The New York freeman., 1885-03-07

prevent any discrimination on account OF
color.
While on visit to Washington in con-
nection with the enlistment of colored
troops, the Hon. Nathan +. Dixon, then
member of Congress from Rhore Island, sug-
gested that Mr. Downing take charge OF the
House restaurant. After maturely consld-
ering the subject Mr.. Downing decided to
take charge of this department and use 1t as
a channel through which to serve the inter-
ests of his race. AS its head he was brought
in contact with leading statesmen OF both
parties, whose respect and confidence ne
| never failed to secure and to keep. He was
daily consulted upon matters of legislation
affecting the colored people.
| He became very intimate with Charles
| Sumner. A warm feeling of mutual regard
sprang UP between them. They often vis-
tied each other. While grasping Mr..
| Downings hand the great Senator cried, in
substance, "Don}t let my Civil Rights bill
fail," )" and then slept the sleep that knows
Mr.. Downing hsA the Senate gallery at
| IL the Vice-presidanoy of Hannibal Harnlin
| One of the attendants in the restaurant, who
had been in the employ of his predecessor,
came to him one day and reported the pres
ence of colored people, with an air and look
which meant what shall do? Mr.. Down
ing unhesitatingly said, "Serve them, and
send to me any one WHO may complain" P"
He and his family were the first colored
persons to occupy box in a Washington
theatre. thus testing and vindicating
civil rights to the fullest extent. He
led in stopping the disgraceful treatment
of colored persons travelling between Wash
ington and Baltimore on the Baltimore
Ohio r. R. Mr.. Downing called Mr.. Sum
ner's attention to the matter. The Senator
spoke of it in the Senate when Legislation
affecting the road came up. An official o.
: the road assured Mr.. Downing that th'
l Grievance would be remedied. At the sug
l eestion of Mr.. Sumner Mr.. Downing wrot
a letter to that effect and addressed it to t.
Senator, who read it before the Senate ant
> withdrew his objection.
Mr.. Downing took a prominent part il
= efforts to reconstruct the South. 1t was hi
: proposition to send delegates from the jeV
= eral States TO Washington to remain ther
. during the session of Congress. The prop
" osition was earnestly indorsed by Horac
:, Greely. 1t was carried out. Mr.. Downln
= headed it. The delegation held that wei
~ known interview with President Johnson
= which q running debate took place much
- the discontinue of "His Excellerc
+ Mr.. Downing was doubtless the most efi
a cient agency in securing the first appoln
10 ment of q colored gentleman as Minister
10 the Diplomatic Corps of the United Stat
1r Government, In this connection the alb
f. and scholarly Mr. Bassett had the honor
AZ he appointed Minister Resident and Consu
to General for the United States to the Repu
in lie of Hayti. In a word, where there ha
he been rights to maintain, equal and exa
ed iustice to secure, wrongs to redress, gre
a nroblems affecting the race to be solve
ey Mr.. Downing has taken a leading, often t
dis leading part, for nearly half centur
ng Everywhere has his plume been seen IN
4 thickest of the fight for unconditional ema
he cipation, civil rights and universal sufIras
he With Douglass, and Garnet, and Ward, a
e. Langston, he has led the race out OF I
d, darkness of physical bondage into the brig
ia. light of freedom. 1t is now for the young
u. men-the host that no man can number
,re aatber inspiration from the lives and lab'
,de Of our heroic seniors, and thus prepare
he exclusive leadership when in the course
nd nature the veterans, like Garnet, must
ere tire. -. -
ras Mr.. Downing's efforts in his adop
re- State. Rhode Island, have been signally
on fective. 1t was mainly through his etfo
an that distinction on account OF color
III abolished in the public schools. For 12ye
of he besieged the legislature till the Wet
dr. was won. He and others at the times
rs, rs fused to support the Republican part
de- nominees and put up their own cahoiu'
TO making the school question an issue.
ade travelled through the State appealing to
the friends of equality before the law. HIS
red d;dates received decent vote. The .
legislature removed the proscriptive feat'
inc from the statute book and now colored
.gi27 white children sit side by side in the 81
3Rn 7 schools, and under the same instruction.
,sa- In municipal election IN Newport
uid Downing and others supported a Demo
nre with the understanding that the coi'
/, to people should be represented by one OF