The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-05-09

THE CIVIL RIaHTs BLL-The statement
going the rounds that President johnson ex
pressed his approval of the civil rights bill
prior to its passage is as unfounded as a
similar story relative to his approval of the
Freedmen's bill That the President was
favorable to the policy of securing equality
in civil rights, by state authority secured
/ by their own action" is true: but it is not
true, that hcever approved thehill as passed.
True aprinted copy was sent to him." and
Its friends" knew his objections to the bill,
for he had often expressed his objections to
the principle of the federal legislation inter-
fering with the civil affairs of the States, in
volved in that bill, and the radicals had ir-
cidently learned the fact from conversations
with him. Ofcourse he would not so out Of
his way to point out his objection to the
radicals before the bill was officially presented
to him foraleged interference with Congress
ional legislation. They knew that the Pres
idcnt's friends opposed the bill. The rad
icals expected be would veto the bill, as
known from the fact that while they were
discussing the bill, they were taking active
measures to secure two-thirds majority in
the Senate to pass it over the veto.
John Forsyth, of the Mobile Adrertissr,
though believing the intention of the bill TO
degrade and punish the White men Of the
South, nevertheless he finds ON examination
that it is by no means as bad as was sup
posed. He says:
ut does not confer upon tile negroes the
right to vote, to hold office to serve as jurors,
or to interfere with the regulations and GUS
toms OF its steamboats,, railroads, street cars,
theatres, or other places of public resort
1t docs not interfere with social relations in
any manner whatsoever. The truth is, we
have, in cur very mids.,a rare and striking
example of the practical effects that may i,e
expected to result from this b;ll. We refer
to the colered creoles of Mobile and its viciu-
ity. These people although of African and
mixed blood, were citizens under the Span
ish government, on al equal footing, in ell
respects, with other citizens. The treaty of
1S19 by which this portion of Alabama
with Florida } was ccded to the United
States, expressly guaranteed to them a con-
tinuance of the privilege of citizenship.
They have actually been citizens of Alabama
and Florida for nearly half a century. To
those familiar with the country we nee
not add that they have been good citizens
among the very best of citizens. No con-
flict has ever occurred as to their status.
The questson OF evidence has never been
raised, that VIC are aware of :; or, if raised.
it has never occasioned any difficulty. The
colored crecles have always maintained their
position as a separate race socially holding
themselves aloof both from the whites and
negroes but never interfering with either.
They have been exemplary in the discharge
of all the duties of citizenship. neighborhood
and hospitality, ndhave secured the respect
of all classes Of society. There has been
no collision of races. Now, as we have init
mated, the effect ofthe civilrighs bill will beto
give the negroes a political status almost, if
not altogether, identical with that already
occupied by the colored creoles. As this
has so long existed in the one case without
creating any difficulty, we do not see any
great reason to'apprehend very serious evils
in the other.