The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-05-28
THURSDAY, MAY %, 1874.
NEGRO EQUALITY.


Summers iniquitous civil rights bill
passed the third reading in the Senate
last Saturday, the vote standing as
follows:
Yeas-Alcorn, Allison, Boutwell,,
Buckingham, Conkling, Edmunds,
Flanagan, Frelinghuysen, Hamlin,
Harvey, Howe, Ingalls,, Mitchell,
Morrill,, Oglesby, Patterson, Pease,
Pratt, Ramsey, Robertson, Sargent,
Scott, Spencer, Stewart, Wadleigh,
Washburn, West, Window and
Wright-29.
Nays-Bogy, Foreman, Carpenter,
Davis, Hager, Hamilton, Johnston,
Kelly, Lewis, McCreery, MerrimOn,
Norwood, Ransom, Salisbury, Stock
ton and Cooper-l6.
Senators Morton, Cameron, Hitch
cock, Chandler, Ferry, Sherman and
Logan, who would have voted for the
bill, were paired with Senators Steven
son, Thurman, Upton, Bayard, Dennis,
Goldthwait and Gordon, who would
have voted against it.
1t will be seen from the text of the
bill, which we publish below, that it
gives the negro the privilege of mixing
with the whites in schools, theatres,
hotels, railway cars, etc. In fact, it
is the worst thing that the worst enemy
of the negro could have done for him.
1t will break up all the free schools,
which are supported by the money of
the white people, and the poor black
will be left to grope his way in igno-
rance the balance of his days. 1t
will not only do this. We very much
fear it viii precipitate war of races
in many sections, which will event
ually drive the negro out of the coun-
try entirely. Already we hear of
people who propose to enter into bond
with their neighbors to never employ
negro help again, and by this means
secure white emigrants enough to fill
their places. Gibson county has here
tofore been one Of the most liberal in
the State to free schools, and the negro
population have had their full share
Of the advantages accruing thercfrom,
although they have paid very little Of
the tax; but now the whole system
will be knocked in the head, and there
will not he free school in the county
next fall. We hope the President
will rise above party prejudice and
prove himself the friend of both races
by vetoing the measure. This is the
only hope We have of avoiding trouble
The following is the full text of the
bill as passed by the Senate:
Section /. That all citizens and
other persons within the jurisdiction
of the United States shall be entitled
to full and equal enjoyment of accom-
modations, advantages, facilities and
privileges of inns, public conveyance |
on land or water, theatres and other
places of public amusement, and also |
of common schools and public institu- 1
tons Of learning or henevolence sup
ported in whole or in part by general |
taxation, and Of cemeteries SO sup
ported, and also institutions known as
agricultural colleges endowed by the |
United States, subject only to the /
conditions and limitations established
by law, and applicable alike to citizens
of every race and color, regardless of !
any previous condition of servitude.
Sec. ?. That any person who shall .
violate the foregoing section by deny
ing TO any person entitled TO It's bene- /
fits, except for reasons by law appli-
cable 10 citizens of every race and
color, and regardless of any previous
condition of servitude, the full enjoy
ment Of any accommodations, advan-
tages, facilities or privileges in said
section enumerated or melting such
denial, shall for every such offence
forfeit and pay the sum of FIVE hun
bred dollars to the person aggrieved
thereby, 20 be recovered in action on
the case with full costs, and shall also
for every such offence be deemed
guilty of misdemeanor, and upon con-
Viction thereof shall be fined not more
than one thousand dollars, or shall be
not more than one year;
provided that the party aggrievcd
shall not recover more than one pen
atty, and when the offence is refusal
of burial, penalty may be recovered
by the heirs at law of the person
whose body has been refused burial.
And provided, further, that all persons
may elect to sue for the penalty afore-
said, or TO proceed under their rights
at common law and State statutes;
and when they have so elected to pro-
coed In the one way or the other, their
right TO proceed in other jurisdiction
shall be barred; but this proviso shall
notapply to criminal proceedings either
under this act or the criminal law of
Any State.
Sec. 3. That the district and cir
,uit courts of the United States shall
have, exclusively of the courts of the
several states, cognizance of all crimes ,
md offences against and violations of ,
he provisions of this act, and actions
or penalty given by the preceding
ection may be prosecuted in terrific {