Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1874-01-28
Civil Rights in Congress.

speech Of the Hon. RonERr +. ELuorr, col
ored Representative from South Carolina, on
the Civil Rights Bill, and in reply to Alexander
II. Stephens, Of Georgia.
ExoRDIUM.
While ! am sincerely grateful for this
/ high mark Of courtesy that has been ac-
corded to me by this House. it is a matter
Of regret to r1e that it is necessary at this
day that should rise in the presence Of
an American Congress to advocate bin
which simply asserts equal rights and equal
public privileges for all classes Of Ameri.
can citizens. | regret, sir, that the dark
hue Of my skin may lend a color TO the inn
putation that | am controlled by motives
personal to myself 10 advocacy OF this great
measure Of national Justice. Sir, the mo.
tive that impels me is restricted by 20 such
narrow boundary, but is as broad as your
Constitution. | advocate it, sir, because t
is right. The bill, however, not only ~.
peals to your justice but it demands a
response from your gratitude.
ELLIOTT oN STEPHENS.
When the honorable gentleman from
Georgia lends bis voice and influence TO
defeat this measure, do not shrink from
saying that it is not from him that the
American House Of Representatives should
take lessons in matters touching human
rights or the joint relations Of the State
and National Governments. While the
honorable gentleman contented himself with
harmless speculations in his study, or in the
columns Of a newspaper, we might well
smile at the impotence of his efforts to turn
back the advancing tide of opinion and
progress; but when he comes again unon
this national arena and throws himself with
all his power and influence across the path
which leads to the full enfranchisement Of
my race, ] meet him only as an adversary
nor shall age or any other consideration
restrain me from saying that he now offers
this government, which he has done his ut
most to destroy, very poor return for its
magnanimous treatment, to come here and
seek to continue, by the assertion of doc
trines obnoxious to the true principles Of
our Government, the burdens and oppres-
sions which rest upon five millions of his
countrymen who never failed to lift their
earnest payers for the success of this Gov
ernment when the gentleman was seeking
to break up the Union of these States, and
to blot the American Republic from the
galaxy Of nations. Loud applause.
Sir, it is scarcely twelve years since that
gentleman shocked the civilized world by
announcing the birth Of government which
rested on human slavery as its cornerstone
The progress of events has swept away that
pseudo government which rested on greed,
pride and tyranny; and the race whom he
then ruthlossly spurned and trampled on
are here to meet him in debate, and to de-
mand that the rights which are enjoyed by
their former oppressors--w vainly sought
to overthrow government which they could
not prostitute to the base uses of slavery
shall be accorded to those who, even in the
darkness of slavery, kept their allegiance
true to freedom aud the Union. Sir, the
gentleman from Georgia has learned much
since 1861 but he is still laggard. Let
him put away entirely the false and fatal
theories which have so gseatly marred an
otherwise enviable record Let him accept,
in its fullness and bene6cence, the great
doctrine that American citizenship carries
with il every civil and political right which
manhood can confer. Let him lend his in
huence, with all his mastery ability, to
complete the proud structure of legislation
which makes the nation worthy of the great
declaration which heralded its birth, and
he will have done that which will most
nearly redeem his reputation in the eyes Of
the world, and best vndicate the wisdom Of
that policy which has permitted him to re-
gain his seat upon this floor.
PERoRATIoN.
Sir, have replied to the extent Of my
ability to the arguments which have been
presented by the opponents of this measure.
have replied also to some of the legal pro-
positions advanced by gentlemen on the
other side and now that | am about to
conclude, | am deeply sensible of the imper-
feet manner in which | have performed the
task. Technically, this bill is to decide
upon the civil status of the colorei Ameri-
can citizen, point disputed at the very for
nation Of cur present Government, when,
by short sighted policy--a policy repug-
negro counted as three filths of man.
The logical result of this mistake Of the
trainers Of the Constitution strengthened
the cancer of slavery, which finally spread
its poisonous tentaces over the Southern
portion of the body polite. To arrest its
growth and save the nation, we have passed
through the narrowing operation of intes-
tine war, dreaded at all times, resorted to
at the last extremity, like the surgeons
knife but absolutely necessary to extirpate
the disease which threatened with the life
of the nation the overthrow Of civil and
political liberty on this continent. In that
dire extremity the members ofthe race which
| have the honor in part to represent-the
race which pleads for justice at your hands
to-day, forgetful oftheir inhuman and brutal
izing scrvitude at the South their degrade
ton and ostracism at the North---hew will.
ingly and calamity to the support of the
National Government. Their suiferings,
assistance, privations and trials in the
swamps and in the rice fields, their valor
on the land and on the sea, is a part Of the
ever-glorious record which makes up the
history Of a nation preserved and might,
should | urge the claim, incline you to re
spect and guarantee their rights aud privi-
leges as citizens Of our common Republic.
But | remember that valor, devotion and
loyalty are not always rewarded according to
their just deserts.
The results of the war, as seen in recon-
struction, have settled forever the political
status of my race. The passage of this
bill will determine the civil status, not only
of the negro, but Of all other classes Of cit
izens who feel themselves Disseminated
against 1t will form the cap-stone Of that
temple of liberty begun on this continent
under discouraging circumstances, carried
on in spite of the sneers Of mouarchists and
the cavils of pretended friends of freedom,
until at last it stands in all its beautiful
symmetry and proportions, a building the
grandest which the world has ever seen,
realizing the most sanguine expectations
and the highest hopes of those who, in tho
name of equal, impartial and universal lib
erty, laid the foundation stones.
The Holy Scriptures tell us of an humble
hand d-maiden who long, faithfully and pa
La. II =. Al E.ll - L..