New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-18

ets OF all. Let private schools be maintained
- PARTIES are willing to pay for them, but
let the public or common schools be omen for
az, and II the associations therein be mo-;
aeosettier agreeable, set il down 70 the
'""iatter OF the Government and iustitu-
IONS ana AVOID the disagrecablc fact, If YOU
must, not by outraging the rights of Others
ONT by paying for private school.
ms view Is independent of the fact that
inc constitution says that mo State shall
make or enforce any law which shall abridge
,he privileges or immunitIes OF ctizeus Of the
nited States" aud that .sNo State shall
"epiiNe any person Of life, liberty and prop
cry without due process Of law, nor DENY
10 any persons within its jurisdiction the
equal protection Of the laws" and that
congress shall have power to enforce the
same by appropriate legislation"
IL - an abridgement OF the privileges
OF n citizen to say he shall not, because
OF ms race or color, elect as TO the COM
mon school he shall go 10. subject. of
course, TO such general regulations as
are not inyidious in their character, and
are made to apply alike to all citizens. 1t is
depriving citizen Of his property to say he
snail not enjoy, unless under humiliatino
conditions, the right of ownership in common
o! the public school, he owning and paving
for it in common. The citizen is entitled to
whatsoever belongs to him, and is not bound
10 accept an equivalent. II is not an equal
protection Of the laws to keep person from
iull enjoyment of his propertyor to force him
to accept what another party may regard as
an equivalent. This same argument applies
to the constitution Of jures, and We shall
apply II in considering whether Congress has
not The right to secure to any citizen the
benefit OF an impartial jury OF his peers.
The fact that Federal legislation has been
had and acquiesced in, and judicial decisions
nave enforced the same, establishing the
theory that the National Government NAV
in,erposc and regulate the judiciary, Of re-
straning them from prescribing citizens
because of their race or color, as for instance,
actions had under the present existing civil
rights laws which regulate the receiving of
testimony, shows that the power exists to
protect us from the injustice Of which we
complain, as to
COMMON CARRIERS AND HOTELS,
public places and the like. 1t may protect
us in our common school rights and in iury
rights. This is Endorsed by the Republican
party, by which our worthy President was
elected, which in its platform said: Conn
plete liberty and exact equality in the en-
loymcnt OF all civil, political, and public
rights should be established and effectually
maintained throughout the Union BY efficient
and appropriate State and Federal lcgisla-
ton 1t is not complete liberty and exact
equality TO be compelled to go to prescribed
school or TO be tried by jury from which
every Individual of the class to which the
party belongs is excluded because they are
of that class.
Inc Eepubhcan party now III power SAYS
there should he efficient and appropriate
State Federal legislation against the same.
It is quite significant that the opponents of
the Republican party in the Presidential cam
Nass went into it with a platform which, as
TO civil rights, was opposed to this position
OF the Republicans, and in all subsequent
elections in which the Democrats have added
everything they could think of to represent
the Republican party in the most odious light, |
referring TO credit mobilier, back pay, and
other things. They did not think it would
be polite and effective in arousing indigna-
ton against the party to make the platform
OF the party as to civil rights, committing it
10 Federal action subject of condemnation.
In making this appeal we expect at the
hand OF our own party favorable response,
which hope is increased by manifestations by
parties who have hitherto bitterly opposed
us. May we not hcscech such to fullg frater- |
nEr with our friends
The chairman of the finance committee
called the attention Of the convention to the
fact that debt Of 5000 had been contracted
as the running expenses of the convention,
and there was still 500 wanted TO make up
the amount.
The Arkansas delegation being unable to
remain longer in attendance on the conven-
ton were given permission 10 withdraw and
return to their homes.
The question of finances was again taken
up for consideration, and the roll called, in
In oil hn, IL al 10 Il
paid the assessment of 81 to be used in pay
ing the expenses of the convention.
The collection realized $3.50.
The unfinished business, the resolution
from the committee on civil rights, was taken
up for consideration and discussion.
Speeches were made by Messrs. Syphax,
of the District Of Columbia Sumner, of Mis-
sissippi; Lewis, of Louisiana Harlan, of
Ohio; and Burch, of Louisiana.
Mr.. Gray. of Miss, moved that the con-
vcntion adjourn sine die at s O'Clock; laid on
the table.
The convention then adjourned until $50
O'Clock.
EVENING SESSION.
Wee President Downing, of Rhode Island,
called the convention to order at 7:30 O'Clock,
when
Mr. Bmch, of La, resumed his argument
rights, strongly supporting the report and
asking for its adoption.
Mr.. Gray, of Miss, was called to the
chair.
Mr.. Helm, of KY, spoke briefly i'll advoc-
acy of the report.
Mr.. Martin, of the District OF Columbia,
advocated the adoption Of the report, and on
the expiration of the time allowed him to
speak several motions were made to extend
his time fifteen minutes longer.
The report of the committee on address to
Congress was next adopted.
The chairman of the committee on finance
reported that $500 had been collected
the expenses of the convention were S2G5. so,
leaving a deficiency Of Sl0C.l0.
HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL ASSo-
CITATION.
Mir. Ruby of Texas, from the committee
on historical and industrial statistics offered
the following resolution
Eesolced, That this convention, represent
ing rs it does, so large a majority of the
states in the Union, conceive this to be
proper time to create q national historical
and statistical association, for the purpose
herein set forth, having its membership
throughout each State, wherein NAV be
gathered all such facts, historical and statisti-
cal, in relation to the negro race i'll America,
for the reference OF all who desire 10 know