Many problems miscellaneous in character interested the Negro
Congressmen. Indeed, early in the Forty-second Congress, Josiah T.
Walls[98] supported a measure which proposed to appropriate $3,000,000
to aid the centennial celebration and international exhibition of
1876. Sometime later, moreover, he urged the recognition of the
belligerent rights of Cuba. In the Forty-fourth Congress, John A.
Hyman, of North Carolina, offered a measure to provide relief for the
Cherokee Indians, who had returned to the "Nation West"[99] while the
measures of his colleague, Jere Haralson[100] of Alabama, comprised
such objects as the amendment of the revised statutes of the United
States, the relief of the Medical College of Alabama, and the payment
of war claims. During his three terms in Congress, John R. Lynch
maintained interest in a wide range of subjects. He spoke at length
on a bill "to provide and regulate the counting of votes for President
and Vice President and the decision in the disputed election of R. B.
Hayes.[101] He opposed the bill to repeal the act providing for the
pay of Congressmen,[102] but supported a measure to appropriate funds
for the establishment of a national board of health.[103]
In the Forty-fifth Congress, R. H. Cain proposed a measure to
establish a line of mail and emigrant steam and sailing vessels
between certain ports of the United States and Liberia.[104] His
colleague, Robert Smalls, was a man of wider interests.[105] Among his
various remarks, there must be noted those on the District of Columbia
liquor traffic, interstate commerce, and the army reorganization bill.
In the latter instance, he attempted to have inserted into the bill an
amendment providing for the merging of enlisted men into military
units without distinction as to race or color.
In the Senate, B. K. Bruce was afforded opportunity to debate the
issues of the day. While most active in offering bills and
resolutions, he nevertheless spoke forcefully on several matters of
greater than ordinary import. He spoke out fearlessly against the bill
restricting Chinese immigration,[106] and while discussing the Indian
bill,[107] he took high ground, showing that we had failed in our
selfish policy toward the Indian--a policy by which the breeding of
hatred and discontent had kept him a fugitive and a vagabond--and
emphasized the necessity for the government to do something to
civilize the Indian. There must be a change in the Indian policy "if
they are to be civilized," said he, "in that the best elements of
their natures are to be developed to the exercise of their best
functions, so as to produce individual character and social groups
characteristic of enlightened people; if this is to be done under our
system, its ultimate realization requires an adoption of a political
philosophy that shall make the Indians, as individuals and as a tribe,
subjects of American law and beneficiaries of American institutions,
by making them first American citizens, and clothing them as rapidly
as their advancement and location will permit, with the protecting and
ennobling prerogatives of such friendship."
In support of his resolution, proposing to admit as a Senator from
Louisiana P. B. S. Pinchback, Mr. Bruce spoke out, cogently presenting
the facts as he saw them, contending that the gentleman had been
regularly elected and that the National Government would, by declaring
his election irregular and not expressive of the will of the people,
repudiate the very government that it had recognized.[108] Pinchback
was not seated, but the records show that his title was as sound as
that of scores of senators whose right has never been questioned.
B. K. Bruce had another good claim to statesmanship. During his
incumbency in Congress the question of the improvement of the
navigation of the Mississippi and the protection of life and property
from the periodical inundations of that stream was of much concern to
the whole country. As a spokesman for the State of Mississippi and a
statesman seeking to provide facilities for interstate and foreign
commerce, B. K. Bruce fearlessly advocated that the Federal Government
should appropriate funds to undertake this improvement. He repeatedly
offered bills and amendments to this end and endeavored to secure the
support of the leaders of Congress to pilot these measures through
that body. While the results which Senator Bruce obtained were not
proportionate to the effort which he made, he paved the way for other
promoters of this enterprise, who have been more successful.
Subsequent history shows the importance of this national task and
demonstrates the statesmanlike foresight of Senator Bruce in
championing its cause.[109]
General remarks by James E. O'Hara comprehended discussion of the
bills on oleomargarine and the payment of pensions.[110] Towards the
former he was opposed, while in the latter he urged that white persons
and Negroes be paid according to the same standard. George H. White
sought to amend the bill to provide a government for Hawaii.[111] He
gave some attention also to the debate on the civil service law.[112]
Concerning it he held that the administration of the law had been
subversive of the principles of appointment by merit. Indeed, in his
opinion, its failure warranted either a return to the spoils system or
the adoption of a new policy, by which there would be established in
each department of the government a bureau with the duty of
determining the fitness of each applicant for a position in that
department.