“Washington, D. C., February 1, 1864.
“Sir,—I have the honor to report that I have been obstructed in getting to the Court this morning by the conductor of car No. 32 of the Fourteenth Street line of the city railway.
“I started from my lodgings to go to the hospital I formerly had charge of, to get some notes of the case I was to give evidence in, and hailed the car at the corner of Fourteenth and I Streets. It was stopped for me, and, when I attempted to enter, the conductor pulled me back, and informed me that I must ride on the front with the driver, as it was against the rules for colored persons to ride inside. I told him I would not ride on the front, and he said I should not ride at all. He then ejected me from the platform, and at the same time gave orders to the driver to go on. I have, therefore, been compelled to walk the distance in the mud and rain, and have also been delayed in my attendance upon the Court.
“I therefore most respectfully request that the offender may be arrested and brought to punishment.
“I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
“A. T. Augusta, M. B.,
“Surgeon Seventh U. S. Colored Troops.
“Captain C. W. Clippington, Judge Advocate.”
In my opinion, the writer of this letter had just as much right in that car as the Senator from Indiana, and it was as great an outrage to eject him as it would be to eject that Senator. I go further, and I say—pardon the illustration—that the ejection of that Senator would not bring upon this capital half the shame that the ejection of this colored officer necessarily brings upon the capital. I do not mean, of course, to make the remark personal; but, as the Senator from Indiana has entered into this discussion, and chooses to vindicate this inhumanity, I allude to him personally.
The resolution was adopted,—Yeas 30, Nays 10.
February 24th, Mr. Willey, of West Virginia, from the Committee on the District of Columbia, made a report in the following terms.