Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-03-17
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

L S11NAA
| WAsH1NGrox March 16.-aIr. Ramsey
introduced a bill to facilitate postal inter
course with foreign countries. Referred
to the Committee on Postal Affairs.
| The Gcorgfa BilI-MOrt0n Gives Way
for IkeveIs 10 speak.
AT / o'clock the Georgia bill was taken
up-the galleries being thronged in an
ticipation of speech by Revels
Mr.. Morton, who was entitled to the
floor, yielded it in favor of the Senator
from Mississippi
Revels then commenced his remarks,
which, during their entire delivery, were lis
| tened to with the closest attention. He
said:
Mr.. President: / rise at this particular
| juncture in the discussion of the Georgia
bin with feelings which perhaps never be-
fore entered into the experience of any
member of this body, I rise, too, with
misgivings as to the propriety Of lifting
my voice at this early period after my adj
mission in the Senate. Perhaps it were
wiser for me, SO inexperienced in the de-
tails ofSenatorial duty, to remain passive
listener in the progress of this debate but
when / remember that my term is short, and
that the issues with which this bill is fraught
are momentous in their present and fu-
ture influence upon the well being of my
race, would seem Indifferent to the honor
and recreantto the high trustimposed upon
me, If neglected TO lend my voice In be-
half of the loyal people of the South. /
therefore waive all thoughts as to the pro-
priety of entering into this discussion,
breaking through a generally understood
etiquette of this body. When.questions arise
which bear upon the safety and protection
of loyal white and colored of those States
lately in rebellion, cannot allow any
thought as to mere propriety to enter into
my consideration of duty The RESPONSE
bilities of being exponent of such con-
stituency as have the honor to represents
are fully appreciated by me. | have about
me the keenest sense of their weight, and
that feeling prompts me now to lift my
voice for the first time in this council
chamber Of the nation; and sir, l stand to-
day on this floor to appeal for protection
from the strong arm of the Government
for her loyal children, irrespective of color
or race, who are citizens of the Southern
States, and particularly of the great State
of Georgia am aware, sir, that the idea
is abroad that an antagonism exists between
the whites and blacks-that that race which
the nation raised from the degradation of
slavery and endowed with full and unquali-
fed rights and privileges of citizenship, are
intent upon power at whatever price it can
lie gained. II has been the well con-
sidered purpose and aim of a class not
confined to the South to spread this charge
over the land, and their efforts are as vlgor-
Gus to-day to educate the people of this
nation into that belief as they were at the
close of the war. 1t was not uncommon to
find this same class, even during the rebel
lion, prognosticating servile war. 1t may
| have been that the wish was father to the
| thought; and sir, as a recognized represenl
tative of my down trodden people, L deny
the charge and hurl it back into the teeth
of those who make it, and who, believe,
have not a true and conscientious desire to
further the interests of the whole South
| Certainly any one possessing that
a knowledge of the colOred popu-
lation of my own or any other
State, need not be reminded of the noble
| conduct of that people under the most try
| ing circumstances in the history of the late
war, when they were beyond the protec-
ton of Federal forces. While the Confed-
crate army pressed into its ranks every
white male capable of bearing arms, moth
ers, wives, daughters and sisters of South
ern soldiers were left defenseless and IN the
power Of the blacks, upon whom the chains
of slavery were still riveted, and to bind
those chains closer was the real issue for
which so much life and property was sacri-
| feed, and now, sir, | ask how did that race
act Did they in those days of Confeder
ate weakness and impotence evince that ma
Lightly of which we hear so much Granting
for sake of argument that they were igno-
Il. 7 l., l,ls
| yet with all their supposed Ignorance and
credulity they in their way understood as
| fully as you or the awful import Of the
contest They knew that if the gallant
corps of Northern soldiers were beaten
back and their flag trailed in the dust,
| that it was the presage of still heavier
! bondage. They longed to do as their faith
ers did before them, for the advent of
that epoch over which was shed the hal
| lowed light of inspiration itself. They de
sired. too, with their fathers, to welcome
the feet of strangers shod with peace
ful preparation of good news.
Weary years of bondage had told
their tale of sorrow to the court
of heaven; in the councils of the great
Father of all they, albeit adjudicated, their
case, delayed for years, in WHICH patient
suffering had nearly exhausted itsf, would
in the end bring them the boon for which
! they sighed. For Gods most blessed gift
| to his creatures, the inestimable boon OF
liberty, they waited, and they waited pa
| tiently. In the absence of their masters
they protected the virtue and chastity OF
defenceless women. Think sir, for mo
ment what the condition of this land
would be to-day, if the slave population
had risen in servile insurrection against
those who, month by month, were fighting
to perpetuate that institution which brought
them all the evils of which they COM
plained-where would have been secu-
rity for property, female chastity, and
childhood's nocence---bloody counteracuon
of such a history Of cruelty and wrongs
would have been paralleled only in those
chapters of Jewish history as recorded by
Josephus, or in still later atrocities OF that
reign of terror which sent the unfortunate
Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the
scaffold Nay, deeds in that drama OF cold
blooded bntchery would have out Heroded
the most diabolical acts of Herod himself.
Mr.. President, maintain that tho past re-
cord of my race is a true index OF feeling
which to day animates them. They bear
toward their former masters no revenge
full thoughts, no hatred, no animos-
tiles, they aim not to elevate themselves
by sacrificing one single inter
est of their white fellow-citizens. iaey
ask but rights which are theirs by Gods
universal law, and which are the natural
outgrowth of logical sequence of the
condition in which the Legislative enact
ments of this nation placed them. They
appeal to you aAd to me to see that they
receive that protection which alone will
, enable them TO pursue their daily avoca-
, tons with success, and enjoy their hber'
, ties as citizens on the same footing with
, their white neighbors and friends. do
not desire simply to defend my own race
from unjust and unmerited charges, but
, also desire TO place upon record an express
1 sin of my full and entire confidence in their
integrity of purpose which believe. The
, | present Congress and the Republican party
! win meet these questions prolific of veal
or woe, not only 10 my own people, but to
, the whole South. They have been, so far
e as | can read the history of the times, III
fluenced by no spirit of petty tyranny. The
/ poet has well said: ''0b, it is excellent to
Y have giants strength, but it is tyrannous
: to use it ike a giant" And how have they
/ used that power lodged in them by the
, people? In acts ofcruelty and oppression TO-
ward those who sought to rend in twain this
| ooodIv fabric of our fathers priceless heri.