Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-06-03
+. WHITMOKEs
Publisher and Proprietor.
Social EquaIity-The First Verdict
Under the Social Equality Law in

From the New Orleans Times, May 2O.l a' ,
| The jury which sat in the case brought
against Col Drummonteil under the so
cial equality act was rather promiscu
GUS and heterogeneous tribunal. II was
composed of representatives Of nearly al
the races which make up our very mixed
and diverse population There were
| Irishmen, Germans, Creoles, Spaniards
and colored citizens of African descent
and American birth A glimpse and
audience of their proceedings after they
had retired to the consultation room
having been, perhaps irregularly or ac-
cidentally, obtained, was communicated
to as, and, as the developments are in
teresting as indicative of popular opinion
on an exciting question, we give them
as conveyed to us. .il.b ,.r.a5 :.
OF course we need not say that the jury
was, from the beginning. seriously ire
conciIably divided on the main question.
But what is remarkable is that the most
decided champion of the opponents ofthe
social equality bill was full-blood and
vigorous African fellow-citizen, who in
turn foored each of his adyarsaries by
the following unanswerable argument:
Now, gentlemen, this law, if it is
law, is all nonsense. j am for letting
every man choose his own company, and
for keeping out of his house and COM
pany people he don't care to associate
with. S'pose now, give a ball and in
vite my colored lady friends, / don't
want any white men to come there and
take my colored ladies away; and / don't
intend to 'trude in the gatherings of
white people. IT'S not genteel, accord
ing to my notions, to go anywhar whar
you amt invited and wanted.
1t was in vain that certain white Radi-
cal on the jury argued with their col
ored brother on the rights of all men,
their ednnlity before the law, and his
duty TO admit into bis company and the
society of his colOred lady friends his
white friends, who only desired 10 avail
themselves of their constitutional rights.
Hot and furious grew the discussion,
which was somewhat stimulated and ag-
orayated by the Suggestions and interpo-
lations Of a juror Of pure Celtic blood,
who appeared to be IN bis element IN
setting his felloEjurors by the ears,
whilst be looked smilingly on, declaring
that he had long since made up his mind,
and was ready to tell them what Il was
when the other eleven had agreed upon
their verdict. This proposition did not
tend to enlighteH and guide the others
10 satisfactory result Aud, alter
4 long and violent discnssi0Rs v vas at
last agreed 70 take the opinion OF
quiet phlegmstic, reticent juror of the
feuion race, His decision was worthy
Of old Woutef Ypn Twiller himself 1t
was as follows: '0epilemen, / hear yica
an One says We must ~ ~ the Jaw,
another says on the evidence, and Aa-
other on justice Nov, II the lawyers
would not b0fheF rs 50, and let Us know |
wkere was tiie Law, naa evidence, or the \
Justice, We migh find The Yerdicfi but,
lnderthe circumstances, fi,e oplF verdict 4
We can find il. that ~ eau . agree.
And accordingly such vas the Radlng u
he intelligent jury upon whom IN.
earned lawyers and judge had been e. e.
NO days layishing their learlinr and nj
loquence.