Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1872-01-04
ALETTER FROM PROFESSOR
LANGSTON.

AANOO4VN.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL, &c.
HOWARD UNIVERSITY,
. Law DEPARTMENT,
Washington, D. c., Dec. 26, 1871. J
To the Editor Of III. Chronicle
In so far forth as your article is
an Endorsement of Mr.. Summers
supplementary civil rights bill it
has my cordial approval. In SO far
forth as you would teach in this
article, either by word or inference,
that anything, even education, as
ordinarily understood, is to precede
the possession and enjoyment OF
civil rights, as defined and described
in the bill of Mr.. Sumner, I cannot
agree with you. Indeed, the color
ed man cannot be educated in any
proper sense, however numerous
may be the school-houses to which
he is invited however bountiful
the school endowment put within
his reach, however admirable the
school system in accordance with
the methods of which it is proposed
to educate him, if he is not made to
feel in the common school, the
academy, the college, and the pro-
fessional school, that his manhood,
his civil and social rights, are re-
cognized and respected. This GER
tainly is true OF an American
whether white or black. To attempt
the education of a person in the
midst of q tolerated and justified
system of caste, is sure to dwarf
rather than draw out and make
useful his powers. 1t leads one so
far to feel himself inferior to those
of the dominant class in the midst
of whom he moves, as too often to
accept patronizing treatment for a
recognition of his manhood and his
rights to accept edibles kindly
given from a basket, while he fails
to make demand of suitable recog-
milton of his rights at the public
hotel. fear that the colored man,
of whom you speak so highly in
your article, has in a large measure
lost his manhood, and in conse-
quence of the very thing of which I
speak. a-F
I would have no colored man
"thrust" himself upon "white
people" I would have white people
and black stand upon the same
legal level. And, as far as colored
men are educated, learned, virtuous,
and influential, I would have them
recognized and treated legally and
socially according to their worth.
Otherwise, education, learning, vir-
tue, and influence possessed by
colored persons, must be considered
nigh valueless, while they render
their possessor sensitive to neglect
and abuse, and thus ever unhappy.
While, then, I would have our
schools in the North and in the
South largely endowed by grants
Of public lands and the judicious
expenditure of large sums of money
from the national and State trea-
suries, I would first of all have
Summers supplementary civilrights
bill passed by Congress, and I be- |
lieve that it is the duty of all Re
pubicans, as it is the duty of all |
colored men in this country, to in
'ist upon its passage and enforce
nent without delay. e
1 am glad that this matter is be-
ore the country for consideration
md decision. Let the Republican
party crown its noble work Of our
Emancipation and enfranchisement
With the passage of Summers sup
Elementary civil rights bill, a bill
containing a full recognition Of our
egal rights. With sentiments of
highest consideration, yours truly, !
JOHN NJ. LANGsroN.