Whitelaw Reid: “The world has never witnessed anything equal or similar to our career hitherto....”

They should persist in this claim respectfully, but firmly, taking care to bring no discredit upon it by their own action.

Ordinarily the simple performance of duty is so blessed of God, that men who live in the doing of it, are the best off, in all respects, even in this world.

May it not prove, moreover, in that work of reorganization, which now engages the thoughts of all patriotic men, that universal suffrage is the best reconciler of the most comprehensive lenity with the most perfect public security and the…

And it is both natural and right that colored Americans, entitled to the rights of citizens, should claim their exercise.