Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-03-16
F0RTY-FIRST CONGRESS.
This Afternoons Proceedings.
THE GEORGIA BILL.
speech Of Senator ReveIs.
WEDNESDAY, March Ie.


sociated Press dispatch to the effect that the
City OF Boston arrived at Queenstown thi,
morning at one O'Clock.
MIR. Ross asked for the reading of a CORES
pondence between Hon. Sidney Clark, of Kan.
sas, and Secretary Cox relative to the docu.
ment concerning the Black Bob Shawnee lands
indicating that the documents aforesaid which
were ordered to be printed by the Senate, had
been garbled, and connecting Senator Ross with
said garbllng. The correspondence is published
in the Republican Of this morning, and is headed
"Garbled Documents"
MIR. Ross said it was true that the papers were
prepared under his direction. The papers hal
come to the Senate i'm most crude state, many
OF the documents were duplicated, and many OF
them OF no Importance. He should not 90 into
TINS matter now, but at the proper time would
other House, (Mr. Clark.) Now he would con-
tent himself with asking for the reading of 4
letter which he had addressed to the Secretary
of the Interior yesterday. The letter, whicl.
was read from the desk, states that he (Mr
Ross) sent TO the printer all of the papers which
he thought essential to proper understanding
OF the matter, and that his only object in ex-
cludlng tic mass Of eNtraneOus papers was one
of economy.
Mr.. Ross then asked that an order be now
made for the printing of all the papers in the
case, and the order was entered
Mr.: Wilson presented memorial of the colored
people IN the Chcctaw and Chickasaw country,
effect that the provisions of the treaty by which
their recently acquired rights were to be sc-
cured TO them, have been violated, and asking
redress. Referred to Committee on Indian Al
fairs.
Mr.. Ramsey introduced bill to facilitate pos
tai intercourse with foreign countries. Referred
to Committee on Post Offices.
The Georgia bill was then taken up.
Mr.. Morton was entitled to the floor, but gave
way to Mr.. Revels.
Mr.. Revels then arose and said:
Nr. President: / rise at this particular iunc-
ture in the discussion Of the Georgia bill with
feelings which, perhaps, never before entered
INTO the experience of any member of this body.
IL ise, TOO, with misgiyings as to the propriety
admission into the Senate. Perhaps il were
wiser for me, so inexperienced in the details of
Senatorial duties, to remain a passive listener
in the progress of this debate; but when I re-
member that my term is short, and that the
issues With which this bill is frsugnt are mo-
mentous III their present and future in
huenee upon the well-beingof my race.
would seem Indifferent to the import
ance OF the hour, and recreant to the high
trust imposed upon me, if hesitated to lend
my voice on behalf of the loyal people of the
propriety of entering into this discussion, break
ing through generally understood etiquette of
TINS BODY, when questions arise, which bear
upon the safety and protection of the loyal white
and colored population of those States, lately in
rebellion. L cannot allow any thought, as to
mere propriety, to enter into nv consideration
OF duty The responsibilities Of being the expo
nent OF such constituency as have the honor
to represent, are fully appreciated (compassedl
by me. i bear about me daily the keenest sens.
OF their weight, and that feeling prompts me-
council chamber Of the nation, and, sir, stand
to-day on this floor to appeal for protection from
the strong arm of the Government tor the loyal
cnlldren, irrespective OF color or race, who are
citizens Of the Southern States and particularly
Of the great State of Georgia.
am well 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 en-
d0wed with the full and unqualified rights and
privileges OF citizenship, are intent upon power
at whatever price it can be gained. 1t has been
the well.considered purpose and aim Of a
class, not confined to the south, to spread
their efforts are as vigorous to-day to edu-
cate the people OF this nation into that be-
lief as they were at the close of the war
1t was not uncommon to find this same class.
even during the rebellion, prognosticating q
servile war. 1t may have been that ssthe wish
was father to the thought" And, sir, as the
people, deny the charge and hnrI it back into
teeth Of those who make it. and who koifcve
have not true and conscientious desire to far
ther the interests Of the whole South. Certainly
no one possessing any personal knowledge
OF the colored population Of my own or other
states need be reminded of the noble con-
circumstances in the history Of the late war,
when they were beyond the protection Of the
Federal forces. While the Confederate army
s 1mss he male
daughters, and sisters Of the Southern soldiers
were left defenceless, and in the power of the
rivetted; and to bind those chains the closer
was the real issue for which SO much life and
property was sacrificed. And now, sir, ask
how did that race act? Did they in those days
OF Confederate weakness and impotency, evince
the malignity Of which we hear 90 much Grant
ing, for the sake of argument, that they were
ignorant and besotted, which do not believe,
yet with all their supposed ignorance and
cruelty, they, in their way, understood a.
fully as you or L, the awful import Of the con-
test: They knew If the gallant corps of Federal
flag traed in the dust, that it was the presage of
still heavier bondage. They longed too, as their
fathers did before them, for the advent of that
OF inspiration itself They desired too with
their fathers to welcome the foot of the stranger
shod with the peaceful preparation Of good
tsIe the OF sae s0d
councils Of the Great Father of all, they knew
the adjudication Of their case, albeit delayed
fo5 sesss N which patent had nearly
the boon for which they sighed-God's most
blessed gift to His creatures-the inesti-
mable boon of liberty. They waited. and
of their masters, they protected tn
virtue and chastity Of defenceless womer.
Think, sir, for a moment what the condition Of
hsd e sns sass
these who, month by month, were fighting to
perpetuate that institution which brought TO
them all the evils Of which they Complained
Where would have been the security for prop
erty, female chastity and childhood's inno-
cence? The bloody counterpart Of such story
OF cruelty and wrong would have been paral-
leled only in those chapters Of Jewish history as
recorded by JOsephus, or i'm the stil later
atrocities Of that Reign Of Terror which sent
the unfortunate Louis 10th and Marie Antoinette
to the scafiold Nay, the deeds in that drama
Of cold-bl0oded butchery would have out
Heroded the most diabolical acts Of HerOd
himself.
Mr.. President, maintain that the past record
Of my race Is . true index Of the feelings which
to-day animate them. They bear towards their
former masters no revengeful thoughts, no ha-
treds, no animOsities. They aim not 10 elevate
themselves BY sacrificing one single interest OF
their white fellow-citixens. They ask but the
rights which are theirs by Gods universal law,
and which are the natural outgrowth, the Logical,
sequence Of the condition In which the legidatiye
enactments Of this nation have placed them.
They appeal to you and to me- To- aee that thoy
receive that projection whieh a1ono win eoaf3e
them to pursue their daily avocations VitS ne
cess, and enjoy ths hhertieI Of -cidxsu-
ship on the Same footing With their Wkike
neighbors anA yfrienas. Z do not desire
simply to defend my own race from
unjust sn6mm9i1A1 cAxn8 ,butsI Also desire
nd aRSs r K tSiise tSs iDsss st ~ pi as
'pessWith v&9ch beiieye he Pfesld1nt, Con
an6 IA RaN,UlvJee