Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-27
SOCIAL RIGHTS.
Country view Of the situation.

Il
It IS next to certain that il will become q
law; This is deliberate attempt to break
down all the regulations prescribed by law
and adopted by long usage for the regula-
tion Of society in the Southern States. Its
authors we'll know 1t can have effect no
where else, but it is only done to crafty
the pungent hate of Northern Abolitionists
and to secure longer lease of Office to The
tyrants in power, by this bait to the igno-
rant creatures that follow in their train,
who have of late made some formidable
demonstrations that looked ugly for the fu-
ture good fellowship of the Radical and
| his negro associate. n r-
/ We do not know exactly the society reg
ulations of other States, or the character of
the laws relating to the two races, but in
Tennessee we have taxed ourselves, that
they might enjoy the benefit of free educa-
tlon; by our benevolence we have given
them money to build their churches for
their worship or given them comfortable
places in our own. They are protected in
all their possessions, in the pursuit and &C
QUESTION of property; his life, liberty and
morals are protected by the same law that
| protects the white man; the courts are al
ways open for his relief, the aged and de-
erepid are either supported by the white
mans charity or he gets the benefit Of the
asylum for the poor. All this be
| gets at the white mans expense, for his
colored brother has no charity to give and
no property to tax; but still he Is not hap
| py. He still demands more, he must have a
white woman for his wife and be taken on
terms Of social equality with his former
master, must set by him in the theatre and
in church and set with him at the same
round table at the hotel, and educate his
child at the same school; and if any of
these lnestimable blessings are denied him
| the Federal Courts are to administer to his
comfort by inficting thousand dollar fine
and twelve months Imprisonment on the
luckless offender, beside five hundred dol
lar fee to him for swearing the lie for the
conviction.
The recent demonstrations of the Ten
nesSee negroes plainly indicate that they
mean business, and that, in their opinion,
the time has come when they should be
white people, color or no color.
Now, sir, the argument is, what are the
white people of Tennessee to do in the
premises? Shall we continue 10 pursue our
course of mastery inactivity, or waste our
strength by new departures Shall we
continue to tax ourselves to educate their
children or protect and care for their aged
and infirm? Shall we encourage them as
artisans or manufacturers by giving them
employment? Shall we break down all the
rules of decent society to humor the whims
of this ungrateful race?
We are fully aware that it would crafty
the malignant hate Of the Radical Down
Easter and the foolish vanity of Cuffy, to
see the latter sit in the splendid parlors of
the Maxwell or promenade its stately cor
ridors, and dance in its spacious halls, or
to occupy berth in the gorgeous Pullman
cars, but it does not suit the taste of decent
Southern people, Of any party; and every
body, with brains enough for an average
fool, knows that the moment our hotels
are open for striped customers it becomes
sort Of Harding House, and all decent
guests would go TO prirdte houses. The
same would be the case with our schools
the moment the negro went in the white
children would 60 out.
Can we be expected to exhaust our re
sources to educate and better the condition
of these people under this state Of the case?
Let him who is willing to take the disgust
ing experiment Of negro equality, answer.
Now We are not prophet, nor the son Of
prophet, but we here record the predic-
ton that if this bill passes, (and l believe
il will.) the masses of the white people of
Tennessee will rise up and crush out the
free school system that they have so be-
nignantly fostered. We predict that the
several county courts of Tennessee which
have levied tax for free schools will at
the first quarterly term Of the enactment of
this iniquity reseind the same, and the
next Legislature will be driven BY the
Il -seL -.
and the negro will be left in his primitive
ignorance, for he is not able TO educate his
race.
We are aware that these may be called
extreme measures, but the circumstances
demand it. We can no longer afford to trifle
with question that so seriously affects our
social status. You had as well try to stay
the flames of hell with powder magazine
as stop the encroachments of Radical hate
or negro insOlence by concession.
We have tamely stood still with compass
sion and pity for his ignorance, fed the
negro with our bounty, extended to him
privileges and franchises that he could not
appreciate, and extended to him the means
of his support, furnished him the means to
educateihis children, and still with blind
infatuaiion he joins the ranks of our op-
pressors.
But why is there now such momen-
tous necessity for this measure? What
new cause has turned up on the tapis of
events to require it? Why this advanced
step of Radicalism? We all do know for
the last few wears Charles Summer has dis
gtIsted the Senate and the country with
this, his darling idol, and urged it with all
the mendaclty Of his mean nature; but
still it lay unhonored among the rubbish of
the Senate, and IFS author, while he lived, |
was rated as a lean and NANCY dog, and
his civil rights bill a puerile and wicked |
humbug. But Summer dead is majestic |
lion, and his measure a masterpiece of
craftsmanship. The negro has now found |
out that his s'civil rights" are impaired, |
and that he has not yet got clear Of the |
shackles of slavery.
The answer is, the white Radical must |
have the undivided support of his negro |
associates, and while he has no Office to |
give him, he gives him this concession as |
panacea for the negro'S conscience, who is |
afflicted with mania for a part of the /
"loaves and fishes" and make him 'Ehew |
the wood and draw the water for vet an
other season. Willingly or unwillinGly the |
disgusting issue of negro equality is forced |
upon us, and we cannot avoid it, it is to /
be met by the white people of Tennessee in
a united, bold and persevering effort, or
quietly submit and accept the situation.
We are quite sure the county of Franklin
will be found preparing for the issue, and
Will meet it when it comes; and while she
has voted to tax herself heavily to support
her free schools and give the negroes full
share of it, yet if needs he she will revoke
it all. 1t is proper to saw that the. negroes
in this county seem satisfied with their
status, and do not join in the clamOr for
any other civil rights than those they al
ready have, and it is to be regretted that
they must suffer for the sins of the incarnate
devils who are urging il on, but our duty is
nevertheless the same, and we must do it
boldly. BENE-VoLA.
WE hope the papers will stop trying to
make fun of Colyar. They amt treating
him right. Because man has been pO-
litical granny, as well as failure all his life,