New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-04
Hon. Charles sumner.

Hon. Sbartes sumner
The first act OF freedoms noblest champ
IN IN the Senate OF the United states was
the introduction Of the Supplementary Civil
Rights BEL followed up by bills securing equal
school privileges TO the children of the cities
q Washington and Georgetown, and which
we hopc Will be amended so a. to apply TO
;he District OF Columbia outside Of those
,-,;as. this bill was followed by another TO
r-fy1ut the enslavement Of Italian children
on Monday night the colorcd citizens Of
na District ofColumbia rallied in large num-
her. O. welcome The honorable Senator on his
-,.-a 10 Washington with restored health
anil strength.
T. Sciia Martin, Esq, was chosen by the
,Ul Rights League TO make the speech of
Welcome 20 Senator Sumner, which he did in
gcallowinG eloquent and appropriate terms:
senator sumner, We have gathered here TO
.ht 10 bid Won welcome on your return 10
III, sphere Of yaur official duties--to the
,satcg from which has radia,od under the
-g.larcc OF Your genius and philanthropy a
r-al influence which has been felt by the
y "a world. We come with gladdened
l..-., t. find you restored TO health. Our
.r....i gnNict.cs have clustered about your
..As...p because you iisst lost ycur health
4n..r.e7yicc - and Eow that under an almost
NAN. las medical skill and through the bless;
i,.oE Divine Providence We see YOU roster
eE:r health. car gratitude becomes the inter-
s..ra, a.; oar hopes and cIings lovingly TO the
,.au whose Iaaltyr Ike suilcrinCs have con-
,.r.,,l !nm to the glorious task of oar COM
,'rtc cnir:.nch,cmcn;.
This work to which Yea have pledged
van elf has been happily assumed 10y The
Republican party. A. You were largely in
>.:umental in creatip. Our party and rs You
Az, ,ow one Of It's most honored c,ieftains,
al true Republicans feel with You that !;
NIL never ill the measure Of justice due 10
rs ~ 4 people nor rise 10 the height Of its
splendid opportunities, until the Congress of
ilr nitcl states, rarty's legislative agent,
shall pass Il bill as comprehensive as the
sumner Cl,l Flights Bill. The Honorable
Charles S,nuc: then addressed the assem-
blaze ~ follows:
4aI touched by hi, manifestation of lie
card and sympathy. Eut allow me TO say
sincerely that cannot claim any special
merit. | lave acted always nj the prompt
.ug> Of conscience. and could not have done
Otherwise. Besides, could not forget The
hDnorcd Commonwealth with the commission
and command to labor always for human
rights. Had al any time hcsitatcd ! should
have been rcb;!kcd, net only 10y my own
conscience, but by the libcIty-lavinc people
Of Massachusetts. one Of whose standard
bearers | am.
With the expressions Of my thanks, |
might properly close, but seeing yen face TO
face on this amiablc GRAND am cmboldened
to dwell once more on what 1 have so often
PRESENTED TO my colorcd tellow-cltlZsens oil
Washington. Your position is peculiar and
more important, for YOU are placed on a hill,
50 as 10 be an example throughout the coun-
Ivy. Our colored feilow-citizens elsewhere,
counted by millions. will be encouraged or
dcurcssed by what is done here. They will
30 as you do, keeping in line with You, aid,
according 20 military phrase, dressing on
yOu." If You are earnest and united, they
will be earnest and united. III You INSIST
upon browning reconstruction 10y Eatona!
statute declaring complete equality before
the lawn other words, that everywhere,
in everything regHIutC3 by law, there can he
YOU insist upon this beneiiccnt and most com
jrehensive measure, which is the essential
supplement- and complement of all other
measures, then will oar colored iellow-citi-
zens throughout the country do likewise
and SO being united. you will be heard, and,
allow ne to say, will prevail.
The past has its lessons. l wish you to
remember that opening the street cars here
was followed by opening them in other places,
-. h. lott 10 f,,rf lln lAl
country The admission to testify here was
the prelude to admission everywhere. The
equal franchise here was the precursor OF
that universal measure by which the right
10 vote was declared, independent OF color.
1t now remains that you should be assured
by law in the enjoyment of equal rights IN
education. in travel, and generally i'll the
pursuit Of happiness and here, also, the
keynote must proceed from Washington.
One word more. 1t is not enough 10 have
these assured by State laws. They must be
placed under the safeguard Of n national
statute, reaching with equal and uniform
power into every State, 50 that all shall be
alike in rights, whether in Massachusetts or
South Carolina, in New York or lew Or
leans Such a statute will he the capstone
Of reconstruction. Let this be done, and the
heavy burdens YOU have so long borne will
drop from your shoulders, and our legislation
viii be relieved Of all question OF color. onr
laws hereafter will speak of powers, OF clti-
zcns, OF men, but nothing more will be said
Of BLACK - or white In this respect
they will bc ike the national Constitution,
which furnishes no cxcus,..--r any such qucs-
ton
have done what | could 10. day to secure
this triumph by introducing into the Senate
what is extensively known as the supple
mentary civil rights bill. 1t was the first bill
introduced, and therefore stands No. l on
the calendar of the Senate. If my wishes or
efforts can prevail it will be the first 20 become
law
When the senator concluded the band
played good night " air, and the assem-
h!aSe dispersed.
An alneai to FOL Harlan WAS moi in vain