E


3 Langston, Op. Cit: 79 4 Langston, Op. Cit: 102


MCCA.COM


Education topped [Howard and Langston’s] agenda, and they created what would become the leading black institution of higher learning in America— Howard University.


ling orator, Langston was asked to speak to the many freedmen encamp- ing in areas taken by the Union army to boost their morale. Tis led to his appointment in 1867 as Inspector of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands. His focus was to impress upon blacks that education, economy, industry, and virtue were the keys to their future success as free persons.8 Langston and his immediate


supervisor General Oliver Otis Howard, a decorated veteran of Gettysburg, meshed well. Education topped their agenda and they created what would become the leading black institution of higher learning in America—Howard University. Howard became president, and Langston was founding dean of the law school. Langston also served as acting president for two years during Howard’s leave of absence. After nine years at Howard


University, Langston spent another eight as ambassador to Haiti. Returning to the U.S. in 1885, Langston accepted the presidency of Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute, today Virginia State University, in Petersburg. He resigned


1 John Mercer Langston, From the Virginia Plantation to the National Capitol, Hartford, CT: American Publishing Company, 1894: 12


2 See Keith P. Griffler, Frontline of Freedom, Lexington: University Press of Kentucky, 2004: 52-56


after two years but was recruited to run for Congress. It proved to be the greatest challenge of his career.


RUNNING FOR CONGRESS Once he accepted the mandate, he immediately went to work. Black voters outnumbered whites by nearly 2-1 in his congressional district, but the power resided with the racist white electorate. Although Langston secured the Republican nomination at the state convention, party boss General William Mahone declared that “no colored man would be allowed” to represent Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District.9


A smear


campaign directed against Langston with the cooperation of the National Committee of the Republican Party included the publication of a letter from Frederick Douglass attacking Langston. His supporters anticipated efforts to obstruct black voters. Langston was not deterred, and special instructions were given to Langston voters. Voters who encountered problems were to advise Langston’s representatives stationed at each polling place.


5 This second federal law was stricter than the first one passed in 1793, not only increasing the penalties for aiding fugitive slaves but making it easier for their capture.


6 William and Aimee Lee Cheek, John Mercer Langston and the Black Fight for Freedom, 1829-1865, Chicago: University of Illinois Press, 1989: 264-265.


JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2014 DIVERSITY & THE BAR® As expected the polling sites,


which were under control of the state’s majority party, the Democrats, were rigged against Langston. Separate lines were designated for black voters and they were arranged so that black voters had to wait their turn while whites voted. Tis caused lengthy delays for black voters, most of whom were voting for Langston. When the final tally was made by Democratic operatives, Langston lost by 641 votes to the Democratic candidate.10 Langston’s representatives urged


him to contest the election. What followed was a bitter, nearly two-year investigation that cost Langston sub- stantially. However, on September 6, 1890, he was finally declared the win- ner of the 1888 election for Congress in the Fourth Congressional District of Virginia, the first African American to be elected to Congress from Virginia. It would take more than 100 years for another man of color to represent Virginia in Congress when Robert C. Scott was elected in 1992 from the Tird Congressional District. Langston served out his term but


lost reelection. He retired to his home- stead in Petersburg, Virginia, and died in Washington, D.C., in 1897. D&B


7 Ibid: 296 8 Ibid: 261 9 Langston, Op. Cit: 471 10 Ibid: 482


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