presentatives, who had been slaves, were willing to
release their late masters from every form of disability, but the
immediate friends of the masters were unwilling to extend the civil
rights of the colored man. So far as chivalry, magnanimity, charity,
Christian kindness, were involved, the colored men appeared at an
advantage. Perhaps it is not surprising that lingering prejudices and
the sudden change of situation should have restrained Southern white
men from granting these privileges, but it must always be mentioned
to the credit of the colored man that he gave his vote for amnesty
to his former master when his demand for delay would have obstructed
the passage of the measure.

In the stubborn opposition maintained by the Democratic party to the
admission of colored men to the rights of citizenship, the closing
argument of violent harangues was usually in the form of a question,
"Do you want to see them in Congress?"--to which the natural and
logical answer was that the right of the colored man to sit in Congress
does not depend in the least upon the desire or the prejudice of other
States and other districts. It is solely a matter within the judgment
of the State or district which in a fair vote and honest election may
choose to send him. The revolution in favor of human rights, promoted
and directed by the Republican party, swept onward: the colored man,
freed from slavery, attained the right of suffrage, and in due season
was sent to Congress. Did harm result from it? Nay, was it not the
needed demonstration of the freedom and justice of a republican
government? If it be viewed simply as an experiment, it was
triumphantly successful. The colored men who took seats in both
Senate and House did not appear ignorant or helpless. They were as a
rule studious, earnest, ambitious men, whose public conduct--as
illustrated by Mr. Revels and Mr. Bruce in the Senate, and by Mr.
Rapier, Mr. Lynch and Mr. Rainey in the House--would be honorable to
any race. Coals of fire were heaped on the heads of all their enemies
when the colored men in Congress heartily joined in removing the
disabilities of those who had before been their oppressors, and who,
with deep regret be it said, have continued to treat them with
injustice and ignominy.

[(1) Objection was not interposed against Mr. Cameron personally. By
seniority he was entitled to the place in the event of a vacancy. The
controversy related solely to the refusa