New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-10-30

Congress believe that colored men do not
desire the bin passed. Their petitions pray.
ing for its passage have burdened Congress,
while no counter petition has been heard Of,
and no one knows this better than Professor
Langston. Were the American people q
pack of fools when they, In the late election,
elected President Grnnt and the present
Congress with this issue Of civil rights made
most prominent? Did they not understand
what they were doing? Did they not In pro-
posing legislation as to civil rights realize the
Importance Of such legislation and accept
its legality ?" How are we to account
for the gentleman's inexplicablc conduct I?
Night he not have served the party without
being super serviceable, without intimating
in the manner he does that we should as
American citizens rely on the common law
for protection in our civil rights and not ask
for a statute law? Is it not what the enc.
my is saying? Is it not strange, especially
as it is fact that the party he is defending
is pledged TO maintain that complete liberty
and exact equality in the enjoyment of all
civil, political, and public rights should be
established and eGectually maintained
throughout the Union by official and appro-
pirate State and Federal legislation" which
of course means that We arc not to rely en-
tirely On the common law, that Congress
should enact civil rights law. 1t is not
passing strange, for he knows that the con-
stitution Of the land says, "No State shall
make or enforce any law which abridge the
privileges and immunties of citizens Of the
have power to enforce the same by appro-
pirate legislation" which it can do only by
enacting civil rights laws. Yes, in the face
of the above provision Of the constitution
adopted because we are and have been out
ragged, because In the light Of American
history seemingly, black men have had no
rights white men are bound to respect. Mr..
Langston inquiries, why not rely on the com.
mon law for protection in our civil right, and
not ask for Federal legislation? Does the
gentleman forget that the common law on
which he would have US rely is older than
the fugitive slave law, more venerable than
the DredScott decision, more hoary than the
ten thousand outrages to which the colored
people have been subjected in this country,
more ancient than the splitting in the face he
has endured for being negro? Does he not
know that the common law has not protected
him in this country, "as Others" from dis
regard Of his rights? and that there is no
incompatability between the proposed law,
and the common law? Was 1t not surprising
that Prof. Langston, one Of the shamefully
outraged, should talk Of patience, of waiting,
Of having regard for the prejudices of our
oppressOrs, and for him to put the same for
word as justifying non-action. Is it square
work for him to proclaim that intelligent
colored men are opposed to the abolition OF
caste in the management Of public instruc-
ton? How does this harmonize with his
frequent declaration, say it is the wish of the
colored people to have prescribed schools
abolished? Was it not unfortunate that he
should put it in the mouth Of the enemy
that the colored people are questioning
whether Senator Summers bill does not 60
too far in protecting our civil rights?
Would he have Senator Sumner bill embrace
less than the Republican party is pledged to
enact into law? All mnst conclude that the
speech is altogether surprising, especially as
emanating from negro.
There is much dissatisfaction among the
colored people about the distribution of
Office. The Professor himself has said he ia
not satisfied in this respect, he has said the
cOlored people were not properly recognized
in the distribution of office. l would be
more concerned about the possession of office
by colored men if did not observe in too
many cases that success in this respect was
followed by decrease in active interest on
the part of the few lucky ones (who are gen.
orally from the more intelligent,) as to
whether the rights of the masses are cared
for or not. AS fear, Mr.. John NJ. Langs-
ton will be frequently quoted at most
unfortunate times against the passage of Mr..
Summers civil rights bill feel called on
to criticize, but, with no unkind feeling, the
Professors unfortunate speech. Let him
serve the party; let him serve himself, but the
people must not be sacrificed! If We allow our
selves to he used, it must not be against
justice and the race we arc identified with In
being outraged as q class. W.