The Detroit tribune., 1963-12-28
Heroes Of Emancipation
A Weekk kstwe BY he MAO
RoeeaT BROWN ELLIOTT

p,A1,, p-rrwn E7,o-i = 4 pom on August Il. lS42
= Boyto- Massachusetts, the son of west Indian IL
rants Eo.i Hss sAc.sr who vas educated 81 an acS
4s-r = Lcndcn and :; Es:oa tzOus training sehoo
- - F-gsh elite Later ne studied sw under London
tre- After returning 10 the United States ne DECIDED
n tte IN South Carolina where coored clients Vastly eA
ceeSec those IN New England He brilliant ia"sel
srd reussed TO be remarkable hngus and the owner
n one Of the finest hbrsrs in the State OF South tal
ins
N the % Negroes who served in Congress during the
Reconstruction psriod Elliott considered 10 be the
ogt brilliant ard able He very black man Win
pronounced Negro features with such purity of speech that
rsny historians rank HIN above Frederick Douglass as al
orator
In 1858 al he age Of 2s. Elliott was elected TO the
South Carolina legislative assembly Two years later ne was
elected to Congress is said that he felt that the House
Of Representatives dpd offer enough of challenge
thus although he twice elected he resigned bctn
times after serving part Of each to return to South
Carolina where he had become political power
During his last term in Congress, Elliott supported
Summers civil rights bill with great eloquence on the
House floor On January 1874 Alexander Stephens for
ner vcepresident of the Confederacy attacked the civil
rights bill When he finished Elliott took the Aoor and held
until adjournment thereby earning the right to continue
the next day AS result word spread that Negro would
the former vicepresiden of the Conederacy The
following morning the House packed People came
early get and Senators from the Senate
chamber Author Lerone Bennett writes The stage was
set when Stephens elderly and aing brought into
the chamber in his chair All eyes turned to Elliott he
was an impressive man. deep-chested oadshoudered
with abundant hair in the African style
Pace to face Bennett said stood the Anglo-Saxon
and the undolbted African Elliott stood silent for spell
savorng the moment He began by reviewing the history
Of the Negro in America Black he said had proved
themselves in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars they had
been praised by Andrew Jackson the War of 1872 They
had earned their civil rights in tears and blood Elliott
pleaded for the bill THE Constitution warrants it, the
Supreme Court sanctions it; justice demands it,
Negroes he continued ARE hike the faithful Ruth
who labored in the fields of Bosz The last vestture only
IS needed - civil rights Having gained this may re-
peat the prayer of Ruth Enrea leave thee or
return from following after thee; for whittier thou goes
will CO. and where thou lodgest viii lodge thy people
WIN be my people and thy God my God and where thou
dies will die, and there will be buried Lord do so
to me- and more also sht but death part thee and me
With this ending, Elliott sat down in triumph Even
the Democrats we're impressed. The Republicans were
overoyed Shortly after this at the height of his fame ne
resigned from the House to return TO South Carolina
where ne became speaker Of the legislative assembly and
continued to WELD extensive power for the several
years.
Elliott was AZ when he died in New Orleans August
9, 1894