That, Sir, is the reply of a colored fellow-citizen to the speech of my excellent friend. I ask Senators to sit in judgment between the speech and the reply. I ask if my excellent friend is not completely answered by George T. Downing? If the latter has been able to do this, it is because of the innate strength of his own cause and the weakness of that espoused by the Senator. Our colored commentator places himself on the texts of the Constitution, and interprets them liberally, justly, for the equal rights of his race. The Senator places himself on those same texts, but in an evil moment surrenders to that malignant interpretation which prevailed before the war and helped to precipitate the Rebellion. Sir, I ask, Is not the constitutionality of this measure vindicated? Does any one really doubt its constitutionality? Can any one show a reason against it? Sir, it is as constitutional as the Constitution itself. You may arraign that great charter; you may call it in doubt; you may say that it is imperfect, that it is wrong; but I thank God it exists to be our guide and master, so that even my excellent friend, the able and ingenious Senator, snatching reasons, if not inspiration, from _ante bellum_ arguments, when State Rights were the constant cry, and from speeches in other days, cannot overturn it. The Constitution still lives, and as long as it lives it must be interpreted by the Declaration of Independence to advance human rights. This is my answer to the Senator on the question of power, to which he invited attention. I have spoken frankly, I hope not unkindly: but on this question I must be plain and open. Nor is this all. Sir, there is a new force in our country. I have alluded to a new rule of interpretation; I allude now to a new force: it is the colored people of the United States counted by the million; a new force with votes; and they now insist upon their rights. They appear before you in innumerable petitions, in communications, in letters, all praying for their rights. They appeal to you in the name of the Constitution, which is for them a safeguard,--in the name of that great victory over the Rebellion through which peace was sealed; and they remind you that they mean to follow up their appeal at the ballot-box. I have here an article in the last “New National Era,” of Washington, a journal edited by colored persons,--Frederick Douglass is the chief editor,--and devoted to the present Administration. What does it say?