Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-03-08
Mistellanu.
A Year in the United States Senate.


not prove uninteresting to the friends {
human rights to know something of tn
impressions which have been made upo
my mind. And l am led to record thi
memo Ory Of the past year from inquire
made of me in different sections of ou
country. One of the first questions put +
me by the fearless Henry Ward Beeche
was as to my reception and treatment b,
senator's and officials. l propose nov
briefly to place before your readers chap
ter from my journal, recalling as far as
can the thoughts and feelings which were
uppermost in my mind at the date to which
these experiences refer.
On Sunday, the 9th of February, 1870
| reached Washington. Night had set in
but few friends who were awaiting my
arrival very kindly met me at the depot
and conveyed me 70 lodgings made ready
for me. | had no sooner entered m new
quarters in the capital of the nation than
had to pay the penalty with which all
who have had taste of public life are SC
familiar. Weary and jaded as | was
having travelled continuously for week
] received the representatives of the press,
and submitted myself to the scrutiny of
argus eyes and inquisitive tongues
The first visit of an official character
which | made prior to taking my seat in
the Senate was to the President 1t would
have been difficult then, and it is none the
les, so now, after the lapse Of a year, to
put into words the mingled emotions which
1 felt as | approached the Executive Man
sion. 1t was a struggle between doubt
and confidence on my part as to the man
uer Of my reception by the Chief Magistrate
OF the nation. was granted an audience
at once, and in a moment the benignant
face Of General Grant expressed all that l
could have desired. | kneIC that | was
welcome, and that | stood before one who
had brayed the dangers Of many battle
field for the principles which had led his
Iustrious predecessor to bestow upon my
race the greatest Of all blessings-that of
liberty. All misgivings departed as the
uists before a summers sun The Presi-
dent was anxious to know from me the con-
dition of the state Of which 1 was senator
elect and when l remarked that it was
nv firm conviction that old and new citi-
zens, so to speak, had for the most part put
aside their ancient feuds, and that every
Indication gave promise Of peace and pros
rerity he was more than gratifed, and ex-
hIbitcd an ardent interest in all the partic-
ulars which [ communicated to him The
Presidents words TO me on that day, which
stands out as one Of the few very memora-
BE days Of my life, were full Of cheer and
kindly sympathy; and, after half an hours
interview with him, | left those courtly
rooms of the White House Gained and
strengthened for the greater contest of the
Senate, in which | was to be but passive
participant
The next person whose presence 1 sought
was the great champion of humanity-the
man who for four and twenty years had
been the Interchangeable and uncompromising
friend of the cOlored race-the peerless SEN
ator from Massachusetts,, Charles Sumner
entered with a light heart his elegant
mansion, which faces Lafayette Park,
named 10 honor Of the distinguished
Frenchman, to whom Mr. Sumner has done
ample justice during the past winter.
had seen the Senator before, and heard his
voice in the Council Chamber Of the nation
but upon this occasion l was to meet him
for the first time face to face And here |
may remark that | was no sooner in the
than everything evinced the
character of It's master. Had | been ush-
cred into the beautiful apartments of this
residence unacquainted with the name of
the occupant, [ would have been at no loss
to determine that 1t belonged to one who
possessed a culture and refinement other
than that which genteel uphosterers so
Af- L
simply represent the reign Of the modern
MoIoch-money. Mr.. Sumner was sitting
IN the dining-rnom, which opens into the
reception-room to the right of the hall
He was engaged perhaps in reading the
prOot-sheets of a speech made in the SEN
ate, and he Immediately put up his work
upon my entrance. To say that my recep-
tion was cordial is but feeble expression
OF the kindness with which he treated me-
l know nothing that can better describe
the emotions which filed my heart than
those which little child feels in the pres
ence Of a loving father. had often heard
the remark that Senator Sumner was mere
thCOrIzer and that, while he denounced /.
slavery, he was far from admitting the col /
ored man into anything ike contact with /!
him IN the privacy Of his own home | /
need not say that while unacquainted with (
him | placed 10 credeDce in such state /
ments, and that when it was my duty to .
seek him | found in him all that 1 had an
He Is a living witness of the .
whom, too, | have found .
some men do practice what .
they preach His unaffected kindness and
counsel to me are treasured among the no.
Jiest memories which my life has known, {
and | will bear them in my bosom as the .
sacred utterances of a dear friend forever.
Aside from the monitions of gratitude, this
much Of my first visit to Senator Sumner | .
must place on record as a denial, if need
De, of the taunt which colored men so often
meet with, that the Ma. .sachusetts states
man appreciates negroes very well in the
Dry, but not in practice.
After a necessary delay Of few days,
he President signed the bill for the admis-
,Ion Of Mississippi; and on Wednesday,
Feb. 23d, my honored friend, Senator Will
,on, another of Mas sachusett's great sons,
presented my credentials as senator-elect,
and Immediately the senatorial struggle /
began. For three days | sat in the Senate .
lham5er the cynosure Of friendly and hos
lie eyes. 1t was an unprecedented era in
he history Of our country and its august
body of legislation. If l had followed the
of nay own heart, regardless of
he interests Of the despised race to which
belong, [ would have left that chamber
at the very inception of that angry and
ever memorable debate To attempt to
portray the pain which it was mine to bear
-or three days is simply impossible. As
my name was banded about in no very
Kindly way, for no act that had commit
ed. bur only because |. a coIored man had l