Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1874-01-14
Eloquent Speech by a COlOred
Member of Congress.

to KY. and Alexander II. Stephens OF Gee
D. eia. Oh the civil rights bill. The galleri
were thronged with colored people, al
) though the speech was written, yet {
subject, the man and his delivery COZ
manded the attention of every memb
h and at the close he was warmly a%pplaude
: Members gathered about HIM with the
congratulations, and among o'her dist
guished men Gen. Sherman took occasiC
to warmly shake his land and express al
e proval. The following is a brief abstra'
{ of what he said :
lle referred to the service of men ofh
race on the battlc6eldS Of the country r,
mindlug Beck, who was always so actIy
against The negro, that the negro true I
that patriotism aud love Of country whic
has ever characterized and marked hi
history on the continent came to the al
of the government in its efforts to main
tain the constitution. To that govern
ment the negro now appealed and frou
that constitution he now hoped for prnrec
:ion against outragcs aud unjust prejudic
founded on caste.
Replying to the argument of Mr. Steph
ems of Georgia, he coutended that Con
gress had under the 18th and 18th amend
wents to the constitution, complete power
to pass this law and to protect all citizen,
of the country in all their rights He
discussed the doctrines Of the decision Of
the Supreme Court i'll the N. O.slaugh.
ter.Eouse cases, and asked MIR. Stephen,
whether they gave color even to claim
that Congress cannot legislate against
plain determinations made by State laws
aud State customs against that very race
for whose complete freedom and proiec-
ton, those great amendments to the con.
s~titution were elaborated and adopted. 1t
could not be pretended that the evils OF
which the coIored people complained. their
exclusion from public inns, from sleeping
cars on railroads and from the right of
sepulture, were the exercise of the pu-
lice powers Ct the Stale. No one could
deny that these things were inequality,
discrimination and a denial Of equal pro.
lection of laws when those constitutional
amen inents were framed to guard against.
Tie shared those feelings Of high personal
regard, which peryaded the House in re-
spect for the gentleman from Georgia.
(S'ephers), but when that gentleman lent
voice and influence TO defeat tins
measure, he (EllIot) would not shrink from
that it was not from (StepheuS) that
an Anne lean House Of Representatives
would take lessons in matters touching
human rights. No considerations should
lin from saving that hat gentle.
nan now offered to the government which
le had done his utmost TO destroy, very
return for lis magnammity in coming
lcre aud seeking TO continue, by assertion
Jf doctrines so obnoxious TO true princi-
)les of government, the buidcns of op-
preston which rested on those who had
,evcr failed to make prayers for the sue
Of the government which that gen.
l"man had sought 10 blot out from the
OF nations. 1t was scarcely twelve
'ears siuce that gentleman had shocked the
civilized world 10y announcing us the high
ISL form of government one that rested
N slavery. Progress Of time had swept
way that pseudo government, and the
which he Stephens rutblcssly spurned
nd trampled upon was here now to meet
lin in discussion to demand that rights
njoyed by its former oppressors should
'e accorded TO those who, even ia the
'arkness Of slavery had kept their allegi-
nee TO its true freedom aud union. That
Gentleman had learned much since 1861,
'ut he was still "a learner. lie (Stephcns)
hould put away entirely those false aud
atal theories which lad marred his 9th.
enviahle record. He should ac-
ept in lis f~uIlness the great doctrine thar
American citizenship carries with it every
ivil and political right that manhood eau
oufer. He should lend his influence and
is mastery ability to complete the proud
'ructure of legislation which made this
otion worthy of the great declaration
hat herajded its birth. Let him do that
nd he will have done that which would
,ost certainly redeem his reputation 10
he world. aud best vindicate the wisdom
f that policy which had permitted him
0 return to his seat in the House.
As to the gentleman from virginia
who had the day before trans
ended deceucy aud prorrie'y, he (EllIoi)
hould have no words with him. He would
ct the gentleman feel that "a negro
'as not only too magnanimous 10
him in his weakness but was
ven charitable enough to grant him
mercy of his silence. Applause and
The Holy Scriptures told Of
!, humble hand maiden who had long and
iithfully cleaned in the rich fields of her
kinsnan, and that at last in spite ,
her humole antecedeuts she found com F.;
lote favor in his sight. So with his race, /,
had Tor two centuries reaped down their Il,
elds. The cries and woes which they :
,d uttered entered into the cars of the F.
ord God Of the Sabbaoth, and they were
last politically free. The last vcstiture (,
civil rights only was needed. Having !
that they might with hearts over. !;
wing with gratitude, and thankful that :
eir prayer had been granted, repea, the .
Ruth ''Entreat me not 10 Ieav e !,
ee, or to return following after thee :
r whittier thou goest. | will lodge. Thy !,
'ople shall be my people and thy God my y
cd. Where thou diest, | will die. aud =
ere will be buried. Lord do so to me, e
d more also, if aught but death part :,
a and nina , u