The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-01-19
Social EUuluRity.

instant to tho Philadelphia Day says ::
Tho Board of Aldermen of this
city, at its regular meeting to-mor-
row, is to dispose Of an ordinance, al
ready passed by tho Common Council,
providing that it shall not be lawful
for hotel keeper, keeper Of rostau-
rant, and keepers Of saloons, to nuke
distinction amor gst their guests and
patrons on account Of raoo or color,
and providing a penalty by fine for
any violation of the ordinance.
Upon this proposition thcre isa di-
vision of opinion amongst tho intolli-
gont classos Of colored citizens, por-
ticn arguing that to urge this mixing
up of races, at this time, and attempt
ing to force this sort of social com.
mingling of tho white and black races
IS impolitic, to say the least of it,
and that whom tho negro has equal
rights with tho white man in all
things of strict public or official
character, as thoy havo in Washing
ton, tho attempt to 20 further Mt this
time will only work injury to the COL
ored man. Tho other portion of the
colored people (who demand the pas
sage of the ordinanco,) claim that tho
negro should be admitted upon an
equal footing with the white mau in
all places, save in private dwellings,
and that this intel -mingiing shall be
onfoi cod by law. This party are now
seeking, also, to place tho entire oom-
mon school and funds for its support
undor one board Of missionors,
instead uf two boards, az is now pro-
vided by act of Congress-.
Thls last.namcd party has q large
majority and will certainly pass the
ordinance.
Tho hotel proprictors havo come to
an understanding that they will not
permit n colorcd porson to put up at
thcir establishments, and when de-
mand shall Lo made to receive negro
guest, tho question will 90 to the
courts for u judicial determination.
Restaurant Keepers propose to take
tho samc course. ~"
The argument Of the hotol and ros.
taurant Keepers is, that their business
occupation is not Of public but
private character, and that thoy have
tho right to refuse to do business with
whomsocyer they please, bo they
black or white. It is not doubted
that upon this point tho restaurant
keeper may be sustained by the courts,
but tho hotel keeper presents more
difficult question. Although his ho-
tel is private property, yet it is not so
certain that in law ho has the right
absolutely to refuse to receive o guest
or traveller, upon tho ground that he
Is of n Particular race. The common
law, as to the hotel or inn keeper
(Which is substantially tho same) has
been construed to be that he is bound
to receive MI "proper persons" who
resort to his house as travellers, at
suitable times and in proper manner,
and are able to pay their fare, so
long as he has tho means of accom-
mediation for them, Whether they
can be sustained in refusing to accept
negroes as "proper persons," is 80. to
be determined.
These oireumstano bring US now
to the settlement Of the delicate
branch of the question, as t, tho
standing Of the colored citizen. All
rights aro, conceded and secured to
Linn rs citizen before tho law In this
district he can vote, testify in court.
serve as Juror, hold office and ride in
tho railroad cars, 10. But shall ho
be received on an equality with tho
white man socially1 Shall tho law
be, invoked to force social intercourse
Between any persons, whether white
or black? Suoh, it is argued by some,
is TO he the result of holding that the
restaurant keeper (whose business is
private-in no sense public) shall re~
ceive tho colored man in his establish
ment on q footing with the white oiti.
zen. faat is .EtIff ra.H ,~vg
'Y..s&n .t-----4---rs. % .~----------- ,,....
a DUEL NEAR SAvANnAM,--The
Savannah Aavcriiser says that a
party of four gentlemen arrived in
that city last Thursday evening, from
an interior town on the line of the
Central Railroad, not far from Sayan.
nah. Friday morning, bright and
early, found thom across the river on
the Carolina side, where two shots
were exchanged, one Of the principa 10
receiving severe flesh wound in he
shoulder. Ile was attended by a phy.
sican Ct Savannah, and was able, TO-
gether with the entire party, to leave
on the night train. The matter was
kept wonderfully quiet until I'LL was
ever. Both gentleman are pretty
well kaown in Savannah. Tho diff.
Guilty ORC mated from private quar-.
rcil.