Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1874-01-17

ton complete power TO pass thls
law and to protect all citizens of the
country in all their rights. He dis
cussed the doctrine of the decision
of the Supreme Court in the New
Orleans slaughter cases, and asked
the gentleman from Georgia, MIR.
Stephens, whether they gave color
even to the claim that Congress can
not legislate against the plain dis
elimination made by State laws and
State customs against that very race
for whose complete freedom and pro-
lection those great amendments to
the Constitution were elaborated
and adopted? 1t could not be pre-
tended that the evils of which the
colored people complained, their ex-
clusion from the public inn, from the
sleeping car on the railroad and
from the right of sepulture, were the
exercises of the police powers of the
State. These things are a denial of
the equal protection of the laws
which those Constitutional amend
ments were formed to guard against.
He shared the feelings of high per-
sonal regard which pervaded the
House in respect to the gentleman
from Georgia (Stephens), but when
that gentleman lent his voice ana in
fuence to defeat this measure, he,
(Elliott) would not shrink from say
ing that it was not from him, (Ste-
phens) that an American House of
Representatives would take lessons
in matteLs touching human rights.
No consideration should restrain him
from saying that that gentleman
now offered to the Government
which he had done his utmost to de-
stroy, a very poor return for its mag
nanimity in coming here and seeking
to continue, by assertion of doctrines
obnoxious to the true principals of
government, burdens of Cpl ression
which rested on those who had new
er failed to pray for the success of
the Government which that gentle
man had sought to blot out from the
galaxy of nations. Applause from
the floors and in the galaries, which
were filed with colored people.
1t was scarcely twelve years since
that gentleman had shocked the civ
ilized world by announcing as the
highest form of government the one
that rested on human slavery. The
progress of time had swept away |
that pseudo government and the race
which he (Stephens) ruthlessly |
spurned and trampled upon, was
here now to meet him in discussion,
to demand that the rights enjoyed |
by its former Oppressors should be |
accorded to those, who, even in the |
darkness of slavery, had kept their
allegiance true to freedom and un-
ion. That gentleman had learned |
much since 1861, but he was still a
learner. He (Stephens) should put
away entirely, those false and fatal
theories which have marred his 9th
erwise enviable record. He should |
accept in its fullness, the great doc
trine that American citizenship car
ries with it every civil and political
right that manhood can confer. He
should lend his influence and his
mastery ability to complete the pro-
found structure of legislation which
made the nation worthy of the great
declaration which heralded its birth.
Let him do that and he would have
done that which would most certain
ly redeem his reputation, in the
world, and best vindicate the wis
dom of that policy which had per-
mitted him to return to his seat in
the House.
AS to the gentlemen from Virgin
la (Harris) yesterday transcended
decency and propriety, he (EliOtt)
should have no words with him.
He would let the gentleman feel
that negro was not only too mag
unanimous to smite him in his weak
ness, but was even charitable enough
to grant HIM the mercy of his 81
lence. Applause and Laughter.
The Holy Scriptures told of an hum
bic handmaiden who had long and
faithfully CLEANED in the rich fields
of her wealthy kinsman, and that at
last in spite of her humble antece-
dents she found complete favor IN
his sight. So with his race; it had
for two centuries reaped down their
fields; the cries and woes which they
had uttered had entered into the
ears of the Lord God of the Sabbath
and they were at last politically free.
The last vesture, civil rights only
was needed. Having gained that
they might with hearts overfowing
with gratitude and thankful that
their prayer had been granted, re-
peat the prayer of Ruth, 'Entreat
me not to leave thee, or to turn
from following after thee, for whith-
er thou goest 1 will go and where
thou lodgest Twill lodge. Thy peo-
pie shalt be my people and thy God
my God. Where thou diest 1 will
die, and there will l be buried. The
Lord do so to me and more also if
ought, but death part thee and
me-"
The speech was listened to with
interest and attention by
the members on both sides of the
House, and by crowded galleries,
and at its close was very generally
and loudly applauded. Many
members congratulated the colored
orator warmly, and General Sher-
man, who was present in the hall,
joined in those congratulations.
Young POmpeii in California.