New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-11

VOL. III.-NO. AZ
their boys, and that without tolerating from
any source, however high in Republic, die
tation. The three classes named, have no
demand upon you; had no more at the start
than you had: the last particularly you made,
and altogether, as you give them material to
get up" strike you down, and through you
cripple the Government. Nothing should
make us forget class ties, and common in
terest. A little quiet determination to be
sustained by whites and negroes, or to stop
buying from them; little decisive action a
good deal of purpose among leading men to
work some for your benefit, instead of help
ing white men and women, who never were
able to own any body, up into places they
know not how worthily to fill, and to use col
ored people for their benefit, would make
difference in the long run and colored boys
would have some rights that others were
bound to respect.
The poor of all countries make their money;
their labor is needed; they spend itwithout
tolerating dictation; your money, when earn
ed, is yours, your labor is needed. The for
'eigner ships part Of his wealth. to Europe to
keep up old dynasties, or to import others of
his race, who aid in expressing you. Yours
remains in the country, and aids the white
man to strengthen his hand, in the unright-
eous fight against your people, and the exclu-
sion of your sons.
Proclaim policy and stick to it like grim
death. -....
MARY A. SHADD CARY.
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 2, 1872.
To the Editor Of the Ne~ National Era:
We were very much pleased to see in your
last issue that D. A. S. has moderated his
language very much, if not his opinion, with
reference to the case of Davis VS.. Washing
ton and Georgetown Railroad Company. We
find in his last communication no such words
as "Disgraceful!" insulting!" by which his
first was characterized. For this moderation
we feel disposed to commend him; but we
could have done so much more heartily if he
had said that the whole article was based
upon misconception of the facts. D. A. S.,
in his first article, tells us, in effect, that col
ored men, who rendered such a verdict, have
have no appreciation of the value of educa-
ton among their race. Again he says: $50
long as necks are not broken, or some limb
fractured, any other damage done can be as
sessed by another such jury-four of whom
are colored-and then the company may bet
their bottom dollar on verdict of five cents.'
We are pleased to see that, in his second
communication, these assertions are not reit-
Grated either in language or substance. D.
A. s. says, in his communication in your lost
issue, cit is not my intention to misrepre-
sent Mr.. Syphax in nowise." We accept in
good faith the contrary of the above state
ment, and what the gentleman no doubt
means. FIVE have read D. A. SIS last arti-
Gle Alright, he discusses two immaterial pro-
positions. First: As to whether it is the
province of the judge or jury to decide on the
validity Of transfer at place other than
the junction. Secondly, that do not prove
the justice and wisdom of rendering verdict
of five cents. l quote from my first article !:
IS Mr.. Davis claimed no special damages his
counsel claimed none hence it was only
question as to whether transfer is good only
at the junction. A party gaining suit of
the kind referred to is always entitled to
general damages. According to Judge Bou-
vier, general damages are those which neces-
sarily and by implication of law result from
the act or default complained Of" AS no
special damages were claimed in this case,
general damages became nominal. For this
reason, practically, the only question was as
to the validity of the transfer, and it is wholly
irrelevant whether this question is decided
by the Judge or jury, and no assertion on that
point was made. AS to the second point,
am not to prove that the jury ought to have
returned verdict of five cents damages. 1t
might have been, as d. A. S. suggests, two
cents and half, or it might have been two
dollars and half, or twenty-five dollars. 1
think, however, that I have shown, in my
former communication, that the four respec-
table colored citizens, who were on the jury
in the case referred to, in returning verdict
of five cents, costs, of course, falling on the
defendant, cannot, from the evidence adduced
in the case, be accused justly of being untrue
to their race, or not of approaching the value
of education. Since d. A. S. does not deny
this, the only point in question we shall take
it as granted. AS to special damages, D. A.
S. says, in his first communication, eve had
hoped that the counsel would have laid spe.
cial damages" If Mr.. Davis had any, he
certainly ought to have laid them.
| &. w. M.
| Letter from Florida.
| WARRINGTON. March %. 1879.