Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-16
COLORED MEMBERS.

correspondent of the Philadelphia Press
gives that paper description of the colored
members In Congress. From the article we
copy the following In relation to Turner Of
Alabama and Elliott of South Carolina.
Benjamin S. Turner, of Alabama, was
born In North Carolina in 1925, but removed
to the State he represents in 1880 He was
born slave, and remained so until the proc
lamation of Abraham Lincoln made him free.
Under the most trying and difficult circum-
stance he learned to read His masters chill
dren taught him to repeat the letters of the
| alphabet, but it was long time afterwards
before he knew the relation between the
name and the printed character. He says he
"was mostly educated by reading the New
York Herald, though occasionally, once in a
very long time, he managed to get hold of
New York Tribune" Mr.. Turner was first
elected tax-gatherer of Dallas county, where
he was required to furnish a bond of forty
thousand dollars. This he was enabled to do
but he did not enjoy the Office, and so he re-
signed. He was then elected a member of
the city Council of Selma, and carried his
district by over 600 majority. Soon after
he was elected to Congress. In person Mr..
Turner is above the average height, with all
the indications of immense muscular power.
His figure might answer for a handsome statue
of Hercules cast in bronze. If a man must
have dark blood in his veins, it is we'll to be
stained the bright color of this Southern MEM
Der. If the human eye is the window of the
soul, what defiant spirit couches behind
the fierce, sharp orbs OF Mr.. Turner. Then
he has a way of biting off his words and spit
ting them out, as if they had bitter, instead
easy to see that he was never made to kiss the
rod. Coming into the stationery room of the
House the first day Of the Forty Con-
gress, he requested that certain sundres
should be sent to his room, at the same time
offering to pay for them. He was told that
members were allowed a certain amount,
which was charged to them; all over that
was paid for. Said he. 81 am well aware of
that. If the Government allows me anything
I'll get it at the right time, but I'll pay for
what have; keep no open accounts with
any man." And the jaws closed with all the
force produced by two hundred years of bond
age. MIR. Turner is strong man in his way,
but whether his qualities are such as will give
him distinction in Congress time alone must
decide.
Robert B. Elliott the colored man who
represents the proud capital OF the late hot
bed of Secession, differs in many ways from
the other tawny members. He is not only a
genuine African, without one drop of white
blood to lessen the darkness, but he is car
pet Dagger of the Massachusetts, persuasion.
The first gun fred at Sumpter opened the way
Tor this most astonishing spectacle of the nine
teenth century. Oh, the long, bitter, savage
struggle between Massachusetts and South
Carolina! The Palmetto State flung down
the glove when her guns opened on Sumpter.
As fast steam could travel Massachusetts
had her soldiers in Washington to pick it up.
Cotton and rice went under. Goldfish and
IL II HAD &l.,k
ibky covering of Robert B. Elliott represents
both Massachusetts, and South Carolina on the |
floor of Congress. A shadowy halo Of ro-
nance surrounds this man, and it is very
hard to sift the truth from the hundred tales |
that are afoat concerning his origin and his
tory. 1t is said he was educated in England
and that he is familiar with many languages,
but none so far as we can understand, have
heard him converse in anything but his sup
posed mother tongue. Mr.. Elliott has been a
resident of South Carolina since the war. He
has fine English education, and is a lawyer
by profession. AT one time he was editor of
the South Carolina Leader, which he con-
Quoted with ability and considerable eclat. 1t
is thought by great many that he will lead
the coored men in Congress. This may be
so, but it is well to remember that the fiery
blood of the South flows in Mr.. Turner's
veins, and the probabilities are that the feuds
between Massachusetts and South Carolina
will not be allowed to die for the want of prop
or material to feed the flames. MIR. Elicit
was member Of the Republican Convention,
also member of the Legislature, where he
was chairman of the Committee on Railroads.
At the present time the subject of railroads is
of vast Importance to the people of South
Carolina. There is no possible way of max
ing thing of beauty and JOY forever out of
MIR. elliott If he were British commits
sioner or African prince it would be the same.
Nature has fixed him up according to h. r
ideas of a man. and it is evident she did not
consult him or any other mortal in the matter.
The New York Tribune says he is very fine
looking 'when his face lights up If this is
so, there is nothing to prevent him from pro-
curinga patent illuminator and becoming the {
handsomest man in Congress- unlesss Gener- |
al Butler steals march on him and appropr-
ates everything to be found for his own use.
Mr. Elliot is reputed to be man Of considera-
BILE wealth and much refinement, but you can
no more judge of his age than you could that
of porcelain egg. a. 7-ss7