The Washington times., 1901-12-08

nad Deen prepared by Mr.. sumner. Hut
this Mr.. Sumner denied. and the eulogy
OF Elliott over the death of Sumner was
an even greater speech.
In the Forty-third Congress. which
opened in 1873. seven negroes were mem
bers. four OF whom represented South
Carolina, and one each from Alabama,
Florida and Mississippi. Those not prev
iously mentioned were John Il. Lynch. OF
Mississippi; Josiah T. Walls. OF Florida
James 7. Rapler, OF Alabama: Richard II
Cain and Alonzo j. Ransier. OF South
Carolina. OF these Lynch was the only
one to make his mark He is a native
Of Louisiana. Is self-educated. and next
TO the late ex-senator Blanche X Bruce
has had the most prominent political ca
reer of any colored man in the country.
Given High Honor.
He served six years in Congress, and is
the only colored man to have received
the honor of the temporary chairmanship
of the Republican National Convention
This he held in the convention Of 1884 in
Chicago. and received it largely as the
result of a speech by the present Presi-
dent of the United States. Mr.. Roosevelt
said:
1T is now. Mr.. Chairman, less than a
quarter of century siYce in this city the
great Republican party for the first time
organized fer victory. and nominated
Abraham Lincoln, Of Illinois, who broke
the fetters OF the slave and rent them
asunder forever. II is a fitting thing for
us tc choose to preside over this cOnven-
tior one Of that race whose right to sit
within these walls is due to the blood and
the treasure so lavishly spent by the
fDpnJaru Of 10. ~
is a further Indication of the principles
for which the Republican party so long
struggled. trust that the Hon. Mr.. Lynch
will be elected temporary chairman"
MIR. Lynch is now paymaster in the
Regular Army, with the rank Of captain.
The "BIack Congress-
The Forty-fourth Congress, March 4.
1875, to March 3. 1877. may be termed the
BLACK Congress-" as it contained the
largest number of colored men prioi or
subsequent to that time. there being a
total of eight in both branches. Blanche
X Bruce, from Mississippi. entered the
Senate at this time. and served his full
term of six years. Bruce was a Virginian,
but found his way West during the war.
adapting himself to such opportunities as
arose. 1t was during this period that he
asked stranger to write a pass for him
to cross the Mississippi River Struck by
the youths excellent bearing. the stranger
complied The man on returning many
years afterward to the town enqulred for
the boy and related the incident. He was
informed that the signature of the man
ne enquired for was necessary for him to
cross the same river. as Bruce was then
Register OF the United States Treasury.
his signature appearing on all the paper
currency
Senator Bruce married into a family
representing the best culture of his race.
and his only son is now a student 1T Har-
ward University In addition to the Of
noes named, he held others of prominence
ana owned large plantation in Missis-
slppi- He died three years ago. and his
WIDOW has chosen to work for the ele-
walton of the race with which she Is iden
tined. She is the principal of the Tuske-
gee institute in Alabama During Presi-
Gent Arthur's Administration she had the
honor to serve as one OF the receiving
party at the White House.
smnIIs of south Carolina.
The House Of Representatives of the
Foriy-fourth Congress had seven colored
men, Rainey. Walls. and Lynch, already
mentioned. and John A. Hyman. of North
Carolina; Charles E. Nash of Louisiana.
Jere Harolson OF Alabama, and Robert
smalls of South Carolina or these Smalls
IS unique. He was born a slave at Beau
.ort ) G. and grew UP in a life at sea.
In 1867 he was l helper rn the Copfeder-
ATE transport Planter, and on night
when all the officers had gone ashore
Smalls slipped his wife and children
aboard: and with the aid Of eight other
,oIored men conducted the Planter out of
.harIeston Harbor and delivered IL to
ne piockading squadron For this he was
reWarded by the Government and made a
PILOT during the remainder of the war.
IN congress he was conspicuous figure
serving six years. and has held many Of
nees since he left Congress, including
collector OF the port. which he now holds
lt his home in Beaufort.
-Four OF those who have been mention
ed ALREADY were elected to the next Con-
gress, but in the Forty sixth. 1879 to 1881.
senator Bruce was the only representa-
tive of his race. Smalls and Lynch were
returned to the Forty Congress.
and then followed two sessions the
forty-eighth and Forty ninth, with only
one colored man, James E O'Hara of
North Carolina. O'Hara was a native of
New York City. went South soon after
he war. and was twice elected from the
Second district of North Carolina. He
vas defeated, however, for the Fiftieth
congress, so that from 1887 to 1899 there
vas no man in either house of the negro
race.
The Fifty-nrst Congress.
Beginning with the Fifty-first Congress
I've colored men have served nc r,epnbers
John NJ. Langston, of Virginia. and
Thomas E. Miller of South Carolina. in
The Fifty-first: Henry p. Cheatham, of
North Carolina, in the Fifty-frst and
Fiftysecond; George W. Murray. of
South Caroline. in the Fifty-third and
Fifty-fourth, and George H. White. OF
North Carolina. in the Fifty-ffth and
Fifty sixth
Langston, educated at Oberlin College.
a lawyer OF ability. and a fine orator
won the respect OF all men for the indie
oendence Of his thought and action. Mil
er. educated at Lincoln Univercity was
member of the South Carolina Con-
ititutional Convention of 1890. and Is now
he President of the Colored Normal. In
lustrial, Agricultural and Mechanical
College OF that State. Cheatham, edu-
'ated at Shaw University. is now Re
order OF Deeds for the District of
Murray. who is large and
farmer, is the deputy collec-
or OF the port Of Charleston. and White,
who was educated at Howard University,
IS practicing law at Washington.
THOMAS j. GALLOWAY.
sMooTHEsT OF PIcKPoCKETs.