MR. SUMNER. I would not have my country descend, but ascend. It must rise to the heights of the Declaration of Independence. Then and there did we pledge ourselves to the great truth that all men are equal in rights. And now a Senator from Georgia rises on this floor and denies it. He denies it by a subtilty. While pretending to admit it, he would overthrow it. He would adopt a substitute for equality. … MR. HILL. With the permission of the Senator, I will ask him if this proposition does not involve on the part of this Government an inhibition upon railroad companies of first, second, and third class cars? MR. SUMNER. Not at all. That is simply a matter of price. My bill is an inhibition upon inequality founded upon color. I had thought that all those inequalities were buried under the tree at Appomattox, but the Senator digs them up and brings them into this Chamber. There never can be an end to this discussion until all men are assured in equal rights.… MR. HILL. … I do not know, that, among the guests that the Senator entertains of the colored race, he is visited so often by the humble as I myself am. I think those who call upon him are gentlemen of title and of some distinction; they may be Lieutenant-Governors, members of the two Houses here, members of State Legislatures, &c. My associations have been more with the lower strata of the colored people than with the upper. MR. SUMNER. Mr. President, there is no personal question between the Senator and myself-- MR. HILL. None whatever. MR. SUMNER. He proclaims his relations with the colored race. I say nothing of mine; I leave that to others. But the Senator still insists upon his dogma of inequality. Senators have heard him again and again, how he comes round by a vicious circle to the same point, that an equivalent is equality; and when I mention the case of Governor Dunn travelling from New Orleans to Washington on public business, I understand the Senator to say that on the cars he should enjoy a different treatment from the Governor. MR. HILL. No, Sir; I have distinctly disclaimed that. When he pays his money, he is entitled to as much comfort and as much convenience as I am. MR. SUMNER. Let me ask the Senator whether in this world personal respect is not an element of comfort. If a person is treated with indignity, can he be comfortable? MR. HILL. I will answer the Senator, that no one can condemn more strongly than I do any indignity visited upon a person merely because of color.