /
served with honor as o commissioned officer In
the Union army during the late war. Il any /
comment needed in this body upon such q con- /
dit1on "a affairs In the State Of Georgia. Sir, |
trust not.
Then, again, these facts were presented for /
the calm consideration of Congress in the fol- |
lowing December, and the result OF their |
may be seen in the report Of the \
Committee on the Judiciary towards the close |
Of January Of last year. Congress took NO |
action to remedy this state Of affairs, and aid /
the people of Georgia In obtaining the rights \
clearly guaranteed to them by the provisions of |
their State constitution. In December last, |
at the earnest Recommendation Of the President, |
the act Of the 22d Of that month was adopted. |
II provided for the reasaembling Of the parties Il
declared to have been elected by the General
that distxict-of the restoration Of /
the expelled members Of the Legslature, and /
the rejection Of disqualified voters by that BODY:
The present Legislature Of Georgia hes aooPeed [
the Fourteenth and Fifteenfh Amenmeup 70
the Constellation Of ths Untted etates, and the
fundamental eondEticns required BY the act Of L
June 16f6. rO6e The recopstructed State Of /
Georsia sSy onsis hsr.slf. through the consti-
eiected Senatogss - meet and nt for !
fheir recoGrftiop an& pdmiDiou By this eon- /