[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 86 (Friday, June 30, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF SLAVES TO THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CAPITOL

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                          HON. J.C. WATTS, JR.

                              of oklahoma

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 29, 2000

  Mr. WATTS of Oklahoma. Mr. Speaker, today I am introducing 
legislation that I believe to be critically important in highlighting a 
disturbing but important fact about the history of this magnificent 
building and symbol of freedom, the U.S. Capitol.
  Every day that we are here in session, our debates and legislative 
activities underscore that this is a living building that embodies 
America's greatest principles of democracy and liberty. However, one 
significant historical fact about this building is often forgotten, and 
that fact is that much of the construction of this Capitol in the 18th 
and 19th centuries was done by slave labor.
  As we all know, slavery was not eliminated across the United States 
until the ratification of the 13th amendment in 1865. Before that date, 
slave labor was both legal and common throughout the South including 
the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.
  Public records attest to the fact that African-American slave labor 
was used in the construction of the U.S. Capitol. We should remember as 
well that many slaves at that time were veterans who had fought bravely 
for independence during the American Revolutionary War.
  It is time that we recognize the contributions of these slave 
laborers, and I am proud today to join with Congressman John Lewis of 
Georgia in introducing a resolution to establish a special 
Congressional Task Force which will recommend an appropriate memorial 
to the labors of these great Americans to be displayed prominently here 
in the Capitol.
  This year we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the first session of 
Congress to be held here in this historic building. I think that's a 
long enough time to go without a public and visible acknowledgement of 
the incongruous but important historical fact of the significant 
contribution of slaves to the construction of the world's greatest 
symbol of freedom.

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