Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-03-17
xLIst CORGRESS---2d SESSION.

WASHINGTON, March 16.-Ssnate.-
At one o'clock the Georgia bill was
taken up. hegalleries being thronged
in anticipation of a speech by Mr..
-ReYels, Mr. Morton, who was enti-
tied TO the floor, yielded it in favor OF
the Senator from Mississippi. Mr..
Revels then commenced his remarks,
which, during their entire delivery,
were listened to with the closest at
tention. lie said:
Mr.. President: I-rise at this partic-
ular junction in discussion OF the
Georgia bill with feelings which per-
haps never before entered into the
experience of any member of this
body. l rise, too, with misgivings as
to the prOpriety of lifting my Voice at
this early period after my admission
into thesSenate perhaps it were wiser
for me, so inexperienced In the details
of Senatorial duty, to remain passive
listener during the progress OF this
debate; but, when i remember that
my term is short, and that issues with
which this bill is fraught are moment
Gus in their preseut and future intiu-
ence upon the well-being of my race,
| would seem indifferent to the i'm
ufi--..ance Of the hour, and recreant to
| the high trust imposed upon me, If l
neglected to lend my voice in behalf
of the loyal people Of the South.
therefore waive all thoughts
as to the propriety Of en-
| teriDg into this discussion, break
| ing through a generally understood
etiquette Of this body when questions
arise which bear upon the safety ana
protection of loyal white and cOlOred
| people of those States lately IN rebel
| lion. / cannot allow any thought as
| to mere prOpriety to enter INTO any
I consideration Of duty. RespcnsibIil-
| ties of being the exponent Of such
a constituency as | have the honor
| TO represent are fully appreciated by
me. | have about me daily 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, stand to-day
on this floor to appeal for protection
from the strong arm OF this govern
ment for her loyal children, irrespect-
i've of color or race, who are citizens
OF Southern States, and particularly
Of the great State of Georgia. L am
aware. sir, that the idea is abroad
that an antagOnism exists between
whites and 6lacks-that that race
which the nation has raised
from the degradation of slavery and
endowed with full and unqualified
rights and privileges of citizenship,
are intent upon power, at whatever
price it can be gained. ii has been q
well considered purpose, and aim OF
a class, not confined to tho South, to
spread this charge over the land, and
their efforts are as vigorous to-day to
educate the people of this nation into
this belief as they were dt the close OF
the war. II Yves not uncommon to
find this same class, even during the
rebellion, prOgnOsticating a servile
war. 1t may have been that
tbe wish was father to the
thought, and, sir, as a recognized
representative of my dOwn-trOdden
people, l deny the charge, and hurl
II back into the teeth OF those who
made it, and who, | believe, have not
a true and conscientious desire tC
further the interests OF the whole
South. Certainly, any one possessing
a knowledge of the eolored population
; of nv own or any other State, need
not be reminded of the noble conduct
of that people, under the most trying
r circumstances in the history of the
war. when they were beyond the pro-
: lection of the Federal forces, whilt
: the Confederate army pressed into 1T;
ranks every white man capable o
hearing arms. Mothers, wives, dRugh
teps and sisters Of Southern soldiers
> were left defenselesS and in the power
! of the black, upOns whom chains o
slavery Were'5till riyieed, and 10 bind
these chains closer was the real ISSUE
: for which so much lie and property
were sacrificed; and now, SIR
ask how did that racG
: act &? Did they in those days of Con
I federate weakness and impatiene'
! evince the nlalignity OF which we heal
so,much2 Granting, for the sake OF ar
I | gument, that they were ignorant ant
besotted, which do not believe, ye
with! all their supposed ignorance an'
credulity they can, in their way, un
q derstand as fully as you or the aWiu
: import of the contest. They knew o
!. gallant corps of national soldiers be
/, ing beaten back and their flag traileC
4 i'm the dust, that it was the presag
: of still heavier bondage. They l0nge'
n too, as their fathers did betor
; them, for the advent of that ep0el
+ over which was shed halloWed hgh
" of inspiration itself. They desired
/ too. with their fathers, to weicOm
\ the feet of strangers shod with peace
ful preparation of good news. Wear.
wears of bondage had told their tai
of sorrow to the Court of Heaven il
the councils of the great Father G
e All. They, albeit the adjudication {
Y their case was delayed for years, i
l, which patient suffering had nearl
IS exhausted itself, would in the ent
Is bring them the boon for whic
a they sighed-GOd's most blesse'
p Gift to his creatures-the inest
Unable boon OF liberty. They waite
. and they waited patiently. In the al
l5 sence of their masters they protecte,
II II the virtue and chastity of defeuseles
II women. Think, sir, for a mOmen
+ what the condition of this land woul
" be to-day if the slave population ha
D risen in servile insurreetion againS
Il those who, mouth by mouth, wei
" fighting to perpetuate that institutio
which brought them all the evils
which they complained. Where wOul
have been the security of prOpert,
le female chastity and childhOOd's inn
IA cence? A bloody counterpart
9. such history of cruelty and wrons
'ee would have been paralleled only
ID those chapters of Jewish history
" recorded by Josephus or in still late
TO atrocities OF that reign of terror whic
70 sent the unfortunate Louis XIV an
OF M Marie Antoinette to the scaffol
OF Nav. deeds in that drama of CO.
m blooded butehery would have on
Id heroded the most diab0lical acts
en- Herod himself. Mr.. President,
on maintain that the past record of n
d. race is a true index of the feelin
40 which to-day animate them. Th'
ut bear toward their former maste
he no revengeful thoughts, no hatre
lb- no animosities. They aim to eleve
er, themselves by sacrificing not ol
m- singIe interest of their white fellC
citizens. They ask but rights whi
are theirs by Gods universal law a
he which are the natural outgrowth a
by logical consequence of the eonditi
in in which legislative enaetments
de this nation placed them. They {
4 l.