The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1874-02-12
Hon. J. Amber Smiths letter.

Hon. j. Amber Smiths letter.
AT the request of several of our su5scri
bers, we reproduce the letter Of Hon. J
Amber Smith, written to some colored mel
OF Richmond on the subject Of the Civi
Rights Bill. Il takes a calm, thoughtful
and practical view of the question, and vii
be read with Interest by those who have no
heretofore seen it:
WASHINGTON, D. G., January 3, 1874
Mr.J. II. 1srriW and others:
Dear Sirs,-I am in receipt Of yours o
the I'd inst. asking that lend my inAusnc,
to the passage of the civil rights bill nov
before the House.
For five years ! have labored to secure t.
your people their legal rights, but am moi
willing to vote for bill to force colorec
children into Schools and colleges intended
for white children, or, vice versa. white chill
dren into schools and colleges intended fol
colored children for two reasons-viz:
First. Because it will bring about strife
between the white and black races, at least
in my district, IN which your race will SUI
fer more than mine, because it is weaker. y
Secondly. 1t will destroy the present
school system of our State, which is, in my
opinion, doing much to prepare the colored
man for an intelligent use Of the elective
franchise.
The constitution of this country declares
that all men are horn free and equal. and the
laws make no distinction on account of race
or previous condition. It seems to me that
our people, both white and black, hsd bet
ter be satisfied with this, and let all purely
social questions regulate themselves.
Bills like the present civil rights bill do
more to keep up the i'll will between the ra-
ces than all else combined; and if one is
passed who Is benefited? No one. The
vanity of few colored men will DO gratifed
at cost Of ninety-Diue OUT of the hundred
If your race. Inasmuch as I believe the
passage Of this bill will injure the great ma
iority Of the colored people Of Richmond,
their suffering will be small as compared to
the poor colored people Of the country who
are eudeavoriIg to educate their children at
the public schools. These people are too poor
to send their children to pay schools. and if
the public schools are dispensed with,
then these children will haze to 60 without
and will Of necessity grow up un-
and suffer as their parents have
done before them.
I conceive tina question of education to be
Of much greater Importance to the colo:sed
man of Virginia than the abstract question
as to whether the races shall 60 to school in |
the same schoo-room, eat at the same FIRST
class hotel, or sleep in the same sleeping-ca
= the two last luxulies that not one out of |
every thousand of our colored people could |
or would enjoy if allowable. / am sincerely
anxious to SEQ the condition of our colored |
people improved in every possible way. |
refrain here from saying that much
Of the trouble in our State has been caused |
by designing men in both Of the great po-
litieal parties raising year after year the
question of color-a question which, for the /
good Of both races, should never be raised.
l trust that the temperate views expressed
10 Governor Kemper's message are but the
forerunner Of an era Of good feeling between
the races in Virginia such as has not been
known in this country, aud that hereafter,
when trouble arises between white and black
hat the only question asked shall be Who
IS right? | believe if nothing is done to
excite i'll will between the races that in
,wclve Donths the colored people Of Vir-
yinia will have more rights and privileges
man those in any other State. have al
rays believed that when intelligent Virgin
aus had a chance to free themselves from
he passions raised and famed by the polisi-
al strifes of The last few years that none
would be more willing to do even and exact
Justice to the co.ored man than they, and
zone would be more anxious to secure thom
u all their rights Of citizenship.
I will endeavor to have your claim al,
owed.* Truly yours,
J. AMBLER SMITH.