“Permit me to say a word as to your personal safety. There are many of our best men who think more of that than you do. No man living that Treason would so much rejoice to see struck down as yourself; and many there are who would strike, if they dared. I know you think little of danger; but fear for your country, if not for yourself. Do not keep your room alone, night or day. Seldom or never go out after nightfall, and let your painful experience and the character of the foe teach you to be ever on guard.” DIPLOMATIC RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF DOMINICA. BILL IN THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 6, 1866. Dominica was a colored government, occupying part of the island of Hayti. In pursuance of a message from President Johnson, Mr. Sumner, from the Committee on Foreign Relations, reported the following bill, which was read and passed to a second reading. A Bill to authorize the President of the United States to appoint a diplomatic representative to the Republic of Dominica. _Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled_, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, to appoint a diplomatic representative of the United States to the Republic of Dominica, who shall be accredited as Commissioner and Consul General, and shall receive the compensation of a Commissioner, according to the Act of Congress approved August eighteenth, eighteen hundred and fifty-six. The object of this bill was accomplished by specific appropriation in the Consular and Diplomatic Bill.[211] PROTECTION OF CIVIL RIGHTS. REMARKS IN THE SENATE, FEBRUARY 9, 1866. January 5, 1866, Mr. Trumbull, of Illinois, introduced “a bill to protect all persons in the United States in their civil rights, and furnish the means of their vindication,” which was referred to the Judiciary Committee, of which he was Chairman. By this bill all courts, National and State, were opened to colored persons as parties and witnesses as to white citizens, and they were subject to like punishments. January 11th, he reported it to the Senate with amendments, and the next day the Senate proceeded to its consideration. The amendments were adopted, when, on motion of Mr. Trumbull, it was postponed. January 25th, its consideration was resumed, and continued until February 2d, when it passed the Senate,--Yeas 33, Nays 12. March 13th, the bill passed the House of Representatives, with amendments,--Yeas 111, Nays 38. The Senate promptly concurred in the House amendments. March 27th, President Johnson returned the bill to the Senate with his objections.