Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-04-18
Fearful Stride towards Despo.:sm.

On the 9th April, the House Of Representatives
Of the United States passed the Civil Rights Bill
over the veto OF the President, by vote Of ont
huadrod ard twenty two to forty-onc. The Sen
late had passed it previously by a vote of thirty
thrse to Gftcon. It thus becomes law of thu
ings Of this Bill win be; hut if it works as it,
trainers intended it should, then the Southern
people have before them oppression and tyranny
and humiliation in short, chains and slnvery
And all this at the hauds Of the unscrupuloua and
contcnptiblc tools of legislative usurpation!'
Tho Civil Rights Bill 9holishes, virtually, al
State judicatnre. AL o!:ence5 under, and causes
affecting persons protected by this act, are cogni
xablo erclnsirely by Federal Courts. The ac
covers almost every civil transaction Of sociuty
not to say social, moral and political relations
There cnnnst therefore be any assignnble limit tc
offences of this net. The State Courts as such
are thus almost entirely abolished, for though
they might continue to act they would be ylr.u-
ally Federal Courts, because enjoying 10 power:
but what had been conceded thol; by the Federal
Government.
The Civil Rights Bill, though it prohibits all
recognition of distinction of race or color, sill
makes most pnlpaLlc distinction in favor of the
blacks; thus establishing negro superiority. It
carries Federal interference into private affairs
whcrc the ssorst local and dOncais iays never
ntrudc. The Southern people could hardly live
"A h,,,a ~ k.in Il
without being guilty of some one or other Of the
penal offences of this Bill.
1t authorizes the President to appoint spies and
informcrs (tl meanest class that disgrace hu-
usnityl absolutely without limit OF number, /. e.,
"ollicorsp whoa DO l4ay "spcoially empower"
He may put one on every street corner and at
every lnilc pes: i'll the Unien, without Transcend
ing the letter of This law. 1t authorizes the Fcd-
c-ol Courts to multiply their commissioners with
out limit, and empowers each one Of these 10 ap-
point RS many Equitable persons" (dctcctircs) as
they choose in every county, to mako arrests, and
provides oomppnaaiion for both, SO liboral as
to expose them to irresistible temptation TO pp-
pross. Even these despicatlo hirelings have the
power to call the army TO theira aid. One of these
could arrest tho Governor Of Sovereign State,
and the County or Town Commissioners Of tho
United State. Court could put bim in Jail Witbou,
violating tho language Of this Bill. . -
It goes into each stnto, and a4tnmptste pro,
icribs rules Of uniformity within the limits Of
svcry stato which do not cea'orn the external
relations Of the statos I'd ono another. ttdndot-
takes to prevent tho State from making any dis.
among its own citizens as to tho de-
gree Of cradibility which shall be given to their
evidence, and to the. capacity for contracting and
property. If the, Fsderai authority
is competent 20 break, down oil. distinctions Of
law In regard to the citizchs 'ofu State for one
ause it haa the same power for rsnothez.c In
short, MAY draT within the v6ftex>O Of" congtcs-i
siOnal aegiaatioa sSs+y ocnteiFabls fight pf