A resolution commemorating the 150th anniversary of the historic seating of Hiram Rhodes Revels as the first African American United States Senator.

III 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. RES. 508 Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the historic seating of Hiram Rhodes Revels as the first African American United States Senator. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES FEBRUARY 27, 2020 Mr. WICKER (for himself, Mr. ALEXANDER, Ms. BALDWIN, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BLUNT, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. BRAUN, Mr. BROWN, Mr. BURR, Ms. CANTWELL, Mrs. CAPITO, Mr. CARDIN, Mr. CASEY, Mr. CASSIDY, Ms. COLLINS, Mr. COONS, Mr. CORNYN, Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, Mr. COTTON, Mr. CRAMER, Mr. CRAPO, Mr. CRUZ, Mr. DAINES, Ms. DUCKWORTH, Mr. DURBIN, Ms. ERNST, Mrs. FEINSTEIN, Mrs. FISCHER, Mr. GARDNER, Mr. GRAHAM, Mr. GRASSLEY, Mr. HAWLEY, Mr. HEIN- RICH, Mrs. HYDE-SMITH, Mr. INHOFE, Mr. JOHNSON, Mr. JONES, Mr. KAINE, Mr. KING, Ms. KLOBUCHAR, Mr. LANKFORD, Mr. LEAHY, Mrs. LOEFFLER, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. MENENDEZ, Mr. MORAN, Mr. PAUL, Mr. PERDUE, Mr. PETERS, Mr. RISCH, Mr. ROBERTS, Mr. ROMNEY, Ms. ROSEN, Mr. RUBIO, Mr. SANDERS, Mr. SASSE, Mr. SCHATZ, Mr. SCOTT of Florida, Mr. SCOTT of South Carolina, Mrs. SHAHEEN, Ms. SMITH, Mr. TESTER, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. UDALL, Mr. VAN HOLLEN, Mr. WARNER, Mr. WHITEHOUSE, Mr. WYDEN, Mr. YOUNG, Mr. ROUNDS, and Mr. BENNET) submitted the following resolution; which was considered and agreed to RESOLUTION Commemorating the 150th anniversary of the historic seating of Hiram Rhodes Revels as the first African American United States Senator. Whereas Hiram Rhodes Revels (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘Hiram Revels’’) was born a free African American on VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:01 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR508.ATS SR508 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 2 •SRES 508 ATS September 27, 1827, in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, North Carolina; Whereas Hiram Revels understood the importance of edu- cation from an early age in North Carolina, where he re- ceived a secondary school education at a school run by a free black woman; Whereas, after being denied the ability to advance his edu- cation in North Carolina, Hiram Revels attended postsec- ondary schools where he cultivated his faith, including Beech Grove Quaker Seminary in Union County, Indiana, Darke County Seminary in Ohio, and, later, Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois; Whereas Hiram Revels served as an ordained minister to Af- rican Methodist Episcopal congregations across the United States, including congregations in Maryland and Missouri, which were both slave States at the time of his service; Whereas Hiram Revels, a talented orator and preacher, prac- ticed and promoted his faith, which informed and encour- aged his efforts to advance education for free African Americans; Whereas Hiram Revels— (1) was dedicated to the fight for freedom; (2) served in the military; (3) aided in the recruitment of members for regi- ments of the United States Colored Troops, including 2 regiments established in Maryland and 1 regiment estab- lished in Missouri; and (4) served as the chaplain for members of the United States Colored Troops in Vicksburg, Mississippi, in 1864; VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:01 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR508.ATS SR508 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 3 •SRES 508 ATS Whereas Hiram Revels courageously stepped forward to en- gage in civic life in the aftermath of the Civil War by serving as— (1) an alderman for Natchez, Mississippi, in 1868; (2) a Mississippi State senator in 1870; and (3) the Secretary of State ad interim of Mississippi in 1873; Whereas the State legislature of Mississippi elected Hiram Revels to fill a vacancy in 1 of its 2 seats in the United States Senate with 1 year remaining on the term of the seat; Whereas, despite challenges to his credentials, Hiram Revels was seated in the United States Senate on February 25, 1870, becoming the first African American to serve as a Member of Congress; Whereas Hiram Revels represented Mississippi in the United States Senate for a period of 1 year from February 25, 1870, until March 3, 1871; Whereas Hiram Revels was the first of only 10 African American Senators to serve among the nearly 2,000 men and women who have served as Senators in the history of the United States Senate as of the date of introduction of this resolution; Whereas Hiram Revels was a Reconstruction era Republican Senator who helped to advance the United States, includ- ing in education, military service, civic engagement, and community service; Whereas February 25, 2020, marks the 150th anniversary of the United States Senate— (1) rejecting the challenges to the credentials of Hiram Revels; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:01 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR508.ATS SR508 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 4 •SRES 508 ATS (2) voting 48 to 8 to seat Hiram Revels as the first African American to serve in Congress; Whereas, following his engagement in civic life, Hiram Rev- els— (1) served as the first president of Alcorn Agricul- tural and Mechanical College in Claiborne County, Mis- sissippi, which was the first African American land grant college in the United States; and (2) later taught theology and served as a member of the Board of Trustees at Rust College, formerly known as Shaw College, in Holly Springs, Mississippi; Whereas Hiram Revels died on January 16, 1901, in Aber- deen, Mississippi and was laid to rest in Hill Crest Ceme- tery in Holly Springs, Mississippi; and Whereas the life and service of Hiram Rhodes Revels remain a symbol of the ideals of the United States, including the principle that all men are created equal: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— 1 (1) honors the life, accomplishments, and legacy 2 of Hiram Rhodes Revels; 3 (2) recognizes the commitment of Hiram 4 Rhodes Revels to fighting for equality and social jus- 5 tice; 6 (3) celebrates the legacy that Hiram Rhodes 7 Revels left to guide and inspire future generations; 8 and 9 VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:01 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR508.ATS SR508 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS 5 •SRES 508 ATS (4) commemorates the 150th anniversary of the 1 historic seating of Hiram Rhodes Revels as the first 2 African American United States Senator. 3 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 20:01 Feb 28, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR508.ATS SR508 lotter on DSKBCFDHB2PROD with BILLS