The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-02-18
The .Traitors" in the Senate.


Some of the members of the General AS
sembly appear to have very low estimate
of the duties and responsibilities OF the stand
ing committees OF their body. These COM
mittees are appointed in order that they may
carefully consider both the legality and pro-
priety Of the bills submitted to tine respective
Houses and their reports, in common cour-
tesy, should be treated with at least show
OF respect. 1t is OF course notifying to
an efervescent senator or representative
when it is shown that the offspring of his
brain is q legal nondescript or logical ab-
surdity but wounded pride is no excuse
for denouncing the offending committee as
traitors to the ''sacred cause of Radical Re-
publican liberty" Aud yet indignation
meetings are held, and abusive resolutions
are introduced, because the Senate Judiciary
Committee, in the discharge of its sworn
duties, points out the inconsistencies and
illegalities OF the famous bill ''to enforce the
''provisions of the Civil Rights bill OF the
'Unitcd States Congress, and to secure to
'the people the benefits of a republican
government in this State"
Now, what do the Judiciary Committee
recommend?
First. They recommend that the title of the
bill be changed. and that it be called "a
''bill for the protection Of all persons in
"their civil and political rights" Is there
any crime, any lurking treason, in this sugges-
ton? If so, we fail to see it.
Second. 1t is recommended that certain
sections and parts of sections be stricken
out because they deprive common carriers
Of proper control of their property, be-
cause the punishment imposed for violating
the law is excessive, because they are SUI
perfuous, because they are unconstitu-
tional, or because they are absurd. 1t is
the object of the Judiciary Committee to
prevent The Senate from enacting law
which would be upset by the courts as soon
as test case was made and 10! the vials
of wrath are ruthlessly poured out upon the
bowed heads OF Senator Corbin and his col
leagues. The General Assembly is resolved
to be superhuous, and unconstitutional, and
absurd-the Judiciary Committee ''to the
contrary notwithstanding"
Third The committee recommend that the
section referring to places of amusement
take effect on May 1st next. This isno more
than just. Contracts have been made, and
heavy engagements undertaken upon the
basis OF the law as it now stands. To cause
the bill to go into operation Immediately
will subject innocent persons to serious or
ruinous loss. They are entitled to have
little time given them for their eXtrication
and We cannot see that any class Of persons
will be injured by postponing, for q couple
of months, the active operation of the bill.
No public right or privilege would be en-
dangercd, and private citizens would be
held harmless.
These recommendations are the whole head
and front OF the offending of the committee.
They do not touch the core OF the bill. 1t
stands in full force requiring that equal ac-
commodation shall be given 10 all persons,
without distinction, for the like compensa-
lion or reward, and providing severe penal
ties for infraction of the Jaw. The commit
tee do not weaken the bM. On the contrary,
they strengthen it, by eliminating the illegal
parts, and so modifying the remainder that
it will not interfere with vested rights and pri-
vate property.
The Senate can, of course, reject the report
and pass the original bill; but if they
do they will declare to the country that they
wilfully and wantonly 10 thing which is
pronounced illegal and wrong by the best
lawyers among their number. And if they
trample Oh public law and public right in
one case, they will certainly do it in another
This will be the opinion at the polls in No.
yember