New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-03-19

which we are interested, unless accompanied
With fulsomc ilattery. DEPUGH.
Written for the New National Era
CHARLES SUMNER AND THE BLACK
MAN.
There to the Senate of 80,
A man whose steps were led
by a tall Samaritan's tender hand,
And statesman's Roman tread.
This man was dark--hs presence ranked
In kingly form and men;
His judges round the chamber ranged;
His judges scarcely seen.
For his eyes were downcast to the floor;
His lips were sealed with shame!
With silent ndignation-iust,
His brow was all ahame!
a broodinS wrong weighed OH his soul,
BY race and hue incurred;
Dumb with the helpless agony,
lie uttered not word!
The good Samaritan arose
And woke the careless ear:
llo! Senators from every State,
Behold this man!-your peer.
American and citizen,
The suffrage in his hand!
acknowledgements outcast still!
Hunted throughout the land!
Hurled from the nations swift highways!
Thrust from our palace doors,
Refused the hospitable feasts
That load our marble floors.
Declared from every cliiicc
OF Drama, Art, or Song.
For hm--the ostracised-f ask,
Oh! Senators !-''how long?'
This Congress in the olden time
For Inn did legislate;
BY special acts his hands were bound;
These fixed his dircful fate.
Round him We basely crystalizcd
The Constitutions grain;
Within its plastic elements
Ie frOZe his heart and srain,
SO. by enactment, spread ,heir sails,
The ficndish SLAYER crews 3.
For Africa's low palmy shores,
On God-defying shores! :
by statute they returned with freight
OF shackled human souls;
Through twenty long and guilty years
The bloody record rolls!
by early conclavc he was doomed
An alien Ger to be; 10
Ye took his stolen suilrases&
To build your Liberty!
give aliens make three citizens.v
Your special laws ordained
The Southern masters iron will
BY fraud We thus sustained!
Alien and slave yc make him-botl
Unlettcrcd, bought and sold,
Till flaming DER the stricken land
Jehovah's hot wrath rolled.
Till Wars dread thundcrs shook the earth
That reelcd beneath our feet;
Till dead, within the ''bloody chasm,"
a million brothers meet.
"Undo your heavy burdens !" doomed
The Cannon's sulphurcous throat;
Make aliened bondmcn Citizens;
Grant them the frccman's vote.
And then the nations peril wrought
Like chastisinG rod!
Ye heard OH bloody fields of strif,
The trumpet-voice of God.
Fast then your anvil-blOws beset
The Constitution flint;
Ye took the negro from It's care,
To welcome without stint.
For well he knew his poor rude hands,
His true and faithful heart
Would never rend the country's FLAG.
Or act traitors part.
He whom the builders did reject,
Became the "corner's" head
To Union, Peace, and Safcty-all
The humble Freedman led.
Clothed in the Nations warrior blue,
The musket in his hand,
His blood baptised true Liberty,
And sanctiied the band.
Ye moulded him like potter's clay!
A Congress stamped his shame!
-frcedman-citizen-
Your hands wrought each-the same!
Essay once more your sculptor hand
Add finish to your skill
Bid We the stubborn nation bow
To art and sovereign will.
Let the soft chisel's polished ring
Give your rude statue, Grace!
The grace of manhood !-honored charm
In life's contested race,
Write with a running pen of fire,
The sweet life-giving word,
Clothe him with equal Civil Rights"
Swear ye, "Thy prayer is heard.''
A banner with a "strangc device"
He bears aloft mid snow and ice
Of hatred, insult, caste and jar,
Ho! Senators will ye not hear?
Four years this Alpine pass " he's tried
Four years been scornfuly defied!
Freeze not his banner hand to ice
The hand that holds the dear device"
The statesman paused-an eagles cry,
Wild and eXultant cleft the sky,
His swOoping pinOns rose to view
His scream rang up the empyrean blue
Excelsior 2"
Then like silver clarion rung"
From lips that martyrs ever sung,
An echo of eagles scream
Like music in a midnight dream,
Browsed Liberty's enchanted throat
Caught up the grand and dying note!
Lo from the Dome, I" serene and far"
Her voice "fell like falling STAR"
Excelsior"
1t filled the chambers silent air;
1t thrilled above the official chair;
1t quavered DER the dark mans head,
And 10! the " strange device " was read
Excelsiorp'
LIVE OAK
THE term of John A. Logan, as United
States Senator from Illinois, does not expire
until 1877, but. already lively convass is in
progress for the place. Governor Beveridge
has entered the field against Logan, who, of
course. desires to be his own successor.
Minister Washburne is also said to be en-
tered for the race, and altogether the politics
of Illinois for the next three years. are likely