The Hickman courier., 1872-05-04
OUR COLORED CONCREssMEN.
An Account of Their Looks,
Their Lives and Their wives.


[ Washington letter tO-he New York Globe.
One of the first things our country
cousins visiting the capitol ask on en-
terIng the house gallery is. "Wbere is
their members seat?" next whore sBen
Butler sits p and lastly as to the colored
members places. r. B. Elliott who
represents Calhoun's district has lust re-
turned from his winter efforts at smooth
ing out the web of his tangled state pol
itics. They differ from each other in
personal appearance as much as their
white confreres. Joseph H. Rainey Is
quite a handsome fellow, with dark olive
complexion, straight black hair and reg
ular features. He is digni6ed and mod
est in manner. a native of Georgetown,
South Carolina, his parents were slaves,
and himself a barber until 1862. By
stealth he obtained u common school ed
ucatiOn, and has succeeded in compelling
respect in his present position. Robert
b. Elliott Of South Carolina is very bluck,
with strongly marked African features,
close curly hair and reeeding forehead
He was born 10 Massachusetts. educated
in England, Is college graduate law
yer by profession. Elliott is a ready
speaker, and the accent peculiar to his
race is not the least perceptible. lie has
made fortune within the past few years,
lives in considerable style, drives a fine
span of horses, and spends ia money
freely Robert {. De Large was born in
Aiken, South Carolina, in l8i2-has 4
moderate education, and is a farmer by
profession. He is OF short stature, OF
dark olive com plexion, with not particuN
larry marked features, and the least at
tractive personality Of the five. His seat
Is contested by c. C. Bowen, who seems
to be!ieye in many Offices as well as ma
ny wives. Bowen will probably win-
Josiah I. Walls. who represents the
State Of Florida, was born at Winches
ter, Va, in 1912; received common
school education, aud claims 10 be plant-
er II Is slight in stature, OF rather
light complexion, close curly hair, dress
es well, aud wears gay neck ties. lie
has not been in his seat since the early
days of the session The only thing
known from him is a long speech, which
he reads with the manner Of rustic
schoolmaster. Benjamin Sterling Turn
er Of Alabama is large. broad shoul
dered man, with a large, fiat nose, curly
hair, and, 10 physique at least, intensely
suggestive Of plantation days. lie was
born in Halifax county, Moth Carolina,
in 1925; was raised slave and received
20 early education. lie Is very quiet, is
seldom seen conversing, is always pres
eut, never speaks, always votes, aud
among his Republican colleagues has
reputation for good sense
and political sagacityN Officially thes'
men receive recognition here IN propor>
ton to their ability to command it.
With commendable good taste and
manliness. they have never in any way
themselves where they we're un-
biddeu. Mrs. Elliott, who, by the way,
is an exceedingly handsome aud stylish
very light complexioued, scarce
ly darker than a brunette, dressing quite
royalty, was shown into the diplomatic
gallery by the ushes one day. This
pen" is generally set apart for members
aud their families Mrs s., the wife
of an extremely radical member from
been a strong advocate of negro suffrage
aud now supports the civil rights bilD-I
indignantly left the gallery. where the
presen nee of Mrs. Elliott had occasioned
quite a futter. Madame" from Ohio
augrily asked the usher "why be let that
woman into the gallery" He mildly
replied that being a members wife she
was entitled to a seat there, upon which
the lady went off with her feathers some
what ruffied Mrs Elliott never repeat
ed the offense; now when she comes to
the House she quietly takes her seat in
the other gallery devoted to ladies who
are not members wives"