The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-07-06
A COLORED BAND SERENADES SEN
ATOR OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MENTARY SPEECH IN
REPLY.

! About 10 o'clock last evening tie Mad
ison City Cornet Band, comp lsed entirely
of colored men, under the leadership. Of
Prof. w. FL. holland, appeared on the Wis
consin avenue front of the Villas House
and played couple Of lively airs in good
style. Senator Matt. III. Carpenter, who
was stopping at the hotel, was duly mott
| fed that this was a serenade to him, and.
appearing on the balcony responded with
an eloquent little speech substantially as
| follows:
i" FELLOW CITIzENs:-I understand
this serenade is intended as a compll-
ment to me, paid by my coorel fellow
citizens of Madison and l have come out
to thank you for this mark Of your appro-
baton.
This IS changeful world but one OF
the most remarkable changes recorded in
the worlds history is thar which raised
four millions Of your people from the
degradation of slavery to the dignity of
American citizenship. This wonderful
enfranchisement was not followed BIZ any
disorder or excess on the part of tho.e
thus suddenly raised to freedom. The
freedmen have everywhere performed the
duties OF good citizens, and by their in
dustry and honest efforts to improve their
condition have earned the applause of all
good men; and the progress they have
made is one of the marvels and mysteries.
In 1861 Jefferson Davis and other South
ern lords of the plantation vacated their
seats i'll the United States Senate With
in ten years his seat was we'll filed by q
colored man as Senator from Mississippi.
was in Washington upon private bust.
ness and saw the first procession of col
ored people ever formed to celebrate the
great event of their emancipation. That
procession was rather motley one 1t
reminded me of Falstaff's description of
his soldiers, who had only two or three
shirts in the whole company And I was
in Washington and witnessed the turn
out and celebration of the anniversary Of
the emancipation this year The change
was wonderful No better dressed, more
torderly or we'll conducted procession WIS
ever seen in any American city The side
walks were crowded with gaily and hand
somely dressed women, and Pennsylva-
MIA avenue was filed with well.dresscd
colored men, marching to the music of "a
Union In which they had an equal inter
est with white men.
The progress made by freedmen in the
matter of education is quite remarkable.
Old men and boys, grandmOthers and
grand daughters are studying in the same
school-rooms, all striving to learn to read
and write. They all manifest an eager.
ness in study, hungering and thirsting
after knowledge that is fast fitting colored
IN tn Nrnh no I
difficult questions that enter into our
American politics. During the canvass
which preceded the election for officers
of the Territory of the District of Colum.
bia, colored men held primary meetings
and caucuses which were addressed byI
their own people, and which exhibited as
great an interest in and appreciation of the
questions involved as will be found in
ward caucuses in any of our Northern
cities
In all these particulars the coored PEG
pie are entitled to the utmost praise
| They have conducted themselves with
modesty aud propriety have been, as a
rule, obedient 10 the laws, and are becom-
| ing good and intelligent citizens Go on
in the paths opening SO gloriously before
you, strive to better your individual con-
dtion 10y honest labor, by study, by all
means which free community throws
open to its citizens for improvement, and
your rights, which are already secured to
you by law and by the amendments to the
constitution of the United States, will soon
be universally recognized in practice, and
fully enjoyed. In this great, flee coun.
try, the shade OF complexion is no longer
regarded. Manhood, without regard to
color, will secure you in actual realization
and enjoyment of all the privileges and
immunities which belong an American
citizen.
Congratulating you on the prospect be-
fore you, thanking you again for the com
pliment you have paid me-, l will bid you
all good night"
The Senator was heartily applauded
several times during his speech, and at
its close by those to whom it was partic-
larly addressed, and by number of our
white citizens who had gathered rourd,
and after two or three more tunes
the band moved on and the assemblage
dispersed.