New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-11-14

ABDHES FHEDEHkCh DOCtLASSp Of.p
Lock Box 81, Washington, d. G.
WE take the following handsome notice o.
Prof. John NJ. I.ansston from the columns o.
the Washington Daily Chronicle:
John nj. LamgstOn.
Few men in the country have contributed
SO much toward securing the grand political
result over which the people are now reioic-
ing as John Mercer Langston, the eminent
and well-known colored orator.
Born slave, in Louisa county, Virginia,
he was manumitted while yet boy, and sent
to Ohio. AT that time the prejudice against
allowing persons of his color the benefits
education was almost as great in the North
as in the South; but notwithstanding the al
most insurmOuntable difficulties thrown in
his way, by hard work and uuexampled per-
severance he worked his way through the
common English branches, and entered the
college at Oberlin, where he graduated, both
in the classical and theological departments.
Desiring then to study law, he applied to
many law schools, but found none that would
accept him as a student because he belonged
to the prescribed race. For some time his
efforts to obtain an opportunity to study in
awaiting, but he finally succeeded in securing
the opportunity, and also in mastering the
profession and securing his admission to the
bar. Probably no member of his profession
now living acquired knowledge of law un-
der so many difficulties as were met and con-
quered by Mr.. Langston.
Entering the practice in Lorraine county,
Ohio, he was early recognized as a man of
ability, and very soon acquired lucrative
business. But his attention to his own in
terests never prevented him from working
actively and giving literally for the cause of
emancipation. He had felt in his own per-
son what it was to be a slave, and his time
and money were ever at the command of the
cause offreedom. His voice was often lifted
in behalf OF his down-trodden race at the risk
Of his life.
When the civil war began he desired 10 do
all in his power to aid the Government, and
before its close his efforts had put in the field
several thousand men. His labors in con-
nection with Major George l.. Stearns are
we'll known, and were highly appreciated by
Mr.. Lincoln and Mr.. Stanton.
After the close of the war he abandoned
his business, his home and family, to enter
the field in tie South for the purpose of in
structing the new-made citizens in the exer-
else of their rights, and 20 advocate before
all men in the South Il e cause of the Re-
publican party. Probably no one man did
so much as lac toward organizing and in
structing the cOlOred men Of the South, and
the principles of the great party of freedom
have never been more fully and ably de-
Tended before the white men of the South
than they were by Mr.. Langston.
lie early became an advocate of the cleo
ton ofGeEeral Grant to fhe Presidency under
the following circumstances: In the summer
OF 1867 Mr.. johnson sent for him, and said
that he had determined to remove General
y. y. Howard from his position of Com
missioner of the Freedman's Bureau, giving
several reasons therefor, such as he was in
the habit OF giving for removing good men
from Office. Mr.. johnson further said that
he was disposed to appoint colored man to
the place. LangstOn requested him to defer
action tor day or two, and at once con-
ferred with several friends in regard to the
matter, to whom he said that he feared it
would be exceedingly detrimental to the in
terests OF his people to have General Howard
removed, and said that as Mr.. johnson pre-
tended to be governed very much in his ac-
ton by the opinion of his Cabinet advisers,
he believedif General Grant could be brought
to advocate the retention Of General How
ard that it could be done, and ended by pro-
posing to call upon General Grant, then act
ing Secretary of War, and asked the writer
to accompany him. We at once proceeded
to the War Department and secured an in
tervlew. Mr.. LangstOn first stated what Mr..
johnson had said to him, and before he had
gone further the General interrupted him
and said: Z" can do nothing to aid YOU in
securing the removal of General Howard I
think him the best man in the country for the
place, and believe that the interests of your
people demand that he shall be retained"
Nh. LangstOn replied that he called for the pur-
pose OF securing his cooperation in an effort
to secure the retention Of General Howard.
which the General at once promised. The
General then went Oh and announced himself
as fully in favor Ofthe Acknowledgement, educa-
ton, and elevation of the cOlored people. and
said that he should do all in his power to adj
vance their cause. Mr.. Langston was so
much pleased that he turned to him and
said: :" desire to say to you here to-day
that the sentiments you have just uttered
Will make you President Of the United States
when the fact becomes known that YOU en-
terrain them, and / here and now pledge to
You the colored vote of the country, because
know that, with me, they will see that YOU
have not only the desire, but the power to
secure for them the full measure of their
rights. shall be for you from this day."
From that day until now nc has kept his
word and steadily supported General Grant.
During this canvass he has done an amount
OF work for the cause equalled ny few other
men in the country. lie labored with Mr..
Sumner to prevent him from casting his lot
with the Greeley faction, and succeeded in
delaying the publication Of his letter to the
eolored people, which General Butler styles
Mr.. Summers first Epistle to the Ethio-
pians," until the effect was but little felt,
most of the cOlored men having already de-
termined upon which side to cast their lot.
During the canvass he has made over sixty
speeches, having spoken in nearly every
State east Of the Rocky mountains. His
speeches sound and read like finished ora
tons. His style is argumentative, logical,
and convincing, reminding the hearer more
Of an able lawyer endeavoring to convince
an able court by sound reason than of po-
itical speaker addressing a popular assem-
bly,. He is to-day the ablest and most active
representative Of his race, and stands in a
position toward them where any recognition
Of him would be considered as a recognition
of bis people.
Horse Doctors.