Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-09-17
v RIGHTS BILL.
Social Equality.

- Judge Gillenwaters in his late expose
gof Mr.. Buffers record on the Civil Rights
Bill Gays the purpose of the bill is to
force social equality upon us by law.
This is telling the thing as it is. The
bill evidently takes from hotel-keerers,
managers Of theatres and places of public
amuscmehts, conductors of railroads and
trustees and teachers in schools, all control
over their guests, patrons, passengers and
public teaching. their social relations.
Nothing can be done in these places
by those in authority, which recognize a
difference in race or color. Under this
bill, race and color must totally be ig-
nored, totally disregarded, and all must
be os one race and one color. The bill
must mean social equality or moth.
ing. And this is so not only in the
mixed school features, but also and more
particularly in the part regulating
railroads, theatres and hotels. Here is
what q leading colored delegate said in
the cclored convention at Nashville,
April 2Srd, 1874. mu
'Political demagegues had said that
the bill tcas not enforcing equality. If
1did not he Mould sptrni il. No invidious
distinction should be made between tho
two races. The colored people should be
granted the privilege Of going to places Of
amusements and sitting where the white
people did. and: not in che galleries, &c.
These rights we're what they were enti~
stled to end demanded
But Dir. Butler says in bis late printed
speech. Il see nothing 10 tho bill except
the mixed school features, but what the
-'colorcd people are now entitled to, and
are enjoying under the constitution and
laws Of the country, "seo bis speech, Page
9th. II social equality on railroad trains
IN hotels and the like, is already the law
Of the land. if the constitution and the
laws fixes this equality, why did Mr..
Butler vote for. this bill in Congress, in
June 1872, The record shows that he
votes to take this bill-the Sumner Civil
Rights Bill-as amended and passed by
the Senate from the speakers table, and
afterwards voted to pass the same. Why
did he want the bill if such was already
the law, This dodge won't do. The fact
is-we have no such law, and Mr.. Butler
should not attempt to delude the people
and get them to endorse this bill and bis
record under such false pretenccs. Let
the people know the truth, Judge Gillen.
waters is right, and every school>boy in
the land can see it and know it. If the
constitution and laws already gives til!
equality in hotels, on railroad trains, 60
tsen Mr.. Buffers speech is not a speech
against equality in these respects, moi
sgsins. equality in hotels, our churches
theatres, &c. bu. simply against equalit,
I'm schools But how does or can the con
.sstsdtica give e~gasiity in hotels &C., ant
Z uet In common schools? How can ",
make this distinction from any genera
principle settled in the constitution. Th,
= fact is tho constitution has nothing to ..dc
1pwith it except to prohibit sues informed.
ling with domestic and social relations. 1
is also worthy of remark that Gle portion
fixing equality in hotels Or cars &c. is IL
many respects the worst feature Of th'
bill. We can avoid mixed schools
iftlle worst comes to the worst, by sim.
by refusing 10 patIcuiEo thcm, but how