[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 113 (Thursday, July 29, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1476]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          RECOGNIZING THE ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF GEORGE B. VASHON

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. DANIEL B. MAFFEI

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 29, 2010

  Mr. MAFFEI. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize George B. 
Vashon, a distinguished 19th century figure in American history and the 
notable event that occurred recently to help remedy a past injustice. 
This gifted writer, orator, educator, abolitionist and lawyer, who was 
a leader in Syracuse's anti-slavery efforts for a period of time, was 
posthumously admitted to the Pennsylvania bar this spring after twice 
being denied because of his race. His life work helped improve the 
lives of countless African Americans, while his individual career 
achievements clearly proved the merits of his being granted this 
distinction 163 years later.
  George B. Vashon was born and raised in Pennsylvania and moved to New 
York, where he resided in Syracuse for some years. In his early years, 
he was exposed to many leading figures in the abolitionist movement 
through his father John B. Vashon's role as a leader of Pittsburgh's 
black community. One of the Vashons' close associates was New York 
philanthropist Gerrit Smith, a financier and activist of the anti-
slavery movement. For a short period of time, he also represented 
central New York in the House of Representatives. William Lloyd 
Garrison and Frederick Douglass were also among the central figures in 
the abolitionist crusade who worked closely with John and George Vashon 
throughout their lives.
  With George B. Vashon's gifted scholarly abilities--he was fluent in 
several languages as a teenager and went on to become the first African 
American to graduate from Oberlin College--he chose to study law and 
pursue a legal career after college. Under the tutelage of Judge Walter 
Forward, who would later become Secretary of the U.S. Treasury, Vashon 
sought to practice law in his home state of Pennsylvania and applied 
for admission in 1847. His application was denied because of his 
``negro descent.'' He was so distraught at this denial that he left 
Pennsylvania to live and teach in Haiti for a few years, but not before 
he applied for and passed the New York bar and became the first black 
lawyer in the state.
  Upon his return to the U.S., George B. Vashon moved to New York, 
where he opened a legal practice at the corner of Water and Warren 
streets in downtown Syracuse. Because of its proximity to Ohio and 
Canada, Syracuse had become a growing hotbed of activity along the 
Underground Railroad and Vashon was a central player at this time. With 
passage of the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850, Vashon's legal services were 
needed to assist runaway slaves gain their freedom. With the support of 
his friend Gerrit Smith, Vashon later went on to become the first black 
man to run for Attorney General in New York on the Liberty Party 
ticket. He also contributed to Frederick Douglass' newspaper, The North 
Star, and became one of the first black college professors in this 
country when he served on the faculty of New York Central College in 
McGrawville, New York. Years later, George would help found Howard 
University, where he would be the university's first black professor. 
He was later admitted to the bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.
  In an effort to remedy the discrimination he faced when he initially 
pursued a legal career in Pennsylvania, two of Vashon's descendants 
petitioned the Supreme Court of Western Pennsylvania. Nolan Atkinson, 
Vashon's great-grandson, and Paul Thornell, Vashon's great-great-
grandson were successful. On May 4, 2010, the Court righted a wrong in 
the history books. In doing so, they issued the following order: ``In 
acknowledgement of Mr. Vashon's credentials and achievements, this 
Court hereby admits George B. Vashon to the practice of law in the 
Courts of this Commonwealth posthumously.''
  I am pleased to commend this important acknowledgement of this 
notable figure in American history. Syracuse is privileged to claim 
George B. Vashon as a key figure in our city's proud history of 
antislavery activism.

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