The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-02-24
ARKANSAS DEFEATED CIVIL RIGHTS.

LITTLE ROCK, Feb IT, 1873.
The defeat Of the important move on the part Of
the coored members Of the Legislature has already
been telegraphed you. On Friday, February 7, Mr..
Dawson, q colored member Of the State Senate,
managed to get civil rights bill through that
body. The bill provided that the co0red people
should have equal accommodations with the white
on steamboats, and cars, &C.; that they should not
be refused accommodation at any hotel. drink at
any bar nor meals at any eating house; that the
cOlored children should be admitted to the same
schools as the white children, and various minor
details The penalties were fixed at $500 for
each offence, one-half to 60 to the State and
the other to the individual aggrieved. On Mon.
day, the 10th, the bill came up on its third
reading in the House and the week was spent in
debates pro and con, and at last was, on Friday,
the 18th, voted upon. Some OF the colored men,
bers became eloquent in defence Of the bill, and
Copeland, one OF their number made q telling
speech Evidently unexpectedly to the colored
gentlemen many of the prominent republicans op-
posed the bill, basing their arguments principally
the TACT that it unconstitutional for legis-
lative body to legislate what any man should do
with his private property. e., hotels, restaurants
dc.-inasmuch as they, having paid for licenses, had
complied with all the requirements OF the
reason that the so children Should By mingled
as the blacks had already as coed schools as
the whites, ana what more could be desired One
OF them said also that he objected to one-haf the
penalty going to the person aggrieved, saying that
under this clause man might make IL very profit
able TO go abouS getting aggrieved. They were in
favor OF bi and would vote for 1t, giving the
coored people equal accommodations for their
money ON all public conveyances. Several OF them
Thought that the passage OF this bill would be
hrebrand thrown among the people OF the State
and that the result would be felt in the next cleo
ton, as, II the DISTINGUISHING clauses in the con.
siitution were done away with, the republicans
would stand u bad show in the next campaign
less they legislated wisely. The democrats, as
body were against the bill.
An incident occurred on Thursday evening
which, doubtless, had more or less influence on
the result. Furbush, cOlored member OF the
House, went into restaurant under the Metro
politan Hoel and called for something to cat. The
waiter told him to come back in an hour or so and
he would have 1t ready. Furbush, thinking that
this was equivalent to refusing him. got into an
alteration with the waiter and struck him; sub
sequently, on the proprietor appearing, he made
luuge at him, and, missing him, ran his fist into
stone wall. The result was Mr.. Furbush was
next morning and fined SIS for his amusement.
1t was estimated by lobbyists that the bill would
pass by one vote, but two OF the members who had
declared their intention of not voting were in
duced to do so and voted against the bill. The
vote stood 81 for and 80 against
new bill will probably be brought up this
week, free from the obnoxious clauses, and will
pass. The colOred members were very much dis
appointed In some OF their republican friends who
Indignation on the floor OF the House. They also
told the democrats before the vote was taken that
they would oppose every measure they brought up
unless tLis bill passed.