Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1869-02-18
The Word /" White. I"

On the 18th, instant, during the temporary
absence Of several conservative Senator's, Sum-
ner. tho great champion Of cullul pussons
rights called up the bin to strike ont the word
"wbits from an the charters and laws relating
to the District Of Columbia. OF course it was
Immediately put through. So little interest
was manifested even by the most earnest radi-
Gals that affirmative responses to the call from
the chair, were few and far between. Alas!
for the poor citizens Of african descent, there
Is not even enough sympathy for him, even in
tia, Gibraltar Of equal rights, the Senate Oft the
United States, to vote him full out spcker.
aye" There is not enough regard for the
citizens Of the District whose property aud
even lives are thus endangered. r. induce a
careful constellation Of so important a bill,
and full vote Of the entire Senate.
This bin has twice bef3re passed, and failed
70 become a law by ~ Presidents Withholding
Il until after the adjournment Of Congress
OF course the House will Immediately take M
the bUl,-legislation for the Saxon race can be
suspended, and It viii speedily be put through
the House
n Congress cares for the rights Of the white
citizens Of the District, why don't they prove
il BY needing the unmistakable will Of the peo-
pie. upon this subject? They have repeatedly
shown that they arc not in favor ofthus placing
their property and lives in the hands Of an ig-
norant and vindictiye race Of men Just freed
from slavery Washington, has not inaptly
been termed the "Paraliseof negroes" Ger
tain il is. if congressional Hesitation can make
Il 50, it will be done Already the help Of Con-
sress has been given 70 feed and warm the lazy
bordes Of improviieut blacks who are swarm
Ing the by-ways and alleys Of the city. The
passage Of this law may hare the effect to at
tract thither more Of them, deluied with toe
fancy that there they can live ike gentlemen
Fancy, jury empannelled, with three Of
fopr ignorant daTkies on it. OF what avail
,yould the education and legal knowledge oil
the whites be? Ten chances to one, the AFR
cans would look at things from the same stand
point, and vote soIijly together Thus there
would be many a hungjury, and the course
Of Justice either stayed or much retarded.
Their own opinion of this matter as express
cd BY an intelligent negro few days ago is
significant. He truthfully and emphatically
said, "if vera on trial for my life, would
greatly prefer jury Of white men to one Of
my own color do not think that there is
enough prejudice asains. rs 10 make any
weigh. in such a case II I bad any consider
able amount Of property at stake. undoubtedly
would insist on a jury Of white men. The
mere fact Of my being better of than my
fellows. especially If they are ignorant, as most
Of them are, would prejudice them against ne. "
Il is understood that President johnson will
send in a veto message 10 the bin, prepared
after its first passage by Congress. Although
he is a better friend 20 the colored people than
Sumner and his allies-although he has given
more pr their improvement probably, than
tie entire radical column of the Senate, he can
not look at this measure through such dark
medium as to cloud bis vision, or make him
blind to the bos, inielests Of the District Of
Columbia.