New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-01-01
Testimonial and Appeal 70 Charles
Sumner from COlOred People Of
CinciunaCi

CINCINNATI, OHIO, December, s.
7S Hon Caar!es S.1nser, United Exa.es San
dfor.
DEAR SIR: We feel under lasting oblica
tons to you for your untiring efforts in behalf
OF lonS-oppressed and prescribed people
We recognize in you true and tried friend
OF the coiored people, as well a. the friend
OF the oppressed of all lands. The Cuion
Baptist Church (colored) choose me to salute
you IN the name of the Church of God, hu-
mainly, OF civil liberty and of the right to
The !mmunities and privileges of common
country. Grace, mercy and peace be multi
Piled unto you. We pray tba, y"u will urge
The claims OF the civil rights bill Until the
cries OF tho four millions OF human beings
who have been called out Of the graves Of
American slavery, but who are yet is their
grave clothes-the subjects of an unjust dis
criminatlon, Tor no other than that it pleased
the Advise God to give US colorsd skins and
curly hair. We are thankful for the boon OF
liberty. We have heard the proclamation
which broke our chains, and now We think
that God has raised you Up for the purpose of
looslnS the bands which now bind Us. Your
civil rights bill will break the bars forced by
the curse OF caste, and thus open the way for
the enjoyment OF life, liberty aud the llL suit
OF happiness, the common hight of all other
Nations, and people, who lind u home in free
America. We will pray in our churches AMI
around our ilresides, that God will put the
Golden Rule " into the hearts of the hon
orable members Of the present Congress Of
the Cnited States. And as We would that
men should do to YOU, do ye also to them Ne
Wise." We ask that you will urge the ,Leedy
passage of the civil rights bill, as an act Of
justice founded on the eternal principles of
right. We make no unconditional demands
for demand implies the power to enforce
but we appeal to the better judgment, the
higher sense of right and justice, the noble
aud patriotic feelings Of Intelligent and hu-
name Americans tor those rights which they
themselves would wish to enjoy, were they
placed i'll our stead, living in a country whers
there were eight colOred men to one white
man. We appeal to you in the name of 900
OOO c0lored voters, who arc constituent parts
OF the body polite of this great country, for
the civil rights accorded to other citizeus.
We appeal to you in the name of the colored
soldiers. who fought, blad and died to save the
honor OF the country and the dag which az
forded them no protection (at that timc), but
that Of ''black men having no rights which
white men were bound to resoect.0 We ask
you, in the name Of the widows and orphans
OF the Union Colored Soldiers, whose bodies
are now III The soldiers graves, do not deny
their children the rights OF the country's
common wenl, for which they Tin common
with the white Union soldiers) gave their
lives ransom. In conclusion, we will pray
to the God of Nations that Congress Shall
not finally adjourn until 1t finishes the work
OF emancipation, SO nobly begun, and to
which, sir, you have given the cream of your
useful life, aud now, dear sir, let the crown
ing act OF your life, and that of the present
Congress- now assembled, be that Of lifting
the keystone of civil rights above the arch Of
Liberty's editice, with shoutings of grace
unto it, amid the congratulations of both
both worlds, the old and the new.
replan yours, with great respect,
J. H. MAGEE.
Done by order of the Union Baptist Church
and congregation.