The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1870-03-19
THE PACIFIC
Commercial Advertiser.
MARCH 10.
The World Moves.

At length the United States Senate has con-
quered national prejudice, and admitted a negro
as Senator from the State of Mississippi. As
this is the first colored person ever admitted to a
seat in Congress, it may be interesting to note
the leading incidents in the discussion attend
ing it.
Mr.. Wilson, Senator from Massachusetts
presented Mr.. Revel's credentials, which were
certified to by the Military Governor of Missis-
sippi.
Senator Salisbury of Delaware at once objected
to the Senate receiving a certificate signed by a
military officer.
Mr.. Wilson replied that he had read the whole
proceedings of the Mississippi Legislature attend
ing his election, that they were in proper form,
and that the certificate was attested by the great
seal of the State.
Senator Davis then declared his intention to
resist to the last the admission of any negro,
and that he would interpose objections at every
step of the proceedings. This man (Revels)
never was and never would be the choice of the
people of the State of Mississippi and moreover
he is not a citizen of the United States, as was
shown by the bred Scott decision.
Senator Sherman of Ohio, in reply, informed
Senator Davis that 20 years ago the Supreme
Court of Ohio, then largely composed of Demo-
Gratis, decided Revels to be n citIzen-the Court
holding that the word "white citizen - meant
one nearer white than black, and Revels was
included in this decision, and voted in Ohio.
Two or three days later, February 25th, the
question came before the Senate again, and Mr..
Reyels was admitted 10 his seat by a large major
iy Of the Senators, 4S to 8; the vote being a
strictly party one. Tie coIored Senator having
been conducted to the front of the Presidents
desk by Mr.. Wilson, and the oath administered,
then took the seat assigned him on the Republican
side, where numbers of Senators and others
rendered their congratulations.
The admission of a negro to n seat in the
United States Senate about the same time that
the ratification of the fifteenth amendment to the
Constitution has been made, which declares that
no distinction shall ever be allowed on account of
race, color, or religion, is a noteworthy incident.
In these Islands, there is no distinction in respect
to eligibility to Office on account Of color. Indeed
three fourths of the members of the Legislature
are natives. But in the United States, scarcely q
State Legislature in the North will admit n negro.
Massachusetts has had negro members once or
twice, but we cannot remember that a negro has
been admitted as Representative in any other
State.
Under the strong pressure of impartial suffrage
established by the reconstruction laws, each of
the Southern State Legislatures now have colored
and Representatives. In South Carolina,
instance, the seat of rebellion, out of thirty
three Senators, fifteen are negroes. And yet, it
is said that, as a body the South Carolina Senate
is equal in ability to the average of the Northern
Twenty years hence, popular prejudice against
will be doEe away, in a measure at least,
we shall see them occupying seats in every
Legislature as well as public Offices of trust. In
the State just named, South Carolina, one of the
judges Of the Supreme Court is 4 negro, educated
in Pennsylvania, who was considered one of the
best lawyers in the latter State before he migrated
to the South. In his new position of Associate
Justice he is highly respected by all classes.