G. K. Butterfield: “I thank Mr. Mfume for yielding time, and I thank Mr. Rice for introducing this legislation. Madam Speaker, when I was…”

“I thank Mr. Mfume for yielding time, and I thank Mr. Rice for introducing this legislation. Madam Speaker, when I was first elected to Congress, I visited Congressman Clyburn's office seeking his assistance with committee assignments. While there, I noticed the pictures of eight former South Carolina Congressmen, all African American, hanging prominently in his outer office. Among those was Joseph Rainey, the first African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives. I was unaware of Mr. Rainey, and so I became curious about this man. Joseph Rainey was born to enslaved parents on June 21, 1832, in Georgetown, South Carolina, a community heavily dominated with slaves. As the years went on, Joseph Rainey's father was permitted by his master to work independently and save a little money. Using his accumulated funds, Edward Rainey purchased freedom for little Joseph and his family. When President Lincoln was elected in 1860, 11 States seceded from the Union; South Carolina was the first. A civil war erupts. Joseph Rainey, now 28 years of age, was conscripted, or drafted, to work on fortifications in Charleston. This was unacceptable to Joseph, and so, with his family, he escaped to St. George, Bermuda. Madam Speaker, St. George is a small parish on the island of Bermuda. While there, Rainey undoubtedly became acquainted with my grandfather, James Peter Butterfield, born 1853, who lived his entire life in St. George.…”