The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-12-14
NEGROES AS CONGRESSMAN.

Washington, December 1i.--(Stof Corresfonde"eel-
The Fyseventh congress composed entirely OF whe
men Not single sits in the halls Of either ofanen
and the prospects for being elected IN the iue "
probably less bright than at any time in the past
This is the first session Of without negro tor
period Of thytwo with the exception OF the TWO
between 1887 and $50 At all times during the period
named have been members OF the Ma
tional law making body
The that the first colorcd be elected
to congress w. Menard Menard from New Or
leans and represented the Second Louisiana district having
been elected November g. 800 He native Of In
nois and was educated iberia college IN Ohio he was
elected to MI vacancy the time named his previous
public service having consisted Of hospital steward
and recruiting officer and trip which he made to British
Honduras on mission for the government
Mcnard presented himself the capitol at the beginning
Of the short session of the Foeh On account OF
some irregularities in the Of the election which had
resulted in his victory. he denied scat not however
without having hftseven in his favor Naturally
there great deal of talk the incident being the
first OF its kind and very bitter feeling brought
out The New Yor Herald Of the day following tho refusal
Of congress to the negro had the following which
he considered fairly representative Of the position as
sumcd by the press OF the North
For The first TING in the history Of compress man Of
sentatyG during the legislative proceedings Mr. 4sns T
allowed opportunity speak delivered what he had 10
say with cool readiness and clcarncs that surprised every
ton than etenths Of the members generally But was
no use Say what he mgh-et his case be ever SO eear
shut out the darky anyhow right wrong Nenard
voted down.
The Northern papers severely criticised the action OF
congress in denying the negro and is possible that
what they had say had something do with the fact that
negro to come congress given This
Hiram R. Rcvels, who entered the February
1870 and who the first OF the only who
the upper house. Revels although born in North
Carolina raised in Indiana in which latter State he
ceived rather meager education Rather early in life he be-
car and
paciy Mississippi where result OF his orator.
cal ability he became leader the people of his
He elected to the United States senate in January. 1870
by the Mississippi legislature to fill which had eN
listed the retirement Of Jefferson Davis Revels
Immediately Washington and February
that Senator Wilson of Massachusetts, moved that the
credentials be read and that he be admitted and in
debate which lasted something like three days ensued The
discussion very animated throughout and at times be
unusually heated Finally, February Reyel
admitted by large which taken Immediately after
tho close OF a long speech by Senator Sumner
Revels spoke only twice during the few months
he remained in the senate, and attracted deal
attention lecturer tour which he made after
his admission that he did senator His term expired IN
March 1871 and he did for reelection but accepted
the presidency Acorn university Finally he got back
into the ministry which he remained until his death only
a few months ago,
The Forty-frst congress contained two negroes j. H.
Rainey and J. F. Long both OF whom in the house
Rainey the negro that branch OF the law
making body. Tc from South Carolina, Of which
State he native, and in in December 1870.
He had followed the trade barber up 1868 which
time he became member OF the State congressional conven
ton and in 1870, of the State senate He resigned the lat
ter position in which he served nine
being member Of the Forty-second Forty-thrd Forty
fourth and Forty-hfth congresses.
Long came from Georgia and was the only negro con
furnished by that State, Notwithstanding its
very large negro population Prior going actively into
politics he a tailor Macon which business, it is
generally admitted he successful than q
gresham principally from the fact that he had practically
no training Mt him for the latter position He sworn
i'll January 10 1871 and served only until the following
March On leaving he again took up his trade and
worked until his death. His son-in-aw, II A. Rucker
now holds Federal position in Georgia.
There four negro representatives the Fory-sec
ond congress when 1t opened on December 1871 They
were in addition 10 Raiuey, who has already been men
oued X, b Elliot and r c. Delarge OF South Carolina and
r. S Turner OF Alabama Turner had been keeper,
and the changes wrought by carpetbag gave him
opportunity elevate himself by entering politics He
lacking education hut had natural ability which
he turned good At that time South Carolina
entitled only Jour representatives and the fact that three
out OF these four shows the condition OF affairs
that existed in that State that time The really represent
ative white Of the State not qualified in
congress because they refused desert the memory
OF the lost cause and the whites who had aligned them
selves with government usually ignorant
TO preclude their election such responsible position
that OF 1t the nesos opportunity and he
took advantage OF In addition the three negroes
congress members OF the held responsible
public positions IN other lines.
Elliot the prominent OF the three congressman
He native Of Boston where he had been given eood
education before going England in 1883 where he
Etou college and graduated herefroh in 1850 He studied
law London and returned this country the close
the civil He served during the whole OF the Fortyeo-
ond and part OF the ressnns his pc
sition to become county sheriff. Senator Sumner
warm personal friend OF Elliot and the aers speech
the civil rights bill thought by many have been written
by Sumner When Sumner died however Elliot delivered
euogy which said have been than the speech
referred fact which had the effect of causing the negro
to he given credit than he had had before
De Large born slave and farmer prior his
election to After serving term he became JUS