The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1869-07-08
do not recognize each other as social

do not recognize each other as social
equals.
| 10 avoid collisions and strife, and to
preserve peace, harmony and good order
in society, the new constitution has wisely
prohibited the Legislature from enacting
laws, compelling these companies TO make
new social arrangements among the9
patrons or to disturb those in existence.
| The law shall stand stand as it is, says the
| constitution, leaving each to regulate such
matters as they think best, and there shall
/ be no legislative interference. All shall
be comfortably accommodated, but you
shall not be compelled BY law to force So
cial equality, either upon your trains, your
boats or in your hotels.
The same remarks apply to the regula-
tons Of social status among families, and
| to the social intercourse Of society gener-
ally.
This, in my opinion, is one of the wisest
provisions in the constitution, as it ex-
cludes from the halls Of the Legislature a
question which was likely to produce more
Improbable agitation, wrangling and con-
tention than any other subject within the
whole range Of their authority
Government has full power to regulate
civil and political rights, and to give to
each citizen of the State, as our code has
done, equal civil and equal political rights
as well as equal protection of the laws.
But government has no power to regulate
social status Before the laws the Code
of Georgia makes all citizens equal, with
out regard to race or color But it does
not create nor does any law of the State
attempt to enforce moral or social equali-
ty between the different races or citizens
of the State. Such equality does not, in
! fact, exist, and never can. The God of
Nature made it otherwise, and no human
law can produce it and no human tribunal
can enforce it. There are gradations and
classes throughout the universe. From
the tallest archangel in heaven down to
the meanest reptile on earth, moral and
social inequalities exist, and must continue
to exist through all eternity.
While the great mass of the conquering
people of the States which adhered to the
| Union during the late civil strife have
claimed the right to dictate the terms of
settlement, and have maintained in power
those who demand that the people of the
States lately in rebellion shall accord to
the colored race equality of civil rights,
| including the ballot, with the same. pro-
lection under the laws which are afforded
the white race, they have neither required
of us the practice of miscegenatiOn, nor
have they claimed for the colored race
social equality with the white race. The
fortunes of war have compelled us to yield
to the freedmen the legal rights above
mentioned but we have neither author
lied nor legalized the marriage relation
between the races, nor have we enacted
laws or placed it in the power of the
Legislature hereafter to make laws regu-
lating the social status, so as to compel
our people to meet the cOlored race on
terms Of social equality. Such a state of
things could never be desired by the
thoughtful and rejecting portion of either
race. 1t could never promote peace,
quiet or social order in any State or COM
munity. No such laws are of force in
any of the Northern States, so far as |
know, and it is supposed no considerable
part of the people of any State desire to
see them enacted. Indeed, the most alb
solute and despotic governments do not
attempt to regulate social status by fixed
laws or to enforce social equality among
races or classes without their consent.
As already stated, we are of the Opin-
ion that the section of the code which
forbids intermarriages between the races
is neither inconsistent with nor is it re-
pealed by the section of the constitution
now under consideration. 1t, therefore,
stands upon the statue book of the State,
forever prohibiting all such marriages and
declaring them to be null and void.
Let the judgment of the court below
be affirmed.
Another Excellent Letter from Mr..
Stevens.