The Tiffin weekly tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1859-1868, 1866-04-19
2oGtifal.
SPEECH
HON. WILLIAM LAWRENCE
ON CIVIL RIGHTS,

That good faith requires the
security of the Freedman in their
liberty, their right to labor, aud
their right to claim the just return
for their labor. cannot too strong
ly urge n dispassiunato treatment
of this subject. which should bc
carefully Kept a'oof from all party
STRIFE"
In pursuance ofthis recommenda.
ton, Congress passed n measure
known as tho "tivil Rights Bill, !"
the essential purpose OF which is
declared in these words;
SECTION /. That all persons
born IN the United States, and not
subject to any foreign Power, eN
Guiding Indians not taxed, are
thereby declared to be citizens of the
United States; aud such citizens OF
every race and color, with ut re.
gard to any previous condition OF
slavery or involuntary servitude,
except as a punishment for crime
whereof the party shall have been
lduly convicted, shall have the same
right in every State and Territory
to make and enforce contracts, to
inherit, purchase, lease, sell, hold, q,
and convey real and personal pro
lperty, and to be entitled to full and
equal benefit of all laws and pro
ceodingo for the security of person
and property as is enjoyed 10y white
citizcns, and shall be subject to
like punishment, pains, and penal
ties, and TO none other, any law,
statute, ordinance, regulation, OF
custom to the country notwith.
standing. 5.fs.f
" SEC 2. That any person who,
under color OF any law, statute, or.
ldinance, regulation, or custom shall
Subject, or cause to be subjected
any citizen of any State or Terri
tory to the deprivation ofany right
secured or protected by this act, or
to different punishment, pains, or
penalties on account of such per
son having at any time been held
in q condition of slavery or invol-
untary servitudc, except as q pun
lishment for crimo whereof the par.
ty shall have been duly convicted,
or by reason orhis color or race,
than is prescribed for tho punish
ment Of white persons, shall be
deemed guilty OF y misdcmeanor,
and on conviction shall be punish
ed by fine not exceeding 81 900, OF
imprisonment not exceeding one
year, or both, in the discretion ci
the Court"
This bill has met with the Exec
utivc veto. When it passed thu
House | was satisfied to record my
vote in its favor withou. consu
ming time in discussion, leavin,
the measure to commend itself t,
the world. 1t has already been dc
bated somewhat at large. [Sc'
speeches of Wilson, and others
March 1; Globe, March 9; G
Bingham, February 2S; GioJC
March i !; of Bingham and Shella
barger, March 8; Globe, Marel
no; Dela5po, March 81 9|0"e
| l will not therefore attempt &
full discussion of it now, but con
tent myself with briefly presenting
some OF the grounds upon whicl
! will again perform the proudes
act of my political life in votinl
to make this bill the law of tn,
land.
1t is scarcely less to the peopl,
of this country than Magma Char
ia was to the people Of England
1t decla. es who are citizens
1t does not affect any politica
right, as that Of suffrage, the righI
to sit on juries, hold Office, Sc
This it leaves to the States, to be
determined by each for itself. j
does not confer any civil right, bu
SO far as there is any power in th'
States to limit, enlarge, or declaf,
civil rights. all these are left to th'
States.
But it does provide that as t.
certain enumerated civil rights
every citizen " "shall have the sam,
right in every STATE and Territory
That is whatever of certain civi
rights may be enjoyed by any shall
be shared by all citizens in each
State, and in the Territories, anC
these are: d-.9 lf.fesa
/. 10 make and enforce con
tracts; .u,
2. TO sue, to be sued, and to be
parties.
I 3, To give evidence.
| 4. To inherit, purchase, lease
sell, hold, and convey real and per
sonal property. 1s.
| The bill does not declare who
shall or shall not have the right to
sue, give evidence. inherit, pur-
chase and sell property. These
questions are left to the States to
determine, subject only to the limi.
tation that there are some inherent
and inalienable rights, pertaining
to every citizen, which cannot be
abolished or abridged by State con-
stitutiOns or laws. a odu
Tho first clause Of section one
provides: urrin Gf "a
"Tbat all persons born in the
United States, and not subject to
any foreign Power, excluding lndi.
ans not taxed, are hereby declared
to be citizens ofthe United States."l
This clause Is unnecessary, but
navarthelqaS Droner. since III ia only