New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-12

CURED to enable us to enter successfully the
departments of a diversified industry.
The growth of this nation has shown that
Its institutions are capable of blending into
a harmonious brotherhood all nationalities
and all interests and industries. In all other
instances than that of the accession of our
race to citizenship, the accretion of the ele-
ments of its population has been gradual,
giving time to complete the process of assimi-
lation. In Onr case we are well aware that
there was much to alarm the apprehensions
OIL thOse careful tatesnen who hesitatcd to
specula c as to the strength OF our lnsttu-
tiOns much beyond what was demonstrated
by the precedents in parallel cases in Europe
and i'll our country. The instantaneous en-
bodiment OF four million citizens who had for
years looked upon the Government as not
only denying them citizenship, but as pre-
venting them fro. acquiring that capacity
under any other national existence, was, it
must be admitted, a startling political fact.
But we are happy to point to the proof of
the wisdom OfthOse who regarded that course
the safest was that indicated by the demands
OF justice. We are proud to be able to point to
the history OF our people since their admis-
sion to citizenship as proof that they under
stand what is due from the citizen to the
Government owing him protection. Al
though they have suffered much at the hands
OF those who would deprive them of their
rights, they have appreciated the difficulties
and cmbarrassments that necessarily sur
rounded the attempts of the Government to
vindicate their rights, and have waited I'M
complainingly until relief could be afforded;
although many times they could have found
instantaneous relief by initiating their OPP
pressors and taking the law into their own
hands,
A convention subsequently held at New
Orleans, Louisiana, which was composed of
delegates from all parts of the country, issued
similar address as did the one recently held
in this city. have similar papers from meet
ings held all over this country to the same
import. Twill call attention to the follow
ing, which has been adopted by the Legisla
ture OF my own State; and be it known that
in that Legislature there are about thirty
five Democrats. The Ners and Courier news
papers, published in the city Of Charleston,
where live, one of the leading Democratic
organs of the South, commenting upon the
adoption of these resolutions, says that the
Democratic members, with single exception
in both houses, voted for them. The follow
ing are the resolutions:
SUMNER AND CIVIL RIGHTS.
The following preamble and resolutions
were adopted almost unanimously, only one
vote being in the negative
whereas the recent introduction Of the
civil rights bill in the Senate of the United
States, by Hon. CHARLES SUMNER, Senator
from Massachusetts, shows that he is deter
mined to crown series of inestimable SER
vices to the cause of freedom and equal
| rights in America by removing the last yes
tigc OF the late barbarisin, and placing the
| caps tone Of equal rights on the dome Of the
reconstructed Union; and whereas the State
of South Carolina, ever mindful
of the rights of all her citizens, and watchful
for their privileges, has placed on her statute
book bill to protect them in their civil
rights within her domain but is aware of its
inadequacy to protect them when outside
her limits; and whereas both by common
line of policy and by the solemn pledges
Ofthc Philadelphia conveniently the words
OF the last inaugural, and by the sentiments
of our dominant party, the National and
State Republicans, and the honorcd Chief
Magistrate, have placed themselves on re-
cord as favoring the passage of such a bill
and whereas large party Of the loyal citi-
zens OF this State and Of the nation. irrcspec-
tive of their intelligence, wealth, or position
whether they are private citizens or pablo
officials, are Disseminated against, in public
travel and IN places ofgeneral entertainment,
to the degradation Of their manhood and the
NlOidtlDu vi lilclF IlIiltS as human Dclnt.S /.
Therefore be it
| "ReSolced, That we instruct OR Senators
and request our Representatives in Congress
assembled to sustain. by their influence and
| by their votes, the bill introduced by Senator
Sumner to attain the equality of civil rights
before the law.
"Resolred, That we sympathize with the
movement ON the part OF the large class Of
citizens whose rights are thus willfully and
persistently outraged to unite in convention
on the 9th of December, 1873, TO memorabilia
Congress on this subject; and in view of
the near approach Of the meeting aforesaid
we, representing the people of the State Of
South Carolina, authorize those of our Rep
resentatives who may be identified with the
class whose rights are thus daily violated to
attend the said convention and represent our
! State.
"Resolred, That copies Of these resolutions
be, cngrossed and forwarded to Hon.
CHARLES SUMNER, his cXcelency the Presi-
dent of the United States, and to our Repre-
sentatiyes in Congress, and to the president
of the equal rights convention"
| call the attention also to the following, a
copy of which has just been presented in
another body:
ATLANTA, GA, January &c, 1874.
speech before Congress January ;, 1874, said
that colOred people of the State of Georgia
did not desire the passage of the civi-rights
bill and whereas the Georgia Legislature has
also adopted resolutions informing the Con-
gress of the United States that the colored
people of Georgia do not desire the passage
of said civil-rights bill and whereas the allie
cations OF Mr.. STEPHENS and the Georgia
Legislature are without foundation in fact
Therefore,
Resolred, That we, a portion of the colored
citizens of Georgia, do most sOlemnly deny
both the speech of A. ii. STEPHENS and said
resolutions of the Georgia Legislature, so far
as they relate to the colOred citizens Of this
State being adverse to the passage of said
civil-rights bill.
Resolred, That some arrangement be made
by this meeting to deny the fact of the said
assertions of Mr.. STEPHENS and the Georgia
Legislature.
Resolred, That we, the citizens of the city
of Atlanta, Georgia, Immediately inform the
Congress of the United States that we desire
speedy passage of the civil-rights bill, and
that we claim it as a right they owe us as
members of the republican party, and more
particularly as citizens Of the United States.
Resolred, That we most heartily cOngratu-
late and thank Mr.. ELLIOTT for his able and
pointed speech, January6, 1874, in the House
of Representatives of the United States, in
behalf of the passage of the civil-rghts bill,
and in vindicating the ability and patriotism
OF the cOlored citizens of the country.
J. b. FULLER,
Chairman.
10. WIMBISH,
w. d. MOORE,