her in the schools of his native county.

John Mercer Langston[17] of Virginia, the third member of the group of
educators, was graduated, in 1849, at the age of twenty, from Oberlin
College. Four years later, in 1853, he completed the work of the
theological department of that school. Because of his ripe
scholarship, moreover, unusual honors were conferred upon him by
several American colleges and universities, and he was the recipient
of several honorary memberships in scientific and literary
institutions and associations of foreign countries. Indeed, there have
sat in Congress few men of greater mental power and energy than John
Mercer Langston.

Of the twenty-two Negroes who have sat in Congress, five were members
of the legal profession. One of these men represented Alabama, two
South Carolina, and two North Carolina. Robert Brown Elliott, the
first member of this group of legally trained leaders, was perhaps the
most outstanding and certainly the most brilliant of the Negroes who
have served in Congress. Elliott[18] entered the High Hollow Academy
of London, England, in 1853, at the age of eleven years. In 1859, he
was graduated from Eton College. Later, he studied law and was
admitted to the bar, where he practiced for some time before the
courts of South Carolina. This superior training of Elliott no doubt
contributed in large measure to his eminence in debate, which was so
often manifested during the memorable sessions of the 42nd and 43rd
Congresses.

James T. Rapier[19] of Alabama, one of the really brilliant men in
this group, acquired a liberal education, after which he studied law
and practiced in his native State. Another member of the legal group
was James E. O'Hara[20] of Enfield, North Carolina. Following his
academic training which was received in New York City, O'Hara studied
law, first, in North Carolina, and later at Howard University in
Washington. In June, 1871, he was admitted to the bar of his State.

Two others of this group were Miller and White. The first one, Thomas
E. Miller,[21] of Beaufort, South Carolina, attended the free public
school for Negroes in his native city. In 1872 he was graduated from
the Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Later, Miller read law, and in
1875 was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of his State.
The second of these two, George Henry White[22] of North Carolina,
studied first in his native State and later at Howard University.
While there he p