New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-12-26
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Congress, Of all Parties:
INSPECTED SIEs: We are apgricvrd II
pelng lnvidiously prescribed. In keepin
win proper seli-respect we protest, protes
as men, protest as Americans. against III
continuance of such prescription. There
turtner justification for our protest. inasp1uc
as the Injustice is contrary to the profession
| the declarations, and the Constitution of th
government. The Government must eithe
ool!terate its declaration, abolish its Constj
| luton, be stamped as fraud, or see that it
nchoiest citizen is protected in equality be
tVre ihe law. We are not thus protected
shal, our lair nation be stamped as frau,
aug humble itself disgracefully, to appease al
unholy prejudice 30! As Americans W,
| protest against it.
Fortunately, under the progress Of ciyiliza
ton, we have not to argue either the iustic,
or the constitutionality of our demands
| Both are conceded.
| Inc people III their late national c0nyep
ton, which assembled at PHILADELPHIA y,
CINCINNATI, andat Baltimore, affirmed that We
as well as all other citizens should be pro
| tected in equality before the law. The peo
pie IN the late election ratified this declara.
ton. We may say both parties assented tc
me same without opposition. The party
which sways the majority in the land, and
whIch Is IN control, have pledged its faith, in
the language of the third resolution adopted
oy the Philadelphia convention, that this re-
SUIT should be completely secured, saving
Complete liberty and exact equality in 1Rc
enjoyment of all civil, political, and public
rights should be established and ehectually
maintained throughout the Union bv efficient
anu appropriate State and Federal legislation
Neither the law nor its administration sbould
ADMIT Of any discrimination in respect of citi-
zehs ny reason of race, creed, color, or pre-
vIous condition of servitude,u
The chief officer of the country. placed in
power by this party, has frequently assured
US OF ms sympathy with our wrongs, and de-
clared himself in favor of such legislation as
would abolish all discrimination among all
ciuzchs, and secure to all their equal, civil,
political. and public rights.
Inc Philadelphia Convention said in SUBJ
stance to Congress, then on the eve of adj.
lournment, DO not ad journ until all citizens
are secured by appropriate legislation in their
civil rights" In the face Of these pledges
are we to be outraged much longer? Shall!
we d;strust?
The nights we ask to be nationally protect
Ell IN are fully secured to us in some portions
OF inc land-portions as moral, as intelligent
ana IN every manner as high toned as any
other-with no evil consequences. without
opposition. In other portions our rights in
the management OF public instruction, in inns.
anu by common carriers, and otherwise. are
OUTRAGED. Although the Constitution she.
cihcaliy guarantees the right of IAN impair
tai JURY to all the people, we arc in many
parts OF the Union denied this right. Though
In common law, and according to constitu-
tlonal principles, inns and common carriers
are bound to serve the public convenience.
and not inv!dously, we vet do not thus
ENJOY such public accommodation. The pub
lie schools, supported in common by funds
taken alike from our and other citizens pock.
cts, are made instruments of our degradation.
Our tender children are taught by separate
schools that they are not so good as other
children. White children are taught bv
white schools that colored children are in
Terror and are to be despised. Such are the
debasing results Of the separate school svs-
tenn.
When we fought to save the nation. and
subsequently, when we deposited ballots,
laying aside bullets, it was not to perpetuate
TINS disgrace; therefore, we beg you to re-
lcye us from it. Let this Congress do SO be-
fore it shall adjourn. Let the incoming Con-
gress be not hurthened with our wrongs, but
be free to attend to the material interests of
the people.
whereas as q. class. in the interest of
slavery, we have been outraged; and where
as legislation is needed to counterfeit the
same, to educate the people, to respect our
rights; it is
Resolved, That we call on Congress TO en-
force by appropriate legislation in accordance
with the Constitution, and in the interest of
freedom, respect for our civil and political
rights as citizens Of the United States.
Resolced, That when Government, based
on nf oil and 90
equal allegiance, Furnishing alike ali for vi
olation of its laws, assumes to educate the
people, it should be not as classes, not in
vidiously, not with any prescribing arrange
ments tending to degrade one class of citi-
gems in the estimation of another; but in
schools where every child may strive beside
his fellow for honorable emulation, with the
consciousness that he is not regarded by
Government regulation because of his race,
or color, or for any other accidental circum-
stance as unfit to associate with any other
child of the commonwealth.
Resolred, That inasmuch as the Constitu-
ton specifically declares that all persons are
entitled to an impartial jury, it is therefore
the legitimate right of Congress to make such
appropriate legislation as will secure all per-
sons the benefit of this just and wise provis-
ion.
Resolcea, That that is not an impartial jury
which is constituted to the exclusion Of any
person on account of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.
Resolved, That our right to enjoy the privi-
leges furnished by common carriers and pub
lie inns is SO clearly admitted in common law,
and as our Constitution forbids any discrimi-
nation based on color, race, or previous con-
dition of servitude in the enjoyment Of the
rights and privileges as citizens, is so we'll
knowE, we do not feel that more than the
mere citation to those disposed to deal justly
by us of tho fact that we are Disseminated
against because Of our race and color by inn
Keepers and by common carriers, is necessary
to cause the needed legislation to secure us
against the injustice.
Resolued, That while We hold it as prin-
ciplc that no one of our rights, however triv-
ial, should be disregarded with impunity be-
cause it sets an example for a disregard of
another, even it may be to the forcing into
our social circles those We would not have
there-an outrage we would oppose with
force-still we give prominence to the fact
that we are prescribed in the management OF
public institutions, and in the impanneling
of juries and that we desire appropriate
lao,cl atiOn nv COnpress to secure us in these