The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-01-07
ggcrvyTes7csITTs BILE.
LsrrsR FROM zas nov. Z ANsLER si41aa

The following Is a copy OF letter ffom
the Hon. j. Amber Smith In answer to Que
whose purport is explained in the opening
sentence of Mr.. smith's reply:
WASHINGTON, D. c., January 1s7A
Mr.s J. IL Terrin and others: ID 's i
Dear Sirs,--I am In receipt ofyonrs OF the
I'd Instant asking that lend my inhnence TO
the passage of the civi-rights bill now De-
fore the House.
For five years ] have labored to secure TO
your people their legal rights, hut am not
willing TO vote for 4 bill to force coiored
children into schools aud colleges intended
for white children, or, rice eersa, white
children into schools aud colleges intended
for colored children for two reasons viz:
First. Because 1t will bring about strife
| between the white and black races, ut leas. in
nv district, in which your race will suffer
more than mine, because it Is the weaker.
secondly. 1t twill destroy the preSentschool
system of our State, which is in my opln-
| ion doing much TO prepare the coiofeo man
| for an intelligent use OF the eleeIife iran
chiSe.
THE Constitution OF this country declares
that all men are born free and equal, and the
| laws make no distinction on account OF iace
| or nreyious condition. 1t seems TO me tnat
| orr peoplc. both white and black, had Detter
be satisfied with this, and let all purely sociai
questions regulate themselves. u
bills like the present ciril-rights DILL 90
more to keep up the i'll will between tne
races than all else combined; and II Que Is
passed, who is benefited: No one. Inc
| vanity of few colored men will be gratiheo
At cos, of ninety-ninc out OF the nuhuleo
| of ycur race. Inasmuch rs / believe Lie
massage OF this bill will iniure the great ma
;oritv of the colored people OF R!chmonu,
their suffering will be small as compared 70
the Moor colored people OF the country WIG
are eudeayoriug to educate their children III
the nublic schools. These people are toe
DOOR to send their children 10 pay SCHOOLS
and if the public schools are dispensed WIN
i then these children will have to go Wlthou
schooling, and will Of necessity grow W
uncduca,ed, and suffer as their parents nave
done before them.
conceive the question OF educatloi
to he of much greater Importance TO IN
colored man OF Virginia than the aostrac
Question rs 10 whether the races shall go u
school i'm the same school.room, cat at tD
same first-class hotel, or sleep in the sam
sIecninu-car--the two last luXulrles that no
one ont of every thousand OF our colore'
neoplc could or would enjoy il allowable
am sincerely anxious 10 see the condltiol
of our colofed people improved in ever
possibIe way. l cannot refrain here lroi
saving that much of the trouble ID our stat
! has been caused by designing men IN botn
the great political parties raising year aite
wear the question of color--a questlon "hlct
for the good of both races, should never u
raised. uo,so
trust that the temperate views eXpresse
! in Governor Kemper's message are put u
forerlpner Of an era Of good feeling %
a tween the races in Virginia sucn Us liz
" NOT been known in this country, an
! that hereafter, when trouble arises
n tween white and black, that tue on
y question asked shall be WHO Is right! L D
lipye if nothing is done TO excite Ill VIII D
% tween the races that in twelve months II
: colored people OF Virginia will have mo
" rights and privileges than those in any ON
- Srtare: = nave always s.'erer TIT N
nv Intelligent Nirginians had chance to f.
themselves from the passions raised q
w. famed by the political striies OF the last I
lly wears that none would be more willing
NO do even aud exact justice TO the colol
cd man than they, and none would be m
anxious to secure them in all their rights
ear citizenship.
NJ. will endeavor to have your claim
ne lowed Truly yours,
j. AMBER SMITH
*Ths claim has no relation 10 the subject of