It remains also, that equal rights should be secured in all the public conveyances and on all the railroads in the United States, so that no one shall be excluded by reason of color.

It further remains that you here in Washington shall complete this equality of rights in your common schools.

You all go together to vote, and any person may find a seat in the Senate of the United States; but the child is shut out of the common school on account of color.

All schools must be open to all, without distinction of color.

In laboring for this, you will not only work for yourselves, but will set an example for all the land, and most especially for the South.

And now, as you have at heart the education of your children, that they may grow up in that knowledge of equal rights so essential to their protection in the world, it is your bounden duty here in Washington to see that this is…

And I would remind you, although this has not been effected, the victories already gained are the assurance that all that should be done will be done.

You have progressed, step by step, until you have reached your present position; and now it only remains that you should continue to the end earnest, faithful, and determined; then will the work be completed.

The Senator from Mississippi sits among us, and speaks; but the battle is not yet won.

Slavery still asserts her ancient predominance, finding strange voices.

Nothing is said of Slavery, but the old cause is defended under an alias.

It is now State Rights which are invoked, or it may be alleged irregularities,--as if State Rights or any irregularities could prevail against the sovereign duty of Congress to see that Georgia is so organized that good people shall be…

How often in other days have the opponents of Slavery been saddened by encountering the voices of friends!

I had hoped that this question would be decided without debate, at least on our side,--in short, that all would appreciate the exigency, and unite harmoniously in applying the remedy.

By an unparalleled audacity colored citizens were expelled from the Legislature simply on account of color, while the orgies of the Ku-Klux-Klan prevailed throughout the State.

And now this same Ku-Klux-Klan continues its terrors, while former Rebels threaten to regain their pernicious power.

To allow these Rebels to prevail is to sacrifice Reconstruction, and to offer up the Unionists, white and black.

Again I use strong language; but only in this way can I picture the enormity which is now proposed.

Among national obligations which cannot be declined or postponed, and which rest primarily on Congress, is the duty of protecting Reconstruction.

Show that Reconstruction is in peril, and you must act.

Now that it is in peril there can be no question.

Concurring testimony from opposite quarters, public acts, and open menace, all attest the condition of Georgia.

It is not enough to see how it reads; we must see how it works.

The Bingham Amendment is in few words, but they are words of despair to the loyal men of Georgia, and words of cheer to the disloyal.

At one moment we have allegations of “irregularity,” and at another of “estoppel”; and such technicalities play their part, while the good people of Georgia are sacrificed.