Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1875-04-09

AN ELOQUENT AND TOUCHING TRIBUTE
BY BLACK MAN.
The first anniversary of the death of
Charles Sumner was observed in Boston
last Thursday. Joshua B. Smith, a
member of the legislature, made the fol-
lowing speech before that body. As a
tribute to his memory in pathos and elo-
quence, it cannot be excelled:
Mr.. SPEAKER :-Thirty-fve years
have passed since Col. Robert G. Shaw
was babe in the cradle. On an occa-
sion that / we'll remember, Charles Sum-
ner was guest at his fathers table, and
L was a servant standing behind his
chair. The question of slavery, then
the general topic of conversation, was
under discussion One of the guests
gave expression to the most bitter feeling
| ever heard, saying that 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 freedom.
The gentleman who had been speaking
so bitterly asked Mr.. Sumner what he
thought of the negro question. Point
ing to me he replied Would you have
that man a slave?" And that express
sion, with other words then spoken, cost
him his social position for years in Bos-
ton. Slavery had struck its roots wide
and deep; but for me the star of justice
rose in that hour, and l saw it shining,
for the first time, through the dark clouds
of prejudice that surrounded me.
A few years after that l was with that
child on Boston Common. As we were
sitting there, noticed that he looked in
tently at me, and presently he said,
"Smith, what makes your hands black ?"
Why, my boy, God made them so," l
replied. We'll, said he, If God made
them so, why do people find fault with
it?" Because they are bad" | an
swered. He gazed at me few moments
without speaking, and then he said,
g 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 Volun.
teers, the first regiment of colored sol
diers recruited in this State and then,
Col. 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 part of his early train
I ing.
Thirty-two years after the noble ex-
preston referred to of Mr.. Sumner, ]
was guest at his table in Washington.
While we were seated there party of
Southerners from Georgia called upon
Mr.. Sumner to secure his influence in
what he considered would be unjust leg
islation. The great Senator turned again
pointing to me, and said There is my
friend d-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 II have lived out two
generations, and have tasted the bitter
fruit of the seed planted by our fathers
eighty years ago. | have had the doors
of the church and the State House shut
in my face but have lived to enjoy
the blessings of liberty, and to-day l
stand the peer of every man in this
House, and this, as believe, through
the life and labor of Charles Sumner.
What change has taken place within
the forty years of my remembrance l
wish | could picture it. In those days
was a servant in family travelling
through the South. They stopped in
Washington, and there | saw, for the
| first time, men, women and children sold
on the auction block as cattle are sold,
No regard was paid to age, sex or rela-
tionship. 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 10 o'clock
at night, he dared not go out into the
streets to get it, for fear of arrest and
the watch house. And if the master did
not pay the fine the next morning, thir.
ty-nine lashes ON the bare back was the
black mans penalty. In those days
would have given kingdom to have
been dog with a collar on my neck
with the owners name upon it, for that
would have protected me.
The family to which l have referred
was invited into the country to dine anC
| stood to wait upon them. After din
ner | heard the sound Of the lash and {
voice crying, % God, have mercyl"
stepped out into the garden, and, looking
about me, saw poor girl with the BLOOD
running down her neck, with her eye
fixed on the shining clouds towards tn,
setting sun, and saying, 20, Jesus, vii