The weekly Louisianian., 1874-05-02
coLoREp coNGREssmEN.
HOW THEEt.FRANoH1sED RACE Is
REPRESENTED IN WASHINGTON.

Robert B. Elliott a'sdhis young W.T.
-Nter Golored Members from
South Garolina- a-Ly''ch, ef Mssis.
sippi.: Repier. n Alaban'a, and
Walls, Of Florida -:
Especial Oot1sspondenoe Of the 81. Loaia
aaobs.] +.s.s;
WAszmeroN, D. G., I
April z, 1874 )
When the first black man took
his place as a Representative in the
House of Congress, Americans
looked on with wide-opened months
and eyes, with caustic criticism and
openly expressed doubts Of his
ability to retain and fill the place Of
honor creditably to himself and to
the white nation. Strangers. look
ing down from the galleries ON the
mass Of Legislative. humanity wrest-
ling in wordy battles. pitied. the
member wedged in, Is it were, sure
that he would soon be crowded out,
and that this experiment would In
deed mean everlasting political fail
eur for the intrusive race. Southern
spectators scofed and withdrew
aristocratic ewes in naughty disdain ;
Northern opponents whispered,
with bated breath, 'The white mans
TOOL" and watched, with micro
scopic eyes, every word and act;
and sympathizers waited and be-
aieved. One swallow does not make
/ spring, but a throng suggests the
blossoming Of q summer. In the
grouping Of the oolored members
one may, perhaps, recognize distinct
i've traits which give promise of the
fulfllment of = sufficiently brilliant
career to justify the best wishes for
the coming race. In the House
there are seven colored members,
and first Of all I place
R. b xL11orr, OF SOUTH CAROLINA.
And just here let me say that
Benjamin F. Butler, after the late
grand oratoricl effort of this mem
ber, chose to claim him for Massa-
chusetts.
''What do you think Of South
Carolina now?" said q member,
triumphantly.
''What do you think Of Massa-
2" responded Butler,
quickly. "
Mr. Elliott is an African Of pure
descent, about thirty-two years Of
age, with all the traits Of physiog-
nomy peculiar to his people; but
these are tosed down, refined, and
are in no way repulave, and the
soul, looking through, lightens the
shadow that covers them Like q flash
Of sunlight His lips are full, his
nose broad, his complexion bright,
teeth perfect and white, in strong
contrast with surrounding color, his
forehead is high and somewhat
aloping, and his head we'll covered
with crisp, close-curled ebon ha,r.
Deep in the. chest, broad in the
shoulders shapely in limb, in his
neat dreas Of black, he is . distin-
suished and agreeable figure; and
here is no awkward gesture, no
,bsequious movement to point back
% q Lite Of cringing servitude. He
vas born heein New England, and
rom childhood was remarkable for
exhibitions Il Of mental power that,
Notwithstanding q weight Of color
md poverty, would not. "down."
do not know that I can better
Illustrate thiss than by . little story |
float concerning the cropping out
# youthfal eioquenoa.
Ii : small town n New York
here appeared one day q boy Of
i1teen, q ragged negro. to deliver
N aati-slavery lecture. An audience
assembled ct the church wherein |
,e spoke and went away in bewih- |
red admiration Of the young |
speaker. Tie members Of the !
;t+1o IN. ~ ~ 1.ass..n,,,n SSAro ~ favo,L