Will the country now fasten a ban upon them, and lead them to say in their hearts that they have been duped?

It is in itself a case of such absolute and overwhelming justice that the Senate ought not to postpone it for a single day,--especially ought not to postpone it, when it has under consideration a bill so entirely germane as the present.

It is a conclusion in which nothing is concluded.

I may say, too, that it is not entirely creditable to Congress, and, so far as I now accept the result, it will be with much reluctance.

It would have better become Congress to recognize a solemn obligation toward those now baring their breasts for us in battle, and falling on the ramparts of the enemy, rather than question their title to pay as soldiers, which I believe as…

I regret sincerely that their title has not been positively recognized in the text of a statute; but, after effort in both branches, and the appointment of several committees of conference, such recognition has failed.

I do not know that any rule of law, constitutional or statutory, ever prohibited the acceptance, organization, and muster of ‘persons of African descent’ into the military service of the United States as enlisted men or volunteers.

The opening of the street-cars in Washington constitutes a special chapter of effort, which, beyond its local influence, was important as an example to the country.

The Senator knows well, that, under the influence of Slavery, human rights are disregarded, and those principles of law which he recognizes are set aside.

Therefore it becomes the duty of Congress to interfere and specially declare them.

At one moment I was inclined to keep silence, believing that the good name of our country required silence; but since it has already found its way into the journals, I cannot doubt that it ought to find its way into this Chamber.

An officer of the United States, with the commission of Major, with the national uniform, has been pushed from a car on Pennsylvania Avenue for no other offence than that he was black.

Now, Sir, I desire to say openly that we had better give up railroads in the national capital, if we cannot have them without such an outrage upon humanity, and upon the national character.

An incident like that, Sir, is worse at this moment than defeat in battle.

It makes enemies for our cause abroad, and sows distrust.

I use plain language, Sir, for it is an outrage.

It is a disgrace to this city, and a disgrace also to the National Government, which permits it under its eyes.

In my opinion, the writer of this letter had just as much right in that car as the Senator from Indiana, and it was as great an outrage to eject him as it would be to eject that Senator.

I go further, and I say--pardon the illustration--that the ejection of that Senator would not bring upon this capital half the shame that the ejection of this colored officer necessarily brings upon the capital.

If they have such legal rights, they are at this moment unquestionably exposed to what I must call outrage.

If a white person were ejected from the cars on account of his skin, we should all feel that it was an outrage.

Is it any less an outrage because the person ejected is simply guilty of a different skin?

I confess, that, to my mind, it is a greater outrage, because obligations are greater in proportion to the humility and weakness of those with whom we deal.

In the face of this report, the exclusion of colored persons continued, often attended by intolerable outrage.

Let us at all hazards prevent the extension of Slavery and the increase of the Slave Power.