[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 34 (Thursday, February 26, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2553-S2554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO HIRAM RHODES REVELS

  Mr. COCHRAN. Mr. President, yesterday marked the 139th anniversary of 
the seating of Hiram Rhodes Revels, as a United States Senator from the 
State of Mississippi. He was the first African-American to serve as a 
U.S. Senator.
  Senator Revels was born in Fayetteville, NC. His father was a Baptist 
preacher, his mother was of Scottish descent. He moved north to 
complete his education at Beech Grove Quaker Seminary in Liberty, IN. 
In 1862, Hiram Revels recruited soldiers to serve in the Union Army and 
became Chaplain for a Black regiment in Mississippi.
  Senator Revels began his political career after the war as an 
alderman in Natchez, MS. In 1869, he won a seat in the reconstructed 
Mississippi State Senate. One of the primary tasks of the newly elected 
State senate was to fill U.S. Senate seats in preparation for the 
State's return to the Union. In 1870, the new Mississippi State 
Legislature elected Hiram Revels to fill a term due to expire in 1871.
  During his service in the United States Senate he worked on education 
issues. Upon his return to Mississippi, he became the first president 
of Alcorn State University.
  During Black History Month it is appropriate that Hiram Rhodes Revels 
be remembered for his leadership and significant contributions to 
Mississippi and our Nation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Biographical history 
of Mr. Revels and a New York Times article be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Revels, Hiram Rhodes, a Senator from Mississippi; born in 
     Fayetteville, Cumberland County, NC, on September 27, 1827; 
     attended Beech Grove Quaker Seminary in Liberty, Ind., Darke 
     County Seminary in Ohio, and Knox College, Galesburg, Ill.; 
     barber; ordained a minister in the African Methodist 
     Episcopal Church at Baltimore, Md., in 1845; carried on 
     religious work in Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, 
     Tennessee, and Missouri; accepted a pastorate in Baltimore, 
     Md., in 1860; at the outbreak of the Civil War assisted in 
     recruiting two regiments of African American troops in 
     Maryland; served in Vicksburg, Miss., as chaplain of a Negro 
     regiment, and organized African American churches in that 
     State; established a school for freedmen in St. Louis, Mo., 
     in 1863; after the war, served in churches in Kansas, 
     Kentucky and Louisiana before settling in Natchez, Miss., in 
     1866; elected alderman in 1868; member, Mississippi State 
     senate 1870; elected as a Republican to the United States 
     Senate; presented his credentials upon the readmission of 
     Mississippi to representation on February 23, 1870; took the 
     oath of office on February 25, 1870, after the Senate 
     resolved a challenge to his credentials, and served from 
     February 23, 1870 until March 3, 1871; first African American 
     Senator; secretary of State ad interim of Mississippi in 
     1873; president of Alcorn University (formerly Oakland 
     College), Rodney, Miss., 1871-1874, 1876-1882; moved to Holly 
     Springs, Marshall County, Miss., and continued his religious 
     work; editor, Southwestern Christian Advocate, official 
     newspaper of A.M.E. Church 1876-1882; in retirement after 
     1882, taught theology at Shaw University, Holly Springs, 
     Miss.; died from a paralytic stroke in Aberdeen, Miss., 
     January 16, 1901; interment in Hill Crest Cemetery, Holly 
     Springs, Miss.
                                  ____


                [From the New York Times, Feb. 25, 1870]

         The Colored Member Admitted to His Seat in the Senate

       Washington, Feb. 25--. Mr. Revels, the colored Senator from 
     Mississippi, was sworn in and admitted to his seat this 
     afternoon at 4:40 o'clock. There was not an inch of standing 
     or sitting room in the galleries, so densely were they 
     packed; and to say that the interest was intense gives but a 
     faint idea of the feeling which prevailed throughout the 
     entire proceeding. Mr. Vickers, of Maryland, opened the 
     debate to-day, arguing against the admission, on the ground 
     that Revels had not been a citizen for nine years, and 
     therefore was not eligible. Mr. Wilson followed on the other 
     side, and was succeeded by Mr. Casserly, who took a new 
     departure and arraigned the entire reconstruction policy, 
     charging that all the Southern Senators were put in their 
     seats by the force of the bayonets of the regular army. This 
     aroused Mr. Drake to a white heat, and provoked him to utter 
     remarks and to make personal allusions to Mr. Casserly which 
     were certainly in bad taste, and in no way pertinent to the 
     subject before the body. Mr. Sumner made the closing speech 
     for the Republican side of the question. It was brief, pithy 
     and eloquent. Then came Mr. Stockton in deference of his 
     party. He was boisterous and commonplace, and his speech was 
     much better suited to the stump than to the Senate. He argued

[[Page S2554]]

     in favor of his motion to refer the credentials to the 
     Judiciary Committee, which was promptly negatived by a party 
     vote. The question was then put on the admission, which was 
     passed by the same strict drawing of the party lines. Only 
     one thing remained, which was that the first colored Senator 
     elect should advance to the Speaker's desk and be sworn. The 
     Vice-President made the announcement to the galleries that 
     all demonstrations of approval or disapproval would be 
     promptly suppressed. There had been through the debate one or 
     two such demonstrations, once from the Republican side, when 
     Mr. Scott, in reply to Mr. Bayard, declared that he abandoned 
     the Democratic Party when it raised its hand in rebellion, 
     and again when Mr. Stockton prophesied that the Democracy 
     would soon control national affairs. In view of these facts, 
     Mr. Colfax's announcement was somewhat necessary. When the 
     Vice-President uttered the words, ``The Senator elect will 
     now advance and take the oath,'' a pin might have been heard 
     drop. But as Senator Wilson rose in his seat and stepped to 
     the lounge immediately behind his desk, where Mr. Revels was 
     sitting, to escort that gentleman to the Speaker's desk, the 
     galleries rose to their feet, that they might miss no word or 
     lose no glimpse of what was being enacted below. The ceremony 
     was short. Mr. Revels showed no embarrassment whatever, and 
     his demeanor was as dignified as could be expected under the 
     circumstances. The abuse which had been poured upon him and 
     on his race during the last two days might well have shaken 
     the nerves of any one. The vast throng in the galleries 
     showed no sign of feeling one way or the other, and left very 
     quietly.

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