New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-04-04
Items from Mississippi.
Civil Rights Bill.

Items from Mississippi.
Civil Rights Bill.
VICKsBURa, Miss, March "a, 1872.
To The Editor Of the Nesc National Era:
The question of civil rights having been
agitated by that noble patriot and lifelong
friend of justice, Senator Charles Sumner, it
was taken up two weeks ago in our Legisla-
ture. Senator Gray introduced a resolution
in the Senate when Mr.. Summers bill was
before Congress requesting our entire dele
CATION in Congress to vote for his bill, but it
was defeated. Feeling disguised and cha
grined at the treason of professedly Republi-
cans, civil rights bill for this State, embo-
dying all the features of Mr.. Summers bill,
excepting the portion relating to churches,
was introduced in the House two weeks ago,
and was passed by strict party vote. 1t
went to the Senate and it was also passed on
Tuesday last by party vote. The bill now
goes to the Governor for his signature, and
we are assured God be praised for it) that he
aciu sign IL! We sympathize with our friends
in other less favored States; but let them
remember, and act upon the fact, that negroes
will, hereafter, have full and complete rights
in the State of Mississippi. Do not suffer
yourselves to accept seats in smoking cars
for your wives and children nor to go pining
around depot for fear Of not being accom-
modated in the meanest hotel; nor to be
placed in the kitchen or on the deck of steam
boats plying the waters of any State for fear
OF being molested or attacked by some ruff
fan; nor to be assigned to some particular
seats near the clouds, or down near the warm
regions, in any place of public amusement !;
but act like men--citizcns of common coun-
try-and the penalty for violating the provi-
sions of this bill is so great that no one con-
cerned will do so if you are determined to
enforce your rights.
We have had bill of this kind on the
statute books relating to railroads and steam
boats only; but, am ashamed to say it, our
leading men have been too slow to demand
their rights on them. All, however, with
whom l have spoken are determined to de-
mand what is due them, and will hereafter
assert their rights on all proper occasions.
My skirts, however, are clear of this derelic-
ton of duty, as have on all occasions, when
not smoking, taken seats in first-class cars.
and have never been interrupted. A.. w.
Shadd, Esq, informs me that the same is
also true of himself.
ALCORN UNIVERSITY.
1t may seem too bad to your able CORE
spondent, and my friend, Don Carlos, ;" after
writing such brilliant notice of the above
institution only two weeks ago, to be told
that, on yesterday, a bill passed the House
of Representatives killing the University as a
State institution for colored young men But
such is the fact, and the bill will immediately
pass the Senate, and will be signed by the
Governor. II is true, as he stated, that the
institution was pet scheme of Ex-Governor
Alcorn, but many Of Alcorn's schemes are
falling to the ground. The Legislature OF
1871 passed an act establishing this insttu.
ton, and appropriated fifty thousand dollars
annually for the next ten years to its support
Many Of the prominent colored men of the
State objected to it as an extrayagant appro.
priation, and establishing precedent which
we were working hard to break down-,ba,
OF separate institutions for the races. We
have an University at Oxford supported bv
similar appropriation, to which thew fell
colored youths should be admitted when thew
desire it. And the plans for abolisbinu Al.
corn University have been laid deeply. and
it seems that they have now been carried nm,
successfully. The bill which abolisbes Al.
corn, also provides for the admission of col.
ored youths into Oxford, under the penalty
of the withdrawal of the State appropriation
if the trustees refuse them. These are the
great strides the Legislature has made with.
in the last two weeks towards equal rights.
The appropriation of fifty thousand dollars
annually heretofore given to Alcorn, is, here
after, to be divided between five Norma
schools to be established in the State fol
students without distinction of race; and the
buildings used at present for the above Uni
versity are to be used for one of the schools
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Of the State are established on an equal basis
for all races, and it does not seem right thai
distinctions should be made in the higher
schools. AS general thing, however, there
are separate schools throughout the State 70,
the white and colored children. This is done
not as an established principle, but merely
from usage. With this exception, they arr
the best Of all the Southern States. There
are over three thousand public schools in The
State in actual existence, and over one mil
lion Of dollars collected from taxes during
the last year for their support. There art
about fifty now in operation in this count,