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TO RECOGNIZE AND COMMEMORATE THE HONORABLE BENJAMIN FRANKLIN RANDOLPH, MINISTER OF THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AND SOUTH CAROLINA SENATOR FROM ORANGEBURG COUNTY FOLLOWING THE CIVIL WAR, AND TO DECLARE FEBRUARY 2, 2008, SENATOR BENJAMIN FRANKLIN RANDOLPH DAY, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNVEILING OF THE HISTORIC MARKER AT RANDOLPH CEMETERY, NAMED IN HIS HONOR.
Whereas, "freeborn" in Kentucky in 1837 and educated at Oberlin College, Benjamin Franklin Randolph was already a respected religious leader and minister in America prior to the Civil War; and
Whereas, Reverend Randolph served honorably during that war as a chaplain in the 26th Regiment of the United States Colored Troops, being one of only fourteen African Americans commissioned to that position, and came to South Carolina while serving with his military unit; and
Whereas, he was elected Orangeburg County's representative to the South Carolina Senate in the spring of 1868 and became a strong proponent of universal and integrated education for children in South Carolina; and
Whereas, as one of South Carolina's most significant political leaders, he served with distinction as chairman of the Republican State Central Committee and delegate to the South Carolina Constitutional Convention of 1868, which established rules allowing black men and men without property to vote and hold office; and
Whereas, on October 16, 1868, Senator Benjamin Franklin Randolph was assassinated at Hodges Depot in Abbeville County while campaigning for the National Republican Party; and
Whereas, as a memorial to the late Senator Randolph, Randolph Cemetery, now one of the oldest African American cemeteries in Columbia, was founded on July 1, 1871, by nineteen African American men; and
Whereas, Randolph Cemetery is believed to be the only cemetery in America where ten African American legislators who served during Reconstruction are interred, these being Senator Henry Cardozo of Kershaw County, Senator William Fabriel Myers of Colleton County, Representative Robert John Palmer of Richland County, Senator William Beverly Nash of Richland County, Senator B.F. Randolph of Orangeburg County, Representative William Simons of Richland County, Representative Samuel Benjamin Thompson of Richland County, Representative Prince R. Rivers of Edgefield and Aiken counties, Representative Charles McDuffie Wilder of Richland County, and Senator Lucius Wimbush of Chester County; and
Whereas, in addition, Randolph Cemetery is the burial site of many nineteenth- and early twentieth-century African American leaders from Columbia and other cities throughout South Carolina, including bishops of the African Methodist Episcopal Church; presidents of Allen University; George Elmore, who was instrumental in ending the white primary in South Carolina; Dr. C.A. Johnson, superintendent of South Carolina's Negro schools and dignitary for whom C.A. Johnson Preparatory Academy was named; and Celia Mann, owner of the Mann-Simons Cottage; and
Whereas, it is fitting that the House of Representatives should pause in its deliberations to recognize and celebrate the unique contributions of the late Senator Benjamin Franklin Randolph and the Randolph Cemetery, especially at this time of establishment of the cemetery's new historic marker. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, recognize and commemorate the Honorable Benjamin Franklin Randolph, minister of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and South Carolina senator from Orangeburg County following the Civil War, and declare February 2, 2008, Senator Benjamin Franklin Randolph Day, in conjunction with the unveiling of the historic marker at Randolph Cemetery, named in his honor.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to the Committee for the Beautification and Restoration of Randolph Cemetery.
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