PRESIDENT, I long to vote for amnesty; I have always hoped to vote for it; but, Sir, I should be unworthy of my seat as a Senator if I voted for it while the colored race are shut out from their rights, and the ban of color is recognized…

How often must I repeat, “Be just to the colored race before you are generous to former rebels”?

I here declare from my seat that I am for amnesty, provided it can be associated with the equal rights of the colored race; but if not so associated, then, so help me God, I am against it.

I will not characterize the transaction; but to me it is painful, for it involves the sacrifice of the equal rights of the colored race,--as is plain, very plain.

All this winter I have stood guard here, making an earnest though unsuccessful effort to secure those rights, insisting always that they should be recognized side by side with the rights of former Rebels.

Such, Sir, is the indifference with which the Senate treats the rights of an oppressed people!

The rights of the colored race have been sacrificed in this Chamber, where the Republican Party has a large majority,--that party, by its history, its traditions, and all its professions, bound to their vindication.

Amnesty is adopted; but where are the equal rights of the colored race?--still afloat between the two Houses on an imperfect bill.

I wish them to understand, that here in this Chamber, with a large majority of Republicans, the sacrifice has been accomplished; and let them observe how.

They will take note that amnesty has been secured, while nothing is secured to them.

Now, Sir, would you have your work effective, you should delay amnesty until a bill for civil rights has passed the House, and reaching this Chamber the two measures will then be on a complete equality.

Anything else is sacrifice of the colored race; anything else is abandonment of an imperative duty.

That every discrimination against any citizen on account of color, by the use of the word “white,” or any other term in law, statute, ordinance, or regulation, National or State, is hereby repealed and annulled.

So that you will find in all these countries,--Great Britain, France, Prussia, Austria in its two Parliaments, Italy, and Spain,--that the number adopted for the lower House is much larger than any now proposed for our House of…

I call attention to this fact because it illustrates by the experience of other nations what may be considered as a rule on this subject.

At any rate, it shows that other nations are not deterred by anything in political experience from having a House with these large numbers; and this perhaps is of more value because European writers, political philosophers for successive…

The popular branch in all these considerable countries is much more numerous than it is now proposed to make our House of Representatives.

For the first time has the United States, within my knowledge, fallen under suspicion of violating the requirement of neutrality on this subject.

An aroused community in the commercial metropolis of our country has unexpectedly succeeded in overthrowing a corrupt ring by which millions of money had been sacrificed.

The cry for reform is everywhere,--from New York to New Orleans.

This could be only by a searching investigation in such way as to satisfy all at home and abroad that there was no whitewashing.

I introduce no “politics,” but only a question which has become urgent, affecting the civil service of the country.

Now, Sir, I have been from the beginning in favor of civil-service reform.

Therefore, when officials fall under suspicion, I should feel myself disloyal to the Government, if I did not insist on the most thorough inquiry.

I know no rule of senatorial duty or of patriotism which can prevent me from obtaining information of any kind from any body, especially when the object is to pursue fraud and to unmask abuse.