That he was a suitable and fit man for the position could not be denied.

But he had just been elected Secretary of State for a term of four years, and his election to the Senate would have created a vacancy in the former office which would have necessitated the holding of another State election and another election was what all wanted to avoid.

For that reason his name was not seriously considered for the Senatorship.
[Illustration: HON.

HIRAM R.REVELS.The first colored man that occupied a seat in the U.S.Senate.

From a photograph taken by Maj.