The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1871-05-16
ATTEMPT Of the Blacks to Board the
Public Conveyances.
THE RESISTANCE AND QUARREIS


ing in the street cars has increased con.
siderably since the evening Of the
eleventh. They were at first very timid
about entering the cars, but all notions
of modesty were thrown aside on yes
terday. They entered the coaches
quietly and orderly, paid their fare, and
insisted on being conveyed to their places
of destination. Their approach, how
ever, was strange to the driver and the
passengers, and caused many disturb
auces all over the city. Efforts were
always made 10 induce them to leave
the car, but were, in most instances, I'M
successful. No force was used by the
drivers or the officers Of the company to
eject the negroes from the coaches, but
the cars were frequently driven from the
track and allowed to stand there until
the obnoxious company departed. 1t is
remarked that during the whole day
there were fewer arrest than usual,
though at times immense crowds gath
cred around the cars. The negro wants
to ride inside the coach with the white
people, and to this the company object.
The abstract questions OF right and
equality, etc, were much discussed by
all colors, but the officers of the road
have taken the specific and better de-
fined ground that they have the right
to make their own rules, and that they
have made one to the effect that no ne
gro man shall occupy the inside Of the
coach. This rule, they claim, has been
in force from the time the road was
first put into operation. The whole
disturbance seems to have started IN
consequence of the Interpretation put
upon recent decision in the United
States Court relating to this subject.
But it is said that Judge Ballard made
no decision in regard to the right Of a
negro to ride upon street car; that
the question did not come before him
in that shape. The counsel for the rail
road company conceded this point,
and made the question one Of damages.
The negroes, however, have interpre-
ted the matter as terminating in their
favor, and are everywhere asserting
their supposed rights. They begun
yesterday by entering the cars on Sixth
street. The driver demonstrated with
them, but made no effort to eject them.
The coach was pulled from the track
and left standing there until the negros
departed, which in some instances,
was halt an hour. These disturb
ances happened several times
near Sixth and Jefferson streets
Immense crowds gathered around
and no little excitement was
manifested, but in every other respect
all was quiet. Later in the day ne
gro got into car on Preston street, and
two men, not passengers, pulled him out.
In a short time another black man en-
tered the coach at the same place. The
car was drawn to one side, where it re-
manned till the fellow left Some angry
words passed between him and others
who were present, and a good deal OF
excitement prevailed. The police were
on the ground ready to check the first
symptom of disorder. Similar dis
turbances occurred at the same place
several times more during the evening,
and were conducted in the same way,
with the exception Of putting the ne.
groes out. They were not forced to
leave the fears. In Portland likewise
there was a detention, caused by negroes
riding inside. As before, the driver en-
deavored to get rid of his new company,
and not successful, vacated the track
for other coaches. The officers of the
Main street track say that they are
going to fight it out on that line" that
they will not violate a long standing
and time-honored rule for the benetit'of
the favored class. Not so with the
other roads. They object to the new
arrangement, but see no way Of pre-
venting it.
The negroes were asked to leave the
car, but when they did not choose to do
so, the coach moved on its usual way.
Many persons refused to ride, under the
circumstances, and either walked or re-
manned at home. Some persons even
wen; so far as to leave the car. About
10 o'clock last night, several cclored
men entered the Car near Ninth and
Walnut streets, and the driver concluded
to wait until they left it. In a short
while crowds representing blacks and
whites, men, women and children, gath
cred on the corners in such numbers
that the police had to drive them away,
which they did as quietly and peaceabIy
as they could. They dispersed the
white people first and then the negroes.
These gatherings, and throwing cars
from the track, block up the streets and
inconvenience a great many people who
are in no way connected with the dis
pute between the company and the ne
gro. 1t is said that proposition was
made to the colored people offering to
give them separate cars, but that they
refused to accept it. The present order
of things cannot last There must be
some change, and that very soon.
RoBBING CORNER SToNE.-Ihe
Cumberland Daily Ne,rs publishes an