West-Jersey pioneer., 1875-02-11
CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY.

|
was packed with colored men, and the
Other. three galleries were gradually being
filled up. After the transaction by unani-
nous consent of some miscellaneous bust
ness, the discussion on the pending motion
was continued. Mr.. Southard, of Ohio,
opening the argument against it's constitu-
tionality. He was followed by Mr.. Kel-
logg, of Connecticut, who advocated his
amendment in reference to schools leaving
that subject to the States. This amend
ment was also supported by Messrs. Mon
roe, of Ohio, and Lewis, of Illinois.
Mr.. Burrows, of Michigan, spoke at con-
siderable length in favor of the bill, assert
ing that the contest which has been waged
in the House during the past two weeks
proved that the struggle for the equal rights
| OF all American citizens before the law was
not yet ended, and that although the time
had gone by when the highest judicial tri-
buna! in the country could startle the
world with the solemn adjudication ga
black man had no rights which a white
man was bound to respect" still, five mil
lions of black people were to be made the
objects of merciless persecution and con-
tinual insult. He went on to say: By
such a provision providing for separate
schools, you turn the pointer on the dial
squarely backwards half or three quarters
of century. This hostility, this contest,
is not on the ground that the man is black.
1t is not on the ground of his race. The
real hostility lies in the fact Of opposition
to the education of the black man at all
The South to-day is struggling by every
means in its power to regain it's lost author
ity, and it can only do so by tramphng
upon the black man. Give him equal rights
the law, and the power of the South is
gone. 1t can succeed only by trampling
upon him. 1t is not his color that is OBJ
| jectionable. This nation cannot say that it
objects to the color of a man in view of the
recent spectacle in this chamber. But re-
Gently the golden gates of the West swung
wide open, and received black King
Municipal authorities hastened to greet him
on his journey across the continent, and to
tender to him hospitalities. State authori-
ties arose to do him homage as he passed.
The Executive head of the nation admitted
him in the royal chamber, and there the
pride, the wealth, and the beauty of this
capitol city assembled to do him honor.
Grave Senators left their seats, and men,
bers of this House stood with him in solemn
reverence and received him, while you, Mr..
Speaker, descended from your high place to
welcome him on behalf of a free people-to
welcome his Black Majesty. Laughter.
But, sir, it will be said that he was king.
True, he was. But there is not black
citizen, nay, not lazzaroni, if the gentle
man from New York will have it so (refer-
ring to Mr.. Cox, clothed with citizenship,
who does not wear crown of royalty which
makes him the peer of any sovereign upon
earth? had hoped that this persecution
against the black race was at an end. Is
it not enough (let me say to the other side
of the House, that you have held him in
slavery from generation to generation? Is
it not enough that you overlook him in his
flight for freedom with blood hounds and
dragged him back to thraldom? Is it not
enough that you draggled in blood the gar
ments of virgin Territory in the iphuman
effort to drag her to the altar of slavery.
where the unholy prostitution might be
consummated? Is it not enough that you
have drenched the Republic in blood to per-
petuate this thraldom? Is it not enough |
that you have resisted every amendment to
the Constitution? Is it not enough that,
in the last fifteen years, in the sublime eff
fort for human rights and justice, you have
never struck a blow or given vote in be-
half of the equality of men? And now let
the House. will you hesitate now? The
issue is with you. The responsibility is
with you. For myself l will not hesitate.
Shall this grand party which did not hesi-
tate to unfurl the banner of equality, and
to achieve the victory of 1860, hesitate now?
Shall you, who stood on the borders of our
Territories and beat back the propagand-
lists of slavery, hesitate now? Shall you,
who with cleaning swords struck the
shackles from the limbs of four millions of
people, hesitate now? Shall you who made
them citizens and freeman hesitate now?
For myself will never be guilty of such
shameless treachery! By their answering
loyalty in the hour of treason; by their pa
tient endurance in camp and on the march;
by their fidelity which knew no treachery;
by their heroism in battle, which made
them insensible to danger; by their devo-
tion to the Republic in the hour of it's su-
preme peril, and in the name Of the Con-
under which they stand secure | |
demand for them equal civil rights and
equal prote ction wherever the shadow of |
our banner flies.
There was loud applause in the galleries
and on the floor as Mr.. Burrows took his
seat, and many Republican members crowd
ed around and congratulated him heartily
Messrs. Williams of Wisconsin, and Phil
lips of Kansas, spoke in favor of the bill.
Mr.. Cessna, who had intended to speak on
the same side, yielded his time to the gen
tleman from Indiana, Mr.. Shanks, in order
that the latter might have the Democratic
pledge of 1872 read. Mr.. Shanks thereupon
sent to the Clerk desk, and had read that |
portion of the Democratic platform which
pronounces for equal rights. Mr.. Niblack,
of Indiana, remarked something about the |
plank being the result of coercion and in
in reply to which, Mr.. Shanks
spoke as follows I think a good deal of my
colleague, Mr.. Niblack, but l think much
more of the platform which he has just |
repudiated. have tried to get this plat !
form before the country several times dur
ing this struggle. 1t was before the country
once before, but it was then before the
country in such bad hands that the people |
did not give it credence. That is to say,
they did not believe that the meu who pre-
sented it, presented it in good faith. 1t is |
peculiar to see how discriminating the pub
lie mind is on all these questions. 1t is only |
about year since that platform was offered |
to the people in bad faith, and now the peo-
pie are convinced that their judgment then
was perfectly right when they said to
the Democratic party: "You do not endorse
the doctrine Wnlcn you put OUT. NOW, we, |
the Republicans, do endorse that doctrine,
and have sent it to the Clerks desk for
another purpose than merely reading it.
will ask to-day vote upon it as pream-
BILE to the bill before the House. Laughter
and applause am in favor of the Sen
ate bill now on the table. am in favor of
it because of the broad principles of justice
which it contains, and l am in favor of this
Democratic platform because it contains the
same principles, even in broader terms, than
the Senate bill.
Mr.. Butler said the gentleman from Ken
lucky, Mr.. Brown, made speech against
the civil rights bill, and l have endeavored
to put before the House, his published SEN
timents to show how little heed we should
pay to anything he says on this subject; to
show how little we should take his advice;
how little we should hear from him at all
unless he has repented, and have no know
ledge of his repentance Again, | have