On February 23, 1870, Republican Senator Hiram Revels began his term in the United States Senate. Senator Revels, who was from Fayetteville, North Carolina, was the first black man to serve in the U.S. Senate and took the seat that was held by Senator Jefferson Davis, who was President of the Confederate States.
Senator Revels, who represented Mississippi, was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He was taught by a free black woman and moved to Indiana to complete his education. During the Civil War, Senator Revels recruited black soldiers, for the Union Army, and served as a chaplain.
During his career in Congress, Senator Revels supported limited amnesty for Confederate soldiers in the form of denying them the right to run for public office. Senator Revels believed that if they regained political power, the former confederates would re-enslave blacks and rebel against the federal government again.
Revels also served in the Mississippi state senate.
Frederick Douglass
On October 17, 1872, Frederick Douglass delivered a speech entitled "The Self-Made Man."
Douglass talked about the importance of education, individual effort, and responsibility.
He also explained how hard work, education, and persistence, is the great equalizer between the rich and the poor. During his speech Douglass said, "The lesson taught by human experience is simply this: The man who will get up, will get help and will be helped up. But the man who will not get up, will be allowed to stay down."
"This rule may appear somewhat harsh...but I know of no other rule which can be substituted for it without bringing social chaos."
Congressman John Roy Lynch
On December 9, 1873, Republican Congressman John Roy Lynch made his first speech on the floor of the House of Representatives. Congressman Lynch, who was born a slave, represented Mississippi's 6th district.
His first act, as a congressman, was to offer an amendment to a bill that increased the pay to members of Congress. Lynch was against the bill.
During his speech Congressman Lynch said, "I am satisfied that, so far as the people of the district I represent are concerned, they are satisfied with the law as it now stands."
"But what they do object to, in this new law, is the clause making the increase retroactive. That is what I think is wrong. That is the position I stand upon. And I am now ready, and will be whenever the opportunity presents itself, to vote for an amendment to the Constitution of the United States prohibiting any Congress from hereafter altering the compensation of its own members."
Early Voting Workers and Poll Observers: April 28 - May 14
Election Day: May 17
Early Voting WORKERS work in shifts of no more than 7 hours each day of Early Voting and are paid.
Poll Observers are volunteers only and work in shifts of 4 hours.
Election Integrity is everyone's responsibility and should be non-partisan. The NCGOP, teaming up with grassroots organizations across NC, is committed to staffing as many Poll Observers as possible in EVERY precinct. Forsyth County has 108 Precincts. We NEED your help.
There are 800+ volunteer slots to fill.
You can respond to [email protected] or visit the link below and a volunteer will call you with more details.
Republicans can NOT sit on the sidelines.
