New York Times, November 7, 1866
There weren’t too many surprises in state elections held on November 6, 1866 – the Republican landslide continued for the most part as voters in state after northern state rejected President Johnson’s plan for rebel states to easily re-enter the Union and representation in Congress. However, two of the Republicans elected to the Massachusetts state legislature were unique – the first black men elected to that body. An editorial wondered how that type of result would work out in the South as the franchise was eventually extended to black men in the former rebel states.
From The New-York Times November 7, 1866:
A NOVELTY IN POLITICS. – The election of two colored men yesterday to seats to the Legislature of Massachusetts is certainly a novelty in American politics. The event, however, is one that will undoubtedly soon be followed by others of like character in other States, and there will be a logical advance from the struggle as to giving negroes votes to a contest as to giving them public offices. The question is a simple enough one in the New-England States, but when the principle comes to be applied to the Southern States, in some of which the negroes must possess a controlling political power, and be able to elect a majority of blacks to the Legislatures, it will be quite another matter.
According to Wikipedia, Edward Garrison Walker and Charles Lewis Mitchell were the African-American men elected in 1866. Massachusetts enfranchised black men nine years earlier. Both Mr. Walker and Mr. Mitchell represented Boston districts. Mr. Walker joined the Democratic party about a year later because of “dissatisfaction with the Republicans.”
novelty in the state house
