New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-12-25
Col red NenberS To the From;

As far as we have been able to ascertain
We DO not find 4 complete civil rights bill in
the one proposed by General Butler. The
lack of the Jury feature is fatal defect. The
right to tide in cars, to eat at hotels, to laugh
or weep at play in seats no " orse than white
people occupy is but IS bran substituted for
the bread OF life. When coi0red man is on
trial iyr his life it makes all the difference in
the world whether his race has any standing
in court or not. If no black Juror can be
mpanuelled the Witnesses in the case are
mtimIdated from the start. the zeal OF his
lawyer for the defense is cooled BY the
prejud.ccs which prevent a man from being
tried 10y his peers, and even the Partially
Of the judge must weigh against prisoner
who fails TO get his best witnesses. because
Of intimidation aud prescription. /; is no
reply to say the matter Of juries belong to
State cOurts-the fifteenth amendment to
the Constitution has settled that question.
No state has the right to leave the empan
melting OF juries in such han25 or under such
conditions as will put TIE prisoner at the
'bSAN "a IN H~NboS punt anu
If that amendment has to lie so construed as
10 leave the matter with courts and their
officers, the sooner a civil rights bill is passed
to correct the matter the better. Then, too,
General Buffers bill fails to provide a rcmc-
dy against professional prejudices, such as
medical associations and the like, which gain
charters from States, although they may not
get any pccuuiary assistance therefrom.
Some feature should be incorporated in the
bill to aid cur children in learning trades by
refusing the right OF incorporation to trades
unions which exclude Colored men, and some
effort ought to be made to put the burden of
| proof on those who refuse accommodation to
cO!ored men. They should be made to show
that they did not prosecute Us on account Of
color, and not leave us in our poverty, igno-
rance and timidity to substantiate the fact.
| Here is fruitful field for our colored MEM
bers. Every one of them understands the
sting Of prejudice, the disadvantages of pro-
scription, the weakness Of our so-called
friends, and the strength Of our enemies.
Let them address themselves to the great
:
| 1t is useless to talk about the difficulties
Of carrying it out. Lot us get one, and il
the nation is not strong enough to enforce its
own laws, it will be the first instance OF
| failure.
We have contended for representation in
! Congress, and have got it, and at this time
the eyes of the nation are on us TO see what
we will do with our privileges. We have
theirs must be the duty to struggle through
the intricacies Of parliamentary law on to the
clear and open ground Of debate, where they
can do battle for their people. The negro
has furnished his tone to the voice of Con-
gress, and it must be heard any spokesman
for his race is bound to be in earnest, and
in fight OF this sort, the black man must not
retreat single inch.
a convention, composed of the ablest and
best colored men in the nation, has just met
in this city. The dcliverances Of that body
were Clear and comprehensive, but respect
full tn members Of it were all Republicans
the Republican party is in power in both
Houses Of Congress the Democrats even
| have accepted the doctrine OF our civil rights
and il now remains TO be seen if the recon-
mendation of the President is to pass IN
Needed when he asks that the colorcd people
be secured in the full measure Of their free
| dom. Young members to the front.
/