Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-06-14
SENATOR CULLOM SPEAKS.
A Federal Election Law-AfrO- Ameri-
cans to be Protected in Their Right
to Vote.


the passage during the present Con-
gress OF some measure TO regulate
Federal elections. Never before have
the Republican leaders shown SO
much unanimity on question af-
fecting Afro-Americans as they are
displaying for u free ballot and fair
count. Senator Shelby NJ. Cullom of
Illinois, than whom the colored peo-
pie have not more sincere friend
is particularly Outspoken for a FEEDER
al election law. There is an organi-
cation in this city composed of some
fifty Afro-Americans from different
states and territories, known as :.
Nj. Cullom National Republican
Association. The organization is
ensconced in handsomely furnished
headquarters whence much valuable
information is sent to the people of
the race. The members had their
regular monthly meeting last night
to which Senator Cuilom was invited.
tie sent the following letter:
United States Senate.
WASHINGTON, ID. c., June 8, 1890.
Alex. q. Davis, Esq,
Sect of the ). NJ. Cullom Assn.
Washington, ID. -,
Dear SIR
Your favor of the
9TH inst, inviting me to meet wi, h
the members of your club on tomoI-
row night has been received
/ thank you and the association
you represent for the honor of the
invitation, but ! regret to say that
my engagements for the evening will
prevent me from being present.
l assume that the great purpose OF
your organizatIn is to improve the
condition of the colored people OF
the United States, especially the con-
dition of those in the Southern States
where the great body of them reside.
In your effort to disseminate knowl
edge, to make it known, not only TO
the colored citizens of the country but
to all the people, that you complain
of the failure so far, OF the Nation
al Government to secure to the Ne
groIcitizens the full enjoyment OF their
civil and political rights long since
conferred upon them by the Consti-
tuition and the laws, you have my
most hearty and unqualified endorse
ment.
1t has been more than twenty
seven years since the great enamel
pator, Abraham Lincoln, by procla-
nation abolished slavery in this coun
try. 1t has been about twenty-five
years since the 18th Amendment to
the Constitution, declaring that
neither slavery nor Involuntary
servitude, except for crime, shall
1Ef in
place subject to their jurisdiction.
II has been about twenty-five years
since, on the 2Sth of July, 1868, the
SecretaryofS State proclaimed that the
18th Amendment to the Constitu-
ton, declaring that all persons born
or naturalized in the United States
and subject to the jurisdiction there
OF are citizens of the United States
and of the States wherein they reside
that no State shall make or enforce
any law which shall abridge the
privileges or immnnities OF citizens
OF the United States, nor deprive
any person OF life, liberty, or proper
ty; without due process of law, nor
to deny any person within its juris-
diction the equal protection OF the
one years since, on the 9th day OF
February, 1869, the Secretary OF
State proclaimed the ratification OF
the 10th Amendment to the Consti-
tuition, declaring that the rights OF
citizens OF the United States to
vote shall not be denied or abridged
by the United States, or by any
state, On,accOunt of race, color, or
previous condition of servitude.
Notwithstanding all these provis-
ions OF the Constitution, AMI the
proclamation of freedom before their
adoption and ratification, the con
dition of the cOlored citizens of the
Southern States is far from being
satisfactory or right. Their civil
rights haveno been fully recognized
and their political rights have been
in many states almost wholly denied
to them. 1t has come to bea question
in the public mind, what is to be
the fate OF the Negro? Itmay be well
asked also, what is to be the fate OF
republican government if the legal
and constitutional guarantees made
to colOred citizens are not secured tC
them by the Government.
Your people have been patient
and long suffering-for long years
in this country in abject slavery
when at last freedom lighted upon
your pathway it was only to be
again clouded and darkened by
the denial of rights which you and
the world had a right to believe were
placed in your hands never to be
disturbed. The logic of the ssitua.
ton illfOrce a recognition of your
political rights In every state in this
this Union; no condition of violence
or threats or corruption in tamper-
ing with the ballOt-boxes can long
delay the passage and enforcement
of national law securing to every
citizen, native or naturalized, all the
political rights given him by the
Constitution and laws.
The nation, trust, will no longer
put off this most important and
pressing duty. 1t can not do so and
maintain republican government