The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-07-04

protest against the passage of what is
known as the CIVIL Rights bill" This
bill has been discussed sufficiently al
ready to scquaint the country with its
obnoxious character, and to excite in
quiry into its peruicious tendencies.
Aside from it's unconstitutionality, it is
Objectionable and repusive because it
seeks TO accomplish by Legislation what
reason, sound policy, and the natural
instincts OF the white race forbid. No
written law however constitutional can
efface or obliterate those distinctions
and difference between the races which
nature created; nor will any law cause
the Apglo"Saxon 10 recognize the equal
ity this bill seeks TO enforce.
The white man aud the negro are
distinct races, created differently by an
all-wise Being for reasons which are
inscrutable to us and beyond our Ca
pacity TO comprehend. lD their men,
tai and physical constitutions they are
unlike each other, and as "the Etho-
plan cannot change his skin, nor the
leopard his spots," your legislation CAM
not change humanity and bring to-
gether into the close relations contem-
plated by this bill what God has put
asunder. This feeble attempt to evade
natures law, and crush ont by legisla-
ton prejudices implanted by Deity 10
the breast OF the while man, can only
result in injury to both white and black.
Each race is chosen for particular
plan OF action, distinct from the other,
though perhaps tending ultimately to
the same end, and as long as you per-
nit it 10 move in its separate sphere
untrammeled by laws contrived to
change what is reversible the races
will accomplish the design OF Provi-
deuce in their creation.
| cherish no prejudice' against the
colored race on account OF their dark
hue; nor would l place obstacles in the
way of their advancement in morals,
religion, and education, apart from the
white race. In their own way and in
their appointed sphere, | bid them
God speed But when | am asked 10
sanction measure that compels my
own race TO stifle those prejudces
which are involuntary, and spring
from no false sentiment or defective
education, and submit to associations
against which their highest instincts
revolt, must be excused from lending
it my Counteuancc and support. As
between the white and colorc race
there is no neutral ground for me TO
occupy. | believe in the superiority OF
my own race over every other, and
when it is attempted to degrade it by
forced equality and an involuntary as
ISOLATION with an inferior race, be II
red, brown, or black, shall protest
against the i'm pious and wicked act.
The passare OF this bill will arouse
TIE very prejudices it is your purpose
to crush out, if possible, and render
teufold more intense that feeling OF an
tipathy which. in the more distant u
ture, must end in q conflict OF race, ta-
tai TO one and brutalizing TO the other
in the spirit OF hate it will engender.
|. it is the interests OF the colored race
you would promote, pause before you
enact a measure that will destroy the
ipstrumentaIties already demised TO
smeIiorate Their coalition and elevate
them in the scale OF mental or moral
Improvement. Pass this measure and
YOU strike fatal blow at the tree
school system Of the South and IN the
border States. YOu cut your wards of
from the lights OF knowledge aud seal
up the iouBtsin a generous people, Their
truest friends, have provided for their
advancement. Besides thus lpJuriug
them, YOU close the avenues OF learn
ING to the sons aud daughters OF the
poor who cannot purchase exemption
frcm the evils OF this act, and bestow
upon them as the momento OF your
Jolly the curse OF ignorance. In their
behalf | protest against 1t.
But, passing from this view OF the
subject, | oppose the measure because
it is an exercise of power unwarrauted
by the Constitution aud destructive OF
the whole theorv on which the Federal
Governments founded. From whence
do YOU get your power to enact such
laws2 Where is the grant which con"
fprs il? In what article Of the Constr
tutiop is it found? When did the
States delegate 10 the Federal Govern
ment the right to exercise the powe
assumed in this bill? The States made
the Federal Government; II I'D moi
make them. They delegated to 1t Ger
tain specific and defined powers, and
reserved to themselves all not delegated
If the power claimed WIS not dele
gated it remains with the States, and
You dare no, exercise it without COM
hitting q uSIrpation which would rem
der YOUR action rull and void. Ior
find no such power delegated in
the. Constitution, either expressly
or by implication, nor Is Its
exercise a necessary incident o
any power granted. 1: is an as
sumption, ard an assumption OF tne
most dangerous character, as IT esiao-
fishes a precedent Tor further inhova'
tons and aggressions upon the rights o
the States. The institutions and SUB
iec,s YOU seek to regulate and contro
nv the bill are all under the control o
the States, solely AID absolutely. 10
the Federal Government they nevel
delegated any power over them and Il
thew are wise and jealous OF MAINTAIN
ing that system OF govern ment when
mSkes the Union blessing and not
curse to them, they will never cease t
go, oco;not this act of political rob