A Colored Representative Compliments Democrats.
In presenting a handsome silver set to Speaker Madison, as a testimonial from the colored members, Hon. L. W. Moore, colored, of Bolivar county, said:
MR. SPEAKER: The pleasant duty of presenting you a jewel as a lasting token of the high esteem we entertain for you, has been decreed me by the six colored members of the Mississippi Legislature. We are the only Republicans out of the number of one hundred and twenty members; being in a hopeless minority on all political and race questions, better enables us to perceive the slightest impartiality in your rulings than a large majority could, and this expression at once shows you, sir, that we have fearfully watched lest we should be exposed to such action on your part as would be of great disadvantage to us, but after having been at your mercy for nearly eight weeks, appreciating the fact that divers opportunities have presented themselves, we can joyfully boast that notwithstanding you are a Democrat and a white man, presiding over an almost white and Democratic Legislature, during the session of which divers great race and party questions have shown up in its deliberations, you bravely stood upon the firm rock of justice in your rulings; and so pure was your conduct, that prejudice, with its scorpion head, dared not approach your stand. I was born in Mississippi, but raised in a Northern State; associations there led me to regard the Southern white men as dire foes to the negroes, but receiving such cordial and unprejudiced association upon this floor by the entire Democratic party here, these tedious suspicions have been eliminated from the bosoms of this feeble six and for them I am authorized to speak. You are our best friends; we are here together, and from preference and stubborn intention we will ever remain, and should the spirit manifested by this body prevail throughout the State it is a sure and certain solution of the race problem in Mississippi. This has been termed the Jeff Davis Legislature, possibly because the Republicans voted for your Confederate Monument bill, and for the large appropriations for your white institutions, but we regarded the voting for these bills a feeble but sincere manifestation of party and race gratitude. Three of the six colored members have gone a step further in pledging you our sincere thanks for your efficient and impartial rulings as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Bowles, of Adams county, Jones, of Issaquena, and myself, of Bolivar, sought this set of silver-ware for you on the part of our delegation. As the tea set glitters against the brilliant chandeliers of our hall, may your useful services as a statesman and associations glitter in the future counsels for the peace and good of the State. Take it, sir, as the permanent bridging of the race chasm in this State, tendered by colored hands but pure hearts: take it as a guarantee that no blasting apprehensions are further entertained by the colored people in this State. In tendering you this we tender a grateful hand to every Democratic member, for in this House you have shown to be our friends, not our enemies. Consign this humble token to your domestic archives, as a memento of your conservative course, distinguished and lofty citizen, a courteous and impartial Speaker of the Mississippi House of Representatives.