An African American Republican from South Carolina,held a series of political posts during the Reconstruction era.Alonzo was born a free African American in Charleston.Little is known of his childhood and early education.At the end of the Civil War he worked as a shipping clerk.In 1865,at the age of 31,he was appointed state registrar of elections.The following year,1866,Alonzo attended attended South Carolina's first Republican convention and two years later was elected to the Constitutiional Convention which established the state's first integrated government.Alonzo served in that government when he was elected to South Carolina House of Representatives in 1868.In 1870 he was elected Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina.Alonzo was a delegate at the 1872 Republican National Convention in Philadelphia.That same year he was elected to the Forty third United States Congress from 2nd Congressional District.
Alonzo was actively committed to the cause of equality for the African American citizens of South Carolina and the nation.While in Congress he fought for a Civil Rights bill,supported strong tariff laws,opposed arbitrary salary increases for federal officials,advocated term limits for politcians and petitioned for funds to improve the maintenance of Charleston harbor.
Alonzo was defeated by white Independent Republican Edmund W.M.Mackey in his reelection bid.Afterwards,he returned to Charleston and worked for the United States Internal Revenue Service for the Charleston municipal government.
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