The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-10-26
SENATIooIn. SUMNER.
Letter to the C0lOred Convention
in Columbia, $. c.
The Massachusetts, Senator on Social Equality
The Great Boon for the Colored Race Their
Rights in Schools and at the Ballot Box
Sharp Thrust at the St. Domingo Job.
WASHINGTON, d. c., or. rs, 1871.

WASHINGTON, ID. C., OFT %. 1871,
The following letter from Senator sumner was
read at the convention OF colored .nen at Columbia
S. G., on Monday
DEAR SIR am glad uiat our colored fellow eli
zens are TO have a Convention OF their own. So
any way, on account OF color they viii naturally
meet together III order 10 find proper remedy, and
since you kindly invite me TO communicate with the
Convention make bold to offer few brlei sugges
tons.
In the first place. You must at all times insist upon
your rights, aud here mean not only these already
accorded, hut others still denied, all OF which are
contained IN equality before the law Wherever the
equal rights. How much remains to be obtained
you know too well In the experience OF liie Can u
respectable colored citizen travel on steamboats, or
railways or public conveyances generally without
insult on account OF colory Let Lieutenant Cover
nor Dunn, of Louisiana, describe ms Journey from
proper accommodation in the cars the doors OF the
Senate Chamber opened TO him. aud there he found
med. Let our excellent trend Frederick Douglass
relate his melancholy experience, when, within
from the dinner table where his brother Commits
siOners were already seated. You know the out
rage. might ask the same question with regard to
hotels, ana even common Schools A Motel is legal
institution, and so is common school. As such
each must pe for the equal benefit OF all. Now eau
there be any exclusion from either on account
Of COLOR II is not enough 10 provide separate
commodations Tor cOlored citizens, even II In all
respects good as those OF other persons Equality
is not found IN an equivalent but only in equaiiy.
In other words. there must be no discrimination on
account OF color. The discrimination Is an insult
ana hindrance and Il bar, winch not only destroys
comfort and prevents equality, but weaEcns all
other rights.
when your equal right In public conveyances, hotels
and common schools IS at last established; but here
you must insist Tor yourselves 10y speech, by petit
ton ana by VOTE Help yourselves and others Will
help YOU also. The Civil Rights law needs sup
apparent from the beginning, aud for a long time
have strven to remove IT, have blll Tor this par
pose now pending In the Senate Will not my col
ored fellow citizens see that those IN power shall no
longer postpone this essential safeguard surely
here is an object worthy OF effort
Nor has the republican party done Its work until
tins Is established. l. 1t not better to establish all
our own people in The enjoyment OF equal rights be-
fore we seek to bring others within the sphere OF
our institutions TO be treated like Frederick Douglas
was on his way TO the President rom 81. DomingoS
1t is easy 60 that small part OF the means the
energy aud the determined will spent In the expe-
diton TO ST. Domingo and In the prolonged war
dance about that sland, with menace 10 the BLACK
fellow citizens IN the enjoyment or equal rights OF
this there can be no doupt.
must be Insisted on must be equality side BY side
with the alphabet It IL IN vain TO teach equality II
great words OF the Declaration OF Independence II
You do not make them living reality. What Is
ballot box so must all be equal al the common
school. Equality In the common school Is the pre-
paraton FOL equality at the ballot box therefore do
! put tins among the essentials OF education.
In asserting your own rights you VIII not fail to
insist upon justice TO all, under which Is necessarily
included purity IN The government Thieves and
money Changers, whether democrats OF republic
cans, must be driven out OF temple. TamInany
Hall and republican seli.seekers must be- over
thrown. There should I've pRc for either.
Thank God good men are now coming 10 the
rescue Let them, while uniting against corruption
insist upon equal rights Tor all also the suppress.
sion OF lawless Violence Wherever 10 shows Itself,
whether IN the ku kiux Khan outraglng The south
or Illicit undertakings ouiraging the black republic
OF Hayti,
TO these inestimable objects add specie payments
MI Harm u4 hon 1ffltf I'm
ceptei by the American people. Win not our
colored fellow citizens begin this good work. Let
them ut the same time save themselves and save
ths country. These are ony hints which submit
10 The Convention, hoping that It's proceedings Will
tend especially TO the goc Vi The cooIed race. Ac-
cept my thanks aud hest wishes, and believe me
faithfully yours, CHARLES SUMNER.