Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-02-16
The Civil Rights Bill.
DISCUSSION IN THE SENATE.

| rights bill and the proposed amendment
by Senator Carpenter of Wisconsin.
Mr.. Carpenter said that the difference
between this and Mr.. Summers bill was
in his points, first the substitute omitted
all reference to churches, and second it
based the right Of federal interference
upon the fact that the institutions were
supported at the public expense and,
not as Summers bill did upon the more
fact on incorporation.
Mr.. Norwood argued against Mr.. Sum-
ners amendment as unconstitutional
and calculated TO nulify the laws of sew
eral States prohibiting the intermarriage
of blacks and white. He thought Mr..
Carpenters substitute also unconstitu.
tional and would use his vote against
both amendments on background.
Mr.. Wilson said he would vote for Mr..
Summers amendment just because it,
went so far, and in the clear and most
positive manner made all distinctions on
account of color illegal in the United
States. The question of intermarriage
raised by Mr.. Norwood had been settled
in Massachusetts thirty years ago. That
State had repealed her law on the sub
ect at that time, and all the predictions
of dreadful results to follow had signal
ly failed. A great deal had been said
for years, about the superiority of the
white race and marked distinction be-
tween whites and blacks, but everywhere
abundant evidence was to be seen that
those distinctions had often been disre-
| garded. He wished to see all laws based
on the difference of race abolished as
unchrstian, inhuman and undemocratic.
Mr.. Pomeroy hoped that the people
of Georgia and other States could be
trusted to choose wives and husbands
without the interference of any law
He objected to the phrase used by Mr.
Wilson. "The different races of men,"
He knew of but one race-the human
race.
Mr.. Anthony hoped that Mr.. Sumner
would accept Mr.. Carpenters amend
ment exempting churches from the bill.
He would vote to give the colored people
all civil rights, but would not vote for
bill comforting or denying or in any way
interfering with religious rights.
Mr.. Sumner advocated his own bill
and called Mr.. Carpenters substitute an
emasculated SYNONYM, whose original
was strong and complete. He objected
especially to the omission from the sub
stitute Of the provision of enforced ad-
mission of colored citizens to the jury
box. The Senator (Carpenter) had at
tempted to distinguish between the right
to testify and the right to sit as juror.
He (Sumner) cared not whether right to
sit as Juror was political or civil
right. it was enough for him to know it
was right, to which all men were en-
titled by the law of nature and constitu-
ton of the United States as interpreted
by the Declaration of Independence. He
saw that Senator Carpenter smiled-he
always smiled when the Declaration was
mentioned.
Mr.. Carpenter-It was smile of ap-
probation. (Laughter.)
Mr.. Sumner-Very well, but not con-
tent with striking at colored citizens in
the temple of justice, the Senator insists
upon a distinction in the church. A
distinction however in which is not orig
inal, for he has been anticipated by Rev.
Petroleum V. Nasby, who reports his
congregation as having sung on certain
occasion, the hymn, "Sball niggers black
this land possess and mix with US up
here"
Mr.. Carpenter-I wish the Senator
would state when l ever derided the dec
laration of Independence.
Mr.. Sumner-I am coming to that.
Mr.. Sumner then quoted remarks by
Calhoun, Choate and Andrew johnson
on the subject and said Mr.. Carpenter in
speech in April, 1870, had spoken OF
the principles set forth in the declara-
ton as the generalities of that revolution
airy pronunciamento. He referred to
this with great reluctance.
Mr.. Carpenter-I hope the reluctance
is not on my account Laughter.)
Mr.. Sumner-When the Senator spoke
last on this subject, however, it was no
longer revolutionary pronunciamento.
Mr.. Carpenter-Oh yes it is, l stand
by that. glory in that revolutionary
pronunciamento and in all that revolu.
tionary history of ours.
Mr.. Edmunds-Then you ought to
give some effect to it.
Mr.. Sumner-The Senator SAYS be
glories in it. Then let him give it some
effect. hope he won't take it all out
in glory. l hope that he will see that
some of it is transferred into human
rights.
Mr. Carnantar-Yas oil that Ia non.