New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-05-23
Speeches OF Messrs. Rainey and
Elliott.

and speeches were made touching the ques-
ton of Civil Rights:
Mr.. RA1NEY. l desire to make few
remarks before the vote is taken on this bill.
A MEMBER. How long does the gentle
man want?
Mr.. BINGHAM. | hope we will take a
vote on this bill without any discussion
The Committee on the Judiciary have taken
up no time to discuss it.
Mr.. RAINEY. / do not want more than
five minutes
The SPEAKER. If there be no obiec-
tion the gentleman will be allowed to pro-
coed for five minutes.
There was no objection.
Mr.. RAINEY. Mr.. Speaker, there is no
member on this floor who halls with greater
satisfaction and qualification than myself a
bill of this description, having for its avowed
purpose the removal of those disabilities inn
posed by the fourteenth article of the amend
ments to the Constitution of the United
States upon those lately in rebellion. There
are many who are under these disabilities for
whom L entertain the highest respect and
esteem. regretted that their course of ac-
ton IN the past made it necessary for Con-
SresS to impose on them any disabilities
whatever 1t is not the disposition of my
constituency that those disabilities should be
longer retained on them. We are DESTROYS,
sir, OF being magnanimOus it may be that
we are SO to fault; nevertheless, we have
open and frank hearts toward those who were
our former oppressors and taskmasters. We
foster no enElity now, and we desire to foster
none for their acts in the past to us, nor to
the Government we love so well. But while
we are willing to accord them their enfran-
chisement, and here to-day give our votes that
they may be amnestied; while we declare our
hearts open and free from any vindctive feel
mgs toward them, we would say to those gem
tlemen on the other side, and also to those on
this side who are representing more directly
the sentiment and wishes of our DISTINGUISHED
felow-citizens, that there are another class of
citizens in this country who have certain dear
rights and immunities which they would like
you, sirs, to remember and respect.
The Republican members of this House
will give their votes for the passage of this
amnesty bill. The majority of them are also
in favor of civil rights, which my people, the
colored people, are DESTROYS of having. We
are in earnest about this matter. We are
earnest in our support of the Government.
We were earnest in the hour of the nations
perils and dangers; and now, in our country's
comparative peace and tranquility, we are in
earnest for our rights. We now invoke you,
gentlemen, to show the same magnanimity
and kindly feeling toward us-a race long OPP
pressed; and in demonstration of this hui
name and just feeling give, l implore you,
give support to the civil rights bill, which we
have been asking at your hands, 10 these
many days.
You will observe that when q bill is intro
duced for the purpose of removing political
disabilities, no parliamentary maneuverings
are resorted to by the Republicans to impede
the passage of such bill.
l want the House further to understand,
and especially the gentlemen on the other
side, that this apparent Indifference and reti-
cence on our part is not from any want of the
knowledge of parliamentary tactics by which
legislation is often retarded, and salutary
measures hindered, but it is because we are
disposed to facilitate and assist the further
ance of those measures we believe equitable
and just to our fellow man thus doing unto
Others as we would they should do unto us.
Now, in respect to the action of the Demo-
Gratis, regret very much to say that when
ever bill comes up here which is designed
to relieve and benefit the outraged and OPP
pressed negro population of this country,
those whom / may strictly call my constitIl-
ency, their apparent eagerness to defeat such
desirable measures are perceptible on every
hand, and are known to all. No vigilance or
efforts were spared on their part to defeat the
civil rights bill whenever it came up in its
regular order. L hope, in the future, gentle
men, you will deal with us Justly and gener-
ously as we now propose to deal with the late
rebels. / hope you will assist us in securing
our civil rights. L need not say to YOU that
we fought for the maintenance Of this Gov
eminent while those who are about to be
amnestied fought to destroy it. l thank the
House for this courtesy.
Mr.. BUTLER, of Massachusetts. yield
knx Nntlta 10
South Carolina, [Mr. ELIIoTT.]
Mr.. ELLIOTT. l submit the following
resolution, and ask to have it read now, al
though not for present action.
Resolred, That the Judiciary Committee be,
and is hereby, directed to report upon the
next call of their committee, bill supple
mentary to the act to protect all citizens of
the United States in their civil rights, and to
furnish the means for their vindication, COM
monty known as a civil rights bill.
Mr.. BINGHAM. That cannot be allowed
to intervene here.
Mr.. ELLIOTT. 1 do not want this reso-
luton acted upon until the bill of the gentle
man from Massachusetts mfr. BUTIER] has
passed. desire simply, Mr.. Speaker, to state
my reasons why l introduce the resolution
now.
know full we'll that l have fallen under
tlemen in this House have attempted to class
me among those who are immodest, because
on former occasion l declined to give my
vote for amnesty, while at the same time
other citizens Of the United States were de-
prived Of their rights under the Government
l acted as l did in that regard not because l
had any feeling against those who were labor
ing under political disabilities but because
desired that the magnanimous action of the
Government on behalf of those who were I'M
true to the Government in the past should go
hand in hand with the righteous of the Gov
eminent in protecting its own citizens.
To-day, sir, when this bill for the removal
of political disabilities has been presented
here again, intend to vote for the measure
But desire at the same time to test the sin
cerity of those who claim that they are patri-
otto in this matter. / wish to see whether
the gentlemen who claim that they desire the
removal of the political disabilities of those
who labor under them, and who sit upon the
other side of the House, really mean what
they say; for they know as well as do that
no bill for the removal of political disabilities
can pass the Senate until this House shall
have acted upon the bill for the protection of
all citizens in their civil rights. If, there
fore, they desire that the men who labor I'M
der political disabilities shall have amnesty,
they will not filibuster, as they have been do
inc but will allow the majority of the House