The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-06-11

colOfed man and asserted his right before
the law in Mississippi, and was elected by
him governor of the State, when l va;
chosen to the Senate the colored man
voted side by side with every white man
in that Legislature to send me here. Ev-
cry vote of that Legislature, white and
black, was cast for me to elect me to the
position | now hold | did not incur the
prejudice of the white people ther=
by advocating equality before the law
for the colOred man The long-continued
relation in the South of master and servant
would have the effect of removing every
thing like prejudice from the mind of the
master. His opinion of the negro would
assume the form of judgment; it would
no longer be painted with prejudice.
Prejudice would only exist with those who
were unacq tainted with the negro; itwould
only continue between races that were
unknown to each other Contact would
necessarily wipe out prejudice. No, it
was not prejudice; this will not account
for the action of the Southern people since
the war toward the negro. They held
that the Northern people intended to in
suit them by the enfranchisement OF the
colored race; and it was, in their minds,
an insult which they were quick to resent.
They did not at once comprehend the
subject, but took hold of it as an effort on
the part Of the North to degrade them,
and they resented it as such, and IN their
passion they have oftentimes permitted
themselves to be guilty of gross injustice
to the colored people; they have estranged
the colored people from them. | trust
the arrangement will not be of long dura-
ton.
But now let usgo further. You say that
you do not want the mixed schools. Well,
am not in favor of mixing them; and |
contend that this bill does not mix them.
There is no mixing in this BILL How is
it in my State? There, as told you, the
colored people control; they make the
laws; they levy the taxes; they appoint
the school boards. The whole machinery
is in their hands; yet there is not mixed
school in the State of Mississippi, and we
have civil rights there. Why Is ii? Sim
ply because the colored people do not
desire it; because they believe the inter
ests Of both races will be promoted by
keeping the schools separate. The col
ored people, however, believe that legis-
lation is necessary by Congress in order
to secure the advantages Of education IN
some Of the States, North as well as South.
If Congress legislates at all, it must legis
late in conformity with the requirements
OF the Constitution. Equality before the
law demands that legislation should not
be colored with the distinctions Of class.
In Mississippi satisfactory opportunities
are provided for all Every child in The
State has the benefit Of cOmmon-sch0oi
we have no prohibition de-
clared You have a right to send your
child to any school you choose That is
the citizens right; but it is simply right
that the colored people eXescise by send
ing their children to the colored school;
it is a right that the white peop!I lie enjoy
by sending their children to the white
school. But a colored man removes, if
YOU please, from the State of Mississippi,
where he has the government in his own
hands, where he has been enjoying citl
zenship in lis largest and most extended
sense, to the State Of New Jersey, for
example, and he finds there that he Is not
permitted TO enter the white schools. He
finds no colored school; he cannot 90 TO
the public school. There are no private
schools for colored children. What will
he do for the education Of his child ?
VIII he 90 without education? Will he
be denied the privileges Of education sim
ply because he is black? Is it a stretch
Of the power Of Congress; is it beyond the
power of Congress to declare that no
State shall deny to the citizen Of the
United States any privilege or immunity
Or right that belongs to the citizens of the
United States? Is not education one of
these? Congress certainly has the power
to step in and say that this colored child
shall have the right of admission to the
public schools. Is there anything very
startling in proposition like this? Is
there anything here that looks like over
reaching and overstepping the power of
Congress to declare that the right
Of admission into the public school shall
be awarded to all the children of this ma
ton?
But it is objected that this bill provides
that the colored man shall be admitted to
the theatre. Yes, the theatre is licensed
institution. The policy Of the State gov
eminent is to license theatres. 1t is held,
and Justly too, that the theatre is q place
where our intellects are improved, where
vice is portrayed, and where virtue is ex-
allied. When properly conducted 1t is an
institution of instruction that has been
held by all civilized nations to be refining
to the taste and conducive to morality;
one to be appreciated by intelligent peo-
pie everywhere and fostered and cared
for by them. If Ford's theatre here in
the city of Washington should be assault
i !, - T n11fx- Of ho
eminent to protect it. The militia would
be called out. The colored people largely
compose the militia in the District Of
Columbia They would have to go there
for the purpose of protecting this proper
ty of private citizen, which has been
and is called a theatre
VI hen you have the power to call upon
the citizens to 90 there and protect that
shall you permit the proprietor
to deny this citizen the right of admission
if he pays his money as other citizens
VIII the Government permit this propri-
etor who holds license under its author
ity, to discriminate against the citizen
because of the color of cuticle? Shall
the citizen be denied the privileges of the
play because he is black Play-actors
and theatres have been at all times and in
all ages favorites of men of culture. We
find an example of this even IN the sacred
writings. where the Apostle Paul, showing
his appreciation of the play-actor, and
the writer quotes from Euripides, the
heather poet and dramatist, and SAYS in
language which l will here repeat for the
benefit of my friends, ''Be not deceived;
evil communications corrupt good man
ners.
Let the coIored man go to the theatre.
The colored people from my State COM
plain that when they come to the aristo-
cratic city of Washington they are not
permitted TO go to the theatres here as