Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1867-10-31
HonoRI HoNoREm HABERE.


HOHORI HONOREM HABERK.
The Representative in the Tennessee
Legislature, Of the negroes in this Sena-
torial District, is faithfully l~egislGting
Tor his sable constituents, and Will per
haps succeed after a time, by zeal and
sssiduity, in satisfying them that he is
almost a. good ~ IL be were black. The
exploit on which he has msst reason to
plume himself is TT 20 be chronicled on
the pGginalG Of history. We give it in all
its pomp and pretentiOus grandeur, and
high on the immortal scrolls Of fame
write over 1t the illustrious and neyer-to-
be-forgotten name Of
". J. SMITH,
the I" gentleman who thinks an oleagi-
nous negro, or . negrsss oJens hiTcuns, TO
be a fit associate in the cars, Of the white
women Of Tennessee.
The offence is rank,
II smells to heaven"
SENATE.
Friday. October 25, I867.-The follow
! ing House bill was taken up:
a nnl to inlet penalties on commoD carriers
aud their agents for V olaiion Of law By max
ing unjust and Illegal distinctions bssed on
color. ace and previous condition" -
SECTION 1. Be Il enacted by the Gene
raj Assembly Of Tennessee, That no dis
tinction shall be made by common car
riers in this State, either by railroad,
turnpike, or other corporations or private
PARTIES who are common carriers, in re-
gard to the color, race or previous eoudl-
ton OF any person or persons asking 81
tae hands Of said common carriers, con-
veyanee or any other service commonly
rendered by them.
See. 2. Be It further enacted, That for
| each and every violation OF this act by
anv common carrier exercising the pflV-
ileges that attach to said calling WITHIN
the State OF Tennessee, there shall be
! imposed upon said common carriers 30
offending q fine Of q hundred dollars
10 be paid 20 the person against Whom
said discrimination msy be mace.
Sec. 3. Bel further enacted, That any
conductor or Any other employee Of said
common carriers, who may so distin-
Vuish between persons so desiring the
services of said common carriers on ae-
count of race, color or previous eondl-
ton. shall be deemed guilty OF a INSIDE
mesuor. and Oh conviction thereof shall
he fined in the sum Of not less than ten
dollars. nor more than fly dollars, to be
ngid into the Treasury of the State Of
tennessee for the use OF the common
schools Of the State, and Imprisoned 10
the iail Of the county where the indtct-
ms1t is found, not exceeding thirty
DAYS, at the discretion Of the Court.
Mr.. Lyle moved TO refer the bill to the
Judiciary Committee
Mr.. smith objected to the refer
enee. It had been referred to the
Committee on Interpretations, and b a
committee had recommended its pas
sage with an amendment authorizing
common carriers to provide, as hereto
fore, special accommodations. be re-
GREETED that this amendment was
adopted. he opposed any exclusiveness.
He had observed the practical working
OF this ladies' car arrangement; II was
unjust and unequal. He desired to see
no distinction. The person who pur-
chases 8 first class ticket was entitled to
first class accommodations, without re-
gard to color.
Mr.. Garner, IS the Chairman Of the
Committee on Interpretations, felt called
upon to defend the report and amend
ment. The amendment, he said, was
not designed to make a distinction on
account OF color. Railroads had been IN
the habit Of setting apart special cars Tor
ladies. The intention Of the amendment
was not to exclude OOlOred ladies from
these special cars. He thought that the
amendment was entirely proper.
Mr.. Smith repeated his previous srgu-
ment against the amendment. He wss
satisfied the bill would amount t. ne
thing, if it was retained. Every con-
ductOr was the master Of his W train,
and under the prOviso for " specialaccOm-
modatiOns," they would say to any one,
+" YOU cannot 20 into this or that car
He hoped the bill would not pass in that
sbape-and he was sure it would not, If
the Senate would obey the dictates Of
equal justice to al men, without regard
to race, color or previous condition.
Honored forever by all women Of the
color Of his mother be the name Of
SMITH! Nos ilum uensramur, ct tdntO
1lomins semper o6surgamus. We rever-
ence him, and ever rise in honor OF so
great s name. Prepare for him laurels
and corOnets, ladies, White women, Of the
State Of Tennessee and also for that
other, who shall be nsmeless, who de-
Tended the amendment on the ground
that under it " cclored ladies" would be
admitted to the ladies' ear. SMITH was
not content with that. His fidelity to
his constituents compelled him to insist
that equality demanded the admission of
colored gentlemen also to the cars that
ladies occupy.
Well" all the worlds a stage, and
men and ONE only players" All the
parts must be filed, somehow and there
is a use even for the SMITHS. They are
not made whOay in vsin snd it is some
thing, even If One's constituents are ne
groes, TO lord it over a foreign population
Of whites, be able with impunity to en-
deGUOr to insult white ladies as high Is
the stars are above ones malice
and to talk like HENRI " Of France, of
" nous e notTe generation de nOtre roy
GuHe ct Scigaeurie" The Senator from
Shelby and so forth, can translate that
for himself, Of course.