conduct—as illustrated by Mr. Revels and Mr.
Bruce in the Senate and by Mr. Rapier, Mr. Lynch
and Mr. Rainey in the House would be honorable
to any race. Coals of fire were heaped on the
heads of all their enemies when the colored men
in Congress heartily joined in removing the disabilities of those who had before been their oppressors, and who, with deep regret be it said, have continued to treat them with injustice and
ignominy.[1]
He cites the magnanimity of Senator Rainey: “When the Amnesty Bill came before the House for consideration, Mr. Rainey of South Carolina, speaking for the colored race whom he represented said: ‘It is not the disposition of my constituents that these disabilities should longer be retained. We are desirous of being magnanimous; it may be that we are so to a fault. Nevertheless we have open and frank hearts towards those who were our oppressors and taskmasters. We foster no enmity now, and we desire to foster none, for their acts in the past to us or to the Government we love so well. But while we are willing to accord them their enfranchisement and here today give our votes that they may be amnestied, while we declare our hearts open and free from any vindictive feelings toward them, we would say to those gen-
- ↑ Blaine, Twenty Years in Congress, Vol. 2, p. 515.
