[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 166 (Monday, November 17, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H11170-H11171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                GEORGE HENRY WHITE POST OFFICE BUILDING

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 3353) to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 525 Main Street in Tarboro, North Carolina, as the 
``George Henry White Post Office Building''.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3353

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. GEORGE HENRY WHITE POST OFFICE BUILDING.

       (a) Designation.--The facility of the United States Postal 
     Service located at 525 Main Street in Tarboro, North 
     Carolina, shall be known and designated as the ``George Henry 
     White Post Office Building''.
       (b) References.--Any reference in a law, map, regulation, 
     document, paper, or other record of the United States to the 
     facility referred to in subsection (a) shall be deemed to be 
     a reference to the George Henry White Post Office Building.


[[Page H11171]]


  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Ballance) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan).


                             General Leave

  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Tennessee?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Committee on Government Reform, I am 
pleased that the House is considering H.R. 3353. This bill names a post 
office after a great American statesman, George Henry White. From 1897 
to 1901, Republican George Henry White served two terms as the U.S. 
Representative for North Carolina's Second Congressional District. At 
that time, he was the only African American Member of Congress. As 
such, not only was Congressman White responsible for his North Carolina 
constituents, but as the highest-ranking black government official in 
the Nation he also shouldered the burden of representing the 10 million 
African Americans at the turn of the century.
  Congressman White took principled stands against the racial 
inequality that was far too prevalent for this time period in American 
history. His eloquence and temperance toward injustice made him a well-
respected Member of Congress, and he is truly worthy of commendation by 
this body from which he departed more than 100 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, this legislation commemorates George Henry White's 
courageous legacy as the last black Member of this House following 
Reconstruction. I congratulate the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Ballance) for having his bill considered by the whole House.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of H.R. 3353.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BALLANCE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, we gather this afternoon to honor a great man and leader 
who blazed trails for African Americans not only in North Carolina but 
throughout the Nation, Congressman George Henry White from my home 
State of North Carolina.
  I want to express my appreciation for the strong bipartisan support 
from the North Carolina delegation and the sponsorship of this bill.
  We are here today, Mr. Speaker, to show our appreciation for 
Congressman White by naming the post office after him in Tarboro, North 
Carolina, the town which he represented; and the County of Edgecombe, 
which he represented with distinction as a part of the second 
congressional district, I now have the great privilege of representing 
that same community, humbly following in his footsteps.
  Mr. George Henry White was born in Rosendale, Bladen County, North 
Carolina, during slavery. He grew up the son of a sharecropper in 
nearby Columbus County. He was educated at the Whitten School in 
Lumberton. He first embarked on his trail of excellence when he left 
his job as a farm laborer and ventured here to the Nation's Capital to 
attend Howard University. Many people mistake him as being a graduate 
of Howard Law School, but actually he was a graduate of high school and 
Howard undergraduate school.
  Upon graduation from Howard University in 1877, Mr. White returned to 
North Carolina settling in the coastal town of New Bern, to begin the 
fight to better his North Carolina for all families and helping empower 
the African American community.
  He became a teacher and then a principal and is credited with 
establishing four new schools. Mr. White knew then what we all know 
now: information is power, and the key to steering one's own course is 
a quality education.
  While living in New Bern, where he also worked as an attorney, having 
read law to become a lawyer, Mr. White embarked upon a career in public 
service spanning more than 2 decades when, in 1880, he was elected to 
the North Carolina House of Representatives.
  In 1884 he was elected to the North Carolina State Senate. And in 
1886 he was elected as a solicitor for the second judicial district of 
North Carolina where he served two terms. During this time, George 
Henry White was the only African American district attorney in the 
United States. Continuing a political career steeped in innovation and 
leadership, blazing trails unheard of in his day, in 1894 Mr. White 
moved to Tarboro. It might be interesting to know that the one reason 
he moved was because there was redistricting going on and his hometown 
of New Bern was carved out of the second district. So he just packed up 
and moved down to Tarboro, North Carolina, his wife's hometown.
  Three years later, he would become Congressman White, and only the 
third African American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives 
from North Carolina, John Adams Hyman being the first, Henry P. 
Cheatham the second.
  Congressman White was the only African American in the United States 
Congress during his two terms and was the highest-ranking elected 
African American in the United States. He essentially represented not 
only citizens of the second congressional district but all 10 million 
African Americans across the Nation. He was the last former slave and 
the last African American to serve in the Congress during the post-
Reconstruction era.
  He opened doors while in Congress to pave the way for the civil 
rights movement more than half a century later. He campaigned against 
racial discrimination and urged enforcement of the second section of 
the 14th amendment.
  In January 1901, his last year in office, Congressman White proposed 
a bill that would make lynching of African Americans a Federal crime. 
Unfortunately, this bill did not pass; but it did have some impact in 
the Deep South in particular. Despite Congressman White's passionate 
plea, as I indicated, the term ended without his bill passing.
  George Henry White's farewell speech on the floor of Congress, often 
referred to as the ``Phoenix Speech,'' or his farewell speech, was made 
January 29, 1901: ``This, Mr. Chairman, is perhaps the Negroes' 
temporary farewell to the American Congress; but let me say, Phoenix-
like he will rise up some day and come again. These parting words on 
behalf of an outraged, heartbroken, bruised and bleeding, but God-
fearing people, faithful, industrious, loyal, rising people full of 
potential force.''
  Mr. Speaker, while Congressman White is deserving of far greater 
accolades, and I am sure they will come in time, it is my great 
pleasure to offer this legislation on his behalf. I urge the passage of 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentleman from North Carolina 
(Mr. Ballance) for introducing this very appropriate bill, and I urge 
all of our colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 3353.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Duncan) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3353.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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