Charles E. Nash

Charles Edmund Nash (23 May 1844 – 21 June 1913) was an American politician who served a single two-year term as a Republican in the United States House of Representatives from the U.S. state of Louisiana. He was Louisiana's first African American Congressman and would remain the state's only black U.S. Representative for more than 100 years, until 1991.

Speech to the U.S. House of Representatives (1876)

 * Speech to the United States House of Representatives (7 June 1876)


 * A government which cannot protect its humblest citizens from outrage and injury is unworthy of the name and ought not to command the support of a free people.
 * As quoted in Congressional Record, House, 44th Cong., 1st sess. (7 June 1876): pp. 3,667–3,668


 * For we are not enemies, but brethren.
 * As quoted in Congressional Record, House, 44th Cong., 1st sess. (7 June 1876): pp. 3,667–3,668


 * America will not die. As the time demands them, great men will appear, and by their combined efforts render liberty and happiness more secure. The people will be ready and answer in every emergency that may arise.
 * As quoted in Congressional Record, House, 44th Cong., 1st sess. (7 June 1876): p. 3,669