New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-03-20
.sPEECH OF SENATOR KEyELs.
Discussion ON ,he Georgia Fs,n.

.sPEECH OF SENATOR REyELs.
Discussion ON the Georgia IsiiI.
We publish the report, by telegraph, OF the
speech of Senator Revels, of Mississippi, in
she Senate of the United States, on Wednes-
day last. on the Georgia bill, the galleries
being thronged in anticipation OF the
speech.
Mr.. Morton, who was entitled to the floor,
Welded il in favor OF the Senator from Mis-
sissippi.
Mr.. Revels then commenced his remarks,
which, during their entire delivery, were
listened to with the closest attention. He
said:
Mr.. President: I rise at this particular
iuncture in the discussion Of the Georgia
bill with feelings which perhaps never be-
fore entered into the experience OF any mem
Der of this body. I rise, too, with misgivings
SIS to the propriety OF lifting my voice at this
early period after my admission into the
Senate Perhaps it were wiser for me, so
inexperienced in the details of senatorial
duty, to remain a passive listener du-
ing the progress OF this debate. But,
when / remember that my term is short
and that the issues with which this bill is
frsugbt are momentous in their present and
future influence upon the weli-being of my
race, | would seem Indifferent to the i'm
portance OF. the hour, and recreant to the
high trust imposed upon me if | neglected
to lend my voice in behalf of my people of
the South.n l therefore waive all thoughts
as to the propriety of entering into this dis
CUSTOM breaking through g generally IN
derstood etiquette of this body. When
questions arise which bear upon the safety
and protection of the loyal white and
colored people of those States lately III
rebellion, / can not allow any thought as to
mere propriety to enter into my considera-
ton of duty. The responsibilities Of being
the exponent of such a constituency as
have the honor to represent, are fully sppre-
ciated by me. | have about me daily the
keenest sense of their weight, and that feel
ing prompts me now to lift my voice for the
first time in this, the council chamber of
the nation.
Sir, stand to day on this floor to appeal
for protection from the strong arm OF the
government for her loyal children, irrespect-
i've of race or color, who are citizens of the
Southern States, and particularly of the
great State of Georgia. l am well aware,
sir, that the idea is abroad that an
antogonism exists between the whites and
the blacks; that that race which the nation
has raised from the degradation of slavery
and endowed with the full and unqualified
rights and privileges ofcitiZenship. are intent
upon power at whatever price it can be
gained. 1t has been the we'll considered pur.
pose and aim of clsss not confined to the
South to spread this charge over the land,
and their efforts are as vigorous to-day to
educate the people of this nation into that
belief as they were at the cl Sc of the war.
1t was not uncommon to find this same
class even during the rebellion, prOgnos-
ticating servie war; it may have been
that the wish was father to the thought.
Av11 CIV hn t.ffr
of my downtrodden people, Il deny the charge
and hnrl it back into the teeth of those who
make it, and who, believe, have not true
and conscientious desire to further the in
sterests of .he South. Certainly any one pos.
sessing knowledge of the colored people of
my own or any other State, need not be re-
minded of the noble conduct of that people
under the most trying circumstances in the
history OF the late war. When they were
beyond the protection of the Federal forces,
while the Confederate army pressed into its
ranks every white man capable of bearing
arms, the mothers, the wives, the daughters
and the sisters of Southern soldiers We're left
defenseless, and IN the power OF the blacks,
upon whom the chains of slavery were still
riveted, and to bind these chains closer was
the real issue for which SO much life and
property we're sacrificed. And now, sir. | ask
how did that race act2 Did they, in those
days of Confederate weakness and impo-
tence, evince the mailgnity of which We hear
so much?
Granting, for the sake of argument that
they were ignorant and besotted (Which |
do not BELIEVED yet which all their supposed
ignorance and credulity they, in, their way,
understood as fully as YOU or the awful
import of the contest. They knew If the
gallant corps of national soldiers were
beaten back and their flag trailed in the dust,
that it was the presage Of still heavier
hon IN tha1- fat barz
did before them, for the advent of that
epoch over which was shed the hallowed
light of inspiration itself. They desired too,
with their fathers, to welcome the feet OF
strangers shod with the peaceful 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 knew that the adjudica-
ton of their case, albeit delayed for years.
in which patient suffering had nearly ex-
hausted itself, would in the end bring them
the boon for which they sighed, Gods most
blessed gift to his creatures. the inestimable
boon of liberty.
They waited, and they waited patiently. In
the absence of their masters, they protected
the virtue and the chastity Of defenseless
women. Think, sir, for moment. what the
condition of this land would be to-day If the
slave population had risen in servile insur-
rection against those who, month by month,
were lighting to perpetUate that institution
which brought them all the evils of which
they complainedI Where would have been
the security for property, female chastity
and childhood's innocence? The body
counterpart of such history of cruelty and
wrongs would have been paralleled only in
those chapters Of Jewish history recorded by
Josephus, or in the still later atrocities of
that reign of terror which sent the unfortu-
nate Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette to the
scaffod. Nay, deeds in that drama of cold
FLOODED butchery would have outheroded
the most diabolical acts of Herod himself.
>Mr, President, maintain that the past
record of my race Is a true index of the feel
ings which to-day animate them. They
bear toward their former masters no re-
vengeful thoughts, no hatred, no aDimosi-
ties. They aim not to elevate themselves by
sacrificing one single interest Of their white
fe,low-citizeps. They ask but the rights
which are theirs by Gods universal loye;snd
which are the natural outgrOwth. the logical
sequence OF the condition in which the legis-
lative enactments OF this nation have placed
them. They appeal TO you-and to me-'o
see that they receive that protection which
alone will enable them to pursue their daily
avocations with success, aud enjoy their
liberties of citizenship on the same iootlngs
with their syhite 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 eX-
preston of my full and entire confidence in
the integrity of purpose with which be.
lieve the President, the Congress, and the
Republic party will meet these questions.
so prolific of veal or woe, not oBly to my
own people, but TO the whole South. They
have peen, so far as can read the history
of the times Influenced by no spirit OF petty