The Bedford gazette. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1805-current, 1867-09-27
THE NEGROES, IN THE CARS!
The Colore d Brethren on Wheels
THE S1EEPISG-CAR STINK-LAW!
Clio ions Equality. first of Radical Gra-
ce&!

Our attention has recently been call
ed to the practical workings of a law
passed, last winter, by our State Legis-
lature, imposing heavy penalties upon
railroad companies for refusing TO per-
NIT negroes to ride IN any Of their pdSse'a-
ger cars. AS the law formerly stood,
railroad conductors could compel ne
groes to ride in separate cars provided
for them. AS it stands now, they have
the same choice of seats, and berths in
sleeping-cars, as white people. A
friend of ours relates that as he was
travelling from Philadelphia to Hun
tingdon, few nights ago, he took
berth in a sleeping car, and when about
retiring, his attention was attracted by
loud talking and scuff1ing on the plat
form of the car. Proceeding to the
scene of the disturbance, he discovered
a huge male negro in a controversy
with one of the railroad officials about
obtaining berth in the sleeping-car.
The ticket agent had refused to sell the
darkey a ticket, and the colored gen
tleman was trying to force his way into
the car without the requisite piece of
stamped paste-board. A policeman
came up, however, and settled the busi-
ness, by telling the ticket agent that,
under the law, if he refused to sell the
negro berth ticket, on account Of color,
he would beamenable to fine of FIVE
HUNDRED DOLLARS, and subject
to pay q like sum to the negro upon an
action for debt! This had the desired
effect, and the African was handed the
coveted ticket. 1t so happened, how
ever, that but one berth was vacant,
and that was half of a double berth
partly occupied by white man. The
negro divested himself of hat, boots,
coat and vest, and proceeded to appro-
pirate his half of the double berth.
White man, who had been doing,
turned around, looked at the new-com-
er, rubbed his eyes, looked again, and
then came such kicking, tumbling,
sprawling, and mixture of white and
black generally as would have done any
amalgamationist's heart good. About
this time the conductor appeared upon
the scene, and the result was that the
negro, with ticket in hand, tumbled
into bed, whilst the white man, growl-
ing anathemas at the party he himself
had helped to place in power, doggedIy
put on his clothes and went forward to
sit with wrenched back and cramped
legs, in the passenger car, eliminating
over the beauties of Radical legislation.
We annex, below, copy of the law
which gives the negro the privilege of
choosing his seat, or sleeping berth on
railroad cars:
AN ACT making it an offence for rail-
road corporations, within this COM
monWealth, to make any distinction
with their passengers, on account of
race or color, and Furnishing said cor
pOratiOns, and their agents and en-
plOyees, for the commission of such
offence.
SECTION 1. Be it enacted by the Sen
ate and House Of Representatives. of the
Commonwealth Of Pennsylvania in Cen
erM assembly met, and it is hereby enact
ell 6y the authority ofthe same, That on
and after the passage of this act any
railroad or railway corporation, within
this commonwealth, that shall exclude,
by their agents, conductors, or employ
ees, from any of their passenger cars.
any person or persons, on account of
color, or race, or that shall refuse to
carry in any of their cars, thus set apart,
any person, or persons, on account Of
color or race, or that shall, for such
reason, compel, or attempt to compel
any person, or persons, to occupy any
particular part Of9ny of their cars, set
apart for the accommodation of people
as passengers, shall be liable, in an ac-
ton of debt, to the persons thereby in
jured, or aggrieved in the sum of five
hundred dollars, the same to be recov-
cred, in an action of debt, as like a.
mounts are now by law recoverable.
SECTION 2. That any agent, conduc-
tor, or employee, of any railroad or rail-
way corporation, within this common
wealth, who shall exclude, allow to be
excluded, or assistin the exclusion, from
any of their cars, set apart for the accom-
mOdatiOn of passengers, any person, or
persons, on account of color, or race, or
who shall throw any car, or cars, from
the track, thereby preventing persons
from riding, shall be deemed guilty of
a misdemeanOr, and upon conviction
thereof, shall pay fine, not exceeding
five hundred dollars, nor less than one
hundred dollars, or be imprisoned, for
a term not exceeding three months nor
less than thirty days, or both, at the
discretion of the court.
JOHN p. GLASS,
Speaker of the House of Rep.
LOUIS w. HALL, .
Speaker of the Senate.
APPROVED-Thet tWenty-SecOnd day
of March, Ammo DOmini one thousand
eight hundred and sixty-seven.