New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1875-02-21
NEW ORLEANS REPUBLICAN,, SUNDAY FEBRUARY 81 1876

want standing behind the chair. The ques
ton of slavery, then the general topic o.
conversation, was under discussion. Ont
of the guests gave expression to the mos1
bitter feeling ever heard, saying that the
'AbOlitiOnists, with their negro friends
| ought to be hanged But Mr.. and Mrs
| Shaw, the father and mother of the infant
spoke strongly in favor of justice and free
dom. The gentleman who had been speak
ing so bitterly asked Mr.. Sumner what hi
thought of the negro question. Pointing te
me. he rerlied. Would you have that man
| slave = And that expression, with Othe1
words then spoken, cost him his social pc
sition for years in Boston. Slavery had
struck its roots wide and deep; but for me
the star of Justice rose in that hour, and
saw it shining, for the first time, through
the dark clouds of prejudice that surround
ed me.
"A few years after that was with that
child on Boston Common. As we were sit
ting there, noticed that be looked intently
at me, and presently he said. Smith, what
makes your hands blackp why, my boy,
God made them so,' / replied. well, said
find fault with itp Because they are bad :,
l answered. He gazed at me few mo-
ments without speaking, and then said,
Smith, some day I'll fight for YOU
''When he was only twenty five years of
age this child was made colonel of the Fifty
fourth Massachusetts Volunteers, the first
regiment Of colored soldiers recruited in
this State; and then, as Colonel Shaw, led
the colored troops at Fort Wagner, and
there gave his life for his country and for
that justice and freedom that had been q
part Of his early training.
''Thirty-two years after the noble expires.
sion referred to of Mr.. Sumner, was q
guest at his table in Washington. While
we were seated there party of Southern
ers, from Georgia, called upon Mr.. Sumner
to secure his influence in what he considered
would be unjust legislation. The great
Senator turned again, pointing to me, and
said: There is my friend-my equal at
home, and your equal anywhere; and when
you are ready to make eternal Justice law,
then call on me and will help you, and not
before
"Mr. Speaker, have lived out two gene
ratiOns, and have tasted the bitter fruit of
the seed planted by our fathers eighty years
ago. l have had the doors of the church
and the State House shut in my face; but l
have lived to enjoy the blessings of liberty,
and to-day stand the peer Of every man in
this House, and this. as believe, through
a change has taken place within the forty
years of my remembrance! l wish could
picture it. In those days was servant in
family travelling through the South. They
stopped in Washington, and l there saw,
for the nrst time, men, women and chill
dren sold on the auction block as
cattle are sold. No regard was paid to age,
sex or relationship. Husband and wife,
mother and child were parted to meet no
more. At that time. if black mans child
or dying wife cried for water after ten
o'clock at night, he dared not go into the
streets to get it, for fear Of arrest and the
watchhouse. And, if the master did not
pay the fine next morning, thirty nine
lashes on the bare back was the black
mans penalty. In those days would have
given kingdom to have been dog with
collar on my neck with the owners name
upon it, for that would have protected me.
THE family to which have referred was
invited into the country to dine, and stood
to wait upon them. After dinner I heard
the sound of the lash and voice crying,
% God, have mercy! Istepped out into the
garden, and, looking about me, saw a poor
girl with the blood running down her neck,
with her eyes fixed ON the shining clouds
toward the setting sun, and saying, %.
Jesus, will soon be with thee, and then my
soul will shine as those clouds, and will be
thy child 1t was the first prayer had
ever heard, and there swore eternal hatred
to slavery.
''Forty years after that went again to
Washington. Slavery had disappeared. The
whipping-post and auction block were
gone. The star that l saw rise was now
in the meridian. 1t shone full in my face.
l was in new world. l was as free as air
l went as any gentleman might go. /
walked to the cars. l went to Arlington,
and heard no word of insult. l had every
attention paid me as gentleman. and
shoIld not have known that was a black
man if / had not looked in the mirror.
"Now, Mr.. Speaker, Charles Sumner did
it. Five and twenty years ago the anti
slavery sentiment Of New England fixed
upon Sumner as the man to 60 to Washing
ton to strike the first blow. You speak Of
Sherman's march from Atlanta to the sea
as great victory. But that was nothing
to the success of Sumner Sher-
man had the nation at his back. Sumner
had simple justice. Sherman had 100000
men. Sumner fought single handed and
alone. Sherman had the wealth of the
nation laid at his feet, and Sumner had only
the prayers of the poor.
"Mr. Speaker, ! stand here amazed. One
week ago this day Placed in the hands of
our great Senator the resembling resolutions
If this Legislature. As he read them, he
turned his head and wept as ! never saw a
nan weep before. He then said, i knew
Massachusetts, would do me JUSTICE"