She left them then after explaining to Douglass, “I invited Mr. Cardoza to spend the night, but he has relatives here in Washington.”
They were both on their feet, bowing as she left. Amelia smiled and thought, “Always such lovely manners.”
The two men settled down before the fire for serious talk. Francis Cardoza was well informed. He might easily be taken for a white man, and so had heard much not intended for his ears.
“I talked today with Thaddeus Stevens,” he told Douglass. “I told him what I had seen of the black codes, and he told me of Senator Sumner’s magnificent speech in the Senate two days ago. He swears they’ll get the Civil Rights Bill through in spite of Johnson.”
“And I believe they will!” Douglass agreed. He leaned forward eagerly. “You have brought the petition?”
“Yes, sir.” Cardoza was unfolding a manuscript. “Here is an exact copy of the document presented by us to the Convention assembled at Columbia. These words of the freedmen of South Carolina are our best argument. Read!” He handed the sheets to Douglass.
It was a long document and Douglass read slowly. This then came from “those savage blacks”!
... Our interests and affections are inseparably interwoven with the welfare and prosperity of the state.... We assure your honorable body that such recognition of our manhood as this petition asks for, is all that is needed to convince the colored people of this state that the white men of the state are prepared to do them justice.
Let us also assure your honorable body that nothing short of this, our respectful demand, will satisfy our people. If our prayer is not granted, there will doubtless be the same quiet and seemingly patient submission to wrong that there has been in the past. The day for which we watched and prayed came as we expected it; the day of our complete enfranchisement will also come; and in that faith we will work and wait.[25]
Douglass sat staring at the last sheet a long time. The simple majesty of the words rendered him speechless. His voice was husky.