New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-18
SPEECH
HON. JAMES T. :RAPIE R
ar Alabama. in the House of Repre-
sentatives. Tuesday,
June 3, 1874.

civil rights
Mr. Raper said:
Mfr. SPEAKER: had hoped there would
he no protracted discussion OH the civil
rights bill. 1t has been debated all over the
country for the last seven years twice IT has
done duty in our national political cam
paiens; and in every minor election during
Thai time it has been pressed into service fol
the purpose of intimidatng the weak white
men who are inclined to support the republi.
can ticket. l was certain until now that
most persons were acquainted with its pro-
visions, that they understood its meaning
therefore it was no longer to them the mon
ster II had been depicted, that was to break
down all social barriers, and compel one man
10 recognize another socially, whether agree
able to him or not.
must confess il is somewhat embarrassing
for colorcd man to urge the passage of this
bill, because if he exhibit an eamestness in
the matter and express desire for its i'm
mediate passage, straightway he is charged
with desire for social equality, as'explained
by the demagogue and understood by the
ignorant white man. But then it is just as
embarrassing for him not to do so, for, if he
remain silent while the struggle is being
carried on around, and for him, he is liable
10 be charged with a want of interest in a
else, which is enough to make his friends
desert his cause. So in steering away from
Scylla may run upon Charybdis. But the
anomalous, and | may add the Supremacy
ridiculous, position of the negro at this time.
in this country, compel me to say something.
Here his condition is without a comparison,
parallel alone to itself. Just think that the
law recognizes my right upon this floor as a
law maker, but that there is no law to secure
10 me any Accommodations whatever while
travelling here to discharge my duties as
a Representative of large and wealthy
constituency. Here l am the peer of the
proudcst, but on a steamboat or car am not
equal to the most degraded. Is not this
anomalous and ridiculous?
What little shall say will be more in the
way oil stating the case than otherwise, for
| am tain l can add nothing to the arcu-
ments already made i'm behalf Of the bill.
II in the course of my remarks | should use
language that may be considered iuelegant,
l have only TO say that it shall be as elegant
as that used by the opposition in discussing
this measure; if undignified, it shall not be
more so than my subject; if ridiculous, | en-
ter the plea that the example has been set
by the democratic side OF the House, which
claims the right to set examples. | wish to
say in justice to myself that no one regrets
more than l do the necessity that compels
one to the manner born to come in these
Halls with hat in hand ESQ to speak to ask
at the hand of his political peers the same
public rights they enjoy. And l shall feel
ashamed for my country if there be any
foreigners present, who have been lured to
our shores by the popular but untruthful
declaration that this land is the asylum OF
the oppressed, to hear a member of the
highest legislative body in the world declare
from his place, upon his responsibility as a
Representative, that notwithstanding his
political position he has no civil rights that
another class is bound to respect. Here a
foreigner can learn what he cannot learn i'm
any other country, that it is possible for Il
man to be half free and half slave, or, in
other words, he will see that it is possible
for man to enjoy political rights while he is
denied civil ones; here he will see man
legislating for free people, while his own
chains of civil slavery hang about him, and
are far more CALLING than any the foreigner
left behind him here he will see what is not
TO be seen elsewhere, that position is no
mantle Of protection in our "land of the
free and home of the brave" for | am sub
lected to- far more Outrages and indiTnities
in coming to and going from this capital in
discharge of my public duties than any
criminal in the country providing he be
white. Instead of my position shielding me
from insult, it too often invites it.
Let me cite a case. Many months ago
Mr.. Cardoza, treasurer of the State of South
Carolina, was on his way home from the
West. His route lay through Atlanta.
There he made request for sleeping berth
Not only was he refused this, but was denied
a seat in a tirst-class carriage, and the par
ties went so far as to threaten to take his
life because he insisted upon his rights as a
traveller, He was compelled, most elegant
and accomplished gentleman, to take a seat in
a dirty smoking-car, along with the travelling
rabble, or else be left, to the dctrment of
his public duties.
L affirm, without the fear of contradiction,
that any white eX-convict Il care not what
NAV have been his crime, nor whether the
hair on the shaven side of his head has had
time to grow out or not) may start with me
10 Montgomery, that all the way down he
will be treated as gentleman, while i will
be be treated as the convict. He will be
allowed a berth in sleeping car with all its
comforts, while will be forced into a dirty
rough box with the drunkards, apple-sellers,
railroad hands, and next to any dead that
may be in transit, regardless of how far de-
composition may have progressed. Sentinels
are placed at the doors of the better coaches,
with positive instructions to keep persons of
color out and must do them the Justice to
say that they guard these sacred portals with
a vigilance that would have done credit to
the flaming swords at the gates of Eden.
Tender, pure, intelligent young ladies are
forced to travel in this way if they are guilty
Of the crime of color, the only objectionable
sin known in our Christian and Bible lands,
where SHINING against the Holy Ghost (what-
ever that may be- sinks into insignficancc
when compared with the sin of color. If
from any cause we are compelled to lay over,
the best bed in the hotel is his if he can pay
for it, while l am invariably turned away,
hungry and cold, to stand around the rail-
way station until the departure of the next
train, it matters not how long. thereby en-
dangering my health, while my life and prop
erty are at the mercy of any highwayman
who may wish to murder and rob me.
And state without fear being eainsayed,
the statement of the gentleman from Ten
nessee to the contrary Notwithstanding, that
there is not an inn between Washington and
Montgomery, distance of more than thou
sand miles, that will accommodate me to a bed
or meal. Now, then, is there a man upon
TINS fioor who is so heartless, whose breast
Is SO void OF the better feelings, as to say
mat this brutal custom needs no regulation :?
hold that it does, and that Congress is the
body TO regulate il. Authority for its action
is found not only in the fourteenth amend
ment to the Constitution, but by virtue of
mat amendment (Which makes all persons
born here citizens,) authority is found in
article 4, section 2 of the Federal Constitu-
non, which declares in positive language
that the citizens Of each State shall have
Inc same rights as the citizens of the several
states" Let me read Mr.. Brightly's COM
ment This clo,,ca he fo rranI