Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1874-08-20

Mr.. Hereford offered the following to test
the sense Of the House on the right Of
Congress to pass such an act. Here is
the preamble and resolution
WHEREAS it is one of the fundamen-
tai principles of ouf form Of Government
that Governments derive their just powers
from the consent of the governed There
fore,
BE il Resolucd, That it would be con>
trary to the Constitution and q %tyranical
~usurpation of power for Congress to force
mi1ed Schools upon the States, and equal.
ly unconstitutional and tyranical for Con.
gress to pass any law interfering with
churches, public carriers or ~inn>keepers,
such subjects Of legislation belonging of
right to the States respectively.
Now here was a full and fair statement
of the question as to the right Of Con-
gress to force mixed schools, social equal
ity and interfere with churches. The
vote was taken and stood Yeas co; Nays
r. r. Butler and IS Others.
Thus he votes against the resolution
thereby saying that Congress has the
right to do all that the Civil Rights Bill
proposes to do. See McPherson's Hand
Book of Politics for 1872, under the
head of Miaed Schools, page l24.
Now take this record and his delibcr-
ate statements over his own signature OF a
late date, together with bis new born OPP
position 10 the Civil Rights Bill, and I
must say that neither the friends or foes
Of the bill can with any show of consisten.
cy support him for reelection.
Moreover, Mr.. Butler in his late print
ed speech, which he "a lis q speech in OPP
position to the Civil Il lights Bill, says on
page one "If l believed that the law
would haze the effect that some of the
gentlemen upon the foor say it will have,
it would afford me pleasure to cote for it,"
On page two--but enormously marked
four-he tells us what this effect would
be as alleged by members on the floor
Here is what he says:
"Mr. Speaker, We are told that il is
prejudice and that if we pass this bill the
whttcs and Jlacks wM send their children
to the same school and all will 90 pceu."
This puts Mr.. Butler in for the princl-
pie of the bill and bases his opposition
upon policy alone, I understand it is
the principle, the enforcement Of social
equality by law which the people oppose
and that they are not willing that the
bill shall pass simply because many would
submit to mixed schools and social equali-
ty in t%averns, on railroad trains, and in
places Of anus ement, &C., rather than to
inaugurate a rebellion against the law to
be subdued by force of arms. That SOM
are willing to have mixed schools and
and even social equality generally does
not give Congress the right to impose
heavy fines and Imprisonment on those
whose taste and opinions may be other.
Uis,. III re is no law against pr:vi'e mixed
schools and any community can have them
if the people want them. But n all good
conscience by what authority can Congress
force them ana social equality in other re-
lations Of life upon those who do not want
such schools and such social equality
Certainly there is no such right in Con-
gress and Mr.. Butler should not have
sanctioned this doctrine as above set forth
from the record.
To say that Congress can by legisl alton
NEEDLE with and control our domestic and
social relations IS to espouse a doctrine
dangerous to our liberties and TO the
quiet and peace of society. [ am a friend
to the colore1 people as a race as all
good men are and as their friend l must
oppose this extreme legislation which can
do them no good but evidently much
harm. AS citizens they must have all
political rights common to other citi>
zens and be amply protected in the en-
joyment of the same but their social re-
lati ons must be left to the good sense,
judg ment and taste of themselves and
the whites in the States or sections where
the reside. The colored people ought to
be educated and rewarded Tor their labor
and ample provision should be made for
these purposes when it is at all necessary
and authorized by the constitution of the
Like all other races the colored
people should be ambition us to maintain
the identity and purity Of their race and
blood. Not to have this instructive am.
bition is to be false to themselves and to
the history of races. To merge races
into one is to degenerate both or all. God
has made separate races dissimilar in
-.