MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2020

By: Senator(s) Butler, Witherspoon, Frazier, To: Rules Simmons (13th), Blackwell, Blount, Hopson, Horhn, Jackson (11th), Jordan, Norwood, Simmons (12th)

SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 555

1 A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMEMORATING THE LIFE AND HISTORICAL 2 LEGACY OF THE HONORABLE ON THE OCCASION OF THE 3 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIS MONUMENTAL 1870 ELECTION TO THE UNITED 4 STATES SENATE AS THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TO SERVE IN CONGRESS. 5 WHEREAS, this year marks the 150th Anniversary of the election 6 of the Honorable Hiram Rhodes Revels as the first African American 7 to serve in the from February 1870 to March

8 1871; and

9 WHEREAS, he was born on September 27, 1827, in North Carolina 10 during a time when slavery was still widespread and most African 11 American babies were born into slavery; and 12 WHEREAS, early in his career, he worked as a skilled barber 13 until he was moved to teach the masses the great word of the Lord 14 which motivated him to attend Seminary and become a prominent

15 Pastor ordained within the African Methodist Episcopal Church 16 (A.M.E.); and 17 WHEREAS, Hiram's natural leadership qualities became more 18 apparent when he organized two African American regiments for the 19 Union Army during the onset of the Civil War and served as S. C. R. No. 555 *SS08/R946* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 20/SS08/R946 PAGE 1 (rdd\lr) 20 Chaplain during the Siege of Vicksburg in 1863 during the Battle 21 of Vicksburg; and 22 WHEREAS, after the war, he settled in Natchez with his wife 23 and daughters and continued his career in the clergy, became an 24 Alderman for the City of Natchez in 1868, gaining a reputation as 25 a respected member of the community due to his keen intellect and

26 eloquent oratorical skills; and

27 WHEREAS, one year after settling in Natchez, he won a seat in 28 the State Senate as a Republican and was known to be 29 very influential with his fellow legislators, especially after he 30 gave a powerful prayer during the opening session of the Senate; 31 and 32 WHEREAS, impressed by Hiram's political savvy and ability to

33 find common ground, Republicans unanimously voted to seat Hiram 34 Revels as a United States Senator when the 35 sought to fill the remainder of the term of former United States 36 Senator Albert Brown; and 37 WHEREAS, despite many attempts to block his installment, the

38 monumental moment in history still occurred and Revels was sworn 39 into office on February 25, 1870, breaking the glass ceiling for

40 African American men in Congress; and 41 WHEREAS, Revels' priorities as a United States Senator 42 included advocacy for African American civil rights, which 43 motivated him to propose electing more African Americans to 44 legislative positions, rejecting racial segregation, and

S. C. R. No. 555 *SS08/R946* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 20/SS08/R946 PAGE 2 (rdd\lr) 45 encouraging education for freedmen and freedwomen in the South; 46 and 47 WHEREAS, after his Senate term ended in 1871, Revels achieved 48 more firsts when he became the first President of Alcorn 49 University (now Alcorn State University) in Claiborne County, 50 Mississippi, the first land-grant institution for African

51 Americans in the nation, and when he served as the interim 52 Secretary of State of Mississippi in 1873; and 53 WHEREAS, having traveled an uncommon path to reach the 54 pinnacle of sustained success that has garnered him a reputation 55 of excellence and historic prominence, Senator Revels' rise 56 ushered in a new era of political activism for African American 57 legislators; and

58 WHEREAS, his uncanny ability to finesse the mechanics of 59 brokering relationships with both his political allies and 60 adversaries is a blueprint used by those who desire to serve their 61 constituency during partisan political times; and 62 WHEREAS, Senator Hiram Rhodes Revels' service on Capitol Hill

63 in 1870 still ranks among the greatest moments in American 64 political history, even though politics and Capitol Hill have

65 undergone extensive changes during the past 150 years; and 66 WHEREAS, recognized for his years of service in the 67 governmental and political arena, Senator Revels' successes are 68 undoubtedly attributable to his immense talent and consummate 69 professionalism which are further highlighted by the praise he

S. C. R. No. 555 *SS08/R946* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 20/SS08/R946 PAGE 3 (rdd\lr) 70 received from the press for his well-crafted speeches and 71 diplomatic approach to a tense congressional environment; and 72 WHEREAS, Revels retired from his political life in 1882, but 73 continued his religious works by ministering at local A.M.E. 74 churches and teaching Theology at Shaw University (now Rust 75 College) in Holly Springs until his death on January 16, 1901; and

76 WHEREAS, his legacy is a strong and diversified State of 77 Mississippi and for this and a lifetime of selfless service a 78 grateful state thanks him: 79 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 80 MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That 81 we do hereby commemorate the life and legacy of the Honorable 82 Hiram Rhodes Revels on the occasion of the 150th Anniversary of

83 his monumental 1870 election to the United States Senate as the 84 first African American to serve in Congress. 85 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented at 86 the Sesquicentennial Ceremony of Hiram Rhodes Revels' seating at 87 Alcorn State University's Oakland Chapel on February 24, 2020.

88 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be 89 furnished to the descendants of Hiram Rhodes Revels, forwarded to

90 the Board of Trustees of the Mississippi Department of Archives 91 and History, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.

S. C. R. No. 555 *SS08/R946* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 20/SS08/R946 ST: Commend legacy of Honorable Hiram Revels on PAGE 4 (rdd\lr) 150th Anniversary of his election to U.S. Senate.