The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1874-06-24
CIVIL RIGHTS.
SPEECH OF
HON. RODERiCK R. BUTLER,
OF Tennessee, in the House of
Representatives, june 4, IA.
SPEECH OF

to protect all citizens III their civil and legal ats
Mr.. BUTLER, of Tennessee, said
Mr.. SPEAKER beg the indul
gence of the House for a few mo
ments while present my views Oh
this important proposition, and when
say important, l mean it in the
broadest sense of the term. l be
lieve a more important measure
could not at the present come be-
fore Congress, one that will in my
opinion, if it should become a law
and be enforced, be attended by the
very worst results, and will di5ap-
point the friends Of the measure and
greatly injure those that were in
tended to be benefited thereby. /
regret that the opposition to the bill
was not characterized with a better
spirit, that some gentlemen seized
the opportunity i'll discussing the
bill to abuse and attempt to cast
odium upon the colored race. I do
not envy the head or heart of any
man here or elsewhere who exhibits,
to say the least, such bad taste, and
temper as to try directly or indirect
ly to cast reproach upon the colored
people of our country; they merit
no such treatment. None but a
cold, unfeeling, and might add un-
patriotic man could entertain such
sentiments, and they are unworthy
in my humble opinion to emanate
from American Legislators, and /
! 1a to hn
pie whom | represent and have al
ways stood by me if l did not SO
characterize them. We should be
governed in all things by reason and
judgment, and not by prejudice and
passion and when statesmen are
making laws they should at least
make them good and wholesome,
(to use an old-fashioned term our
fathers used
Now, Mr. Speaker, will this bill if
it become law work harm or good
to the whole American people, Or
especially to those that it is intend
ed to benefit? If believed that the
law would have the effect that some
of the gentlemen upon this floor say
it will, it would afford me pleasure
to vote for it. l certainly can have
no prejudice or feeling against the
colored race. l would not do one
act knowingly that would injure
them in the least particular.
was born and reared in their midst
and have been identified with the
institution of slavery. ana l arrogate
to myself that / know as much
about the colored race as any living
man. l was his friend and advocate
in the war for the suppression of the
rebellion. / voted to make him a
free man advocated and sustained
all the amendments to the State and
Federal constitutions for his ad-
vancement and protection. I have
voted to tax myself and the other
white people of my county and State
for their education, and feel that l
did my duty as a good citizen in the
best interest of my country, looking
TO its present and future success. /
have no regret for what l did for the
colored race, and | trust [ may
nGNGI ucNG CdJSS 10 regret.
Mr.. Speaker, would it not be we'll
for us to pause little and look the
whole ground over, and see whether
we are going to better the colored
race by the passage of this bill or
whether we are going to strike q
blow that will greatly retard their
education and advancement? But
we are told that the colored people
demand it and are clamorous for it.
do not believe it. | am satisfied
that the colored people of my dis
trict do not want the school feature
of the bill, and represent as intelli-
gent coIored people as there are to
be found in the Southern States.
Out Of federal population of about
one hundred and forty thousand
there are but eleven thousand color
ed, and many of them educated and
teaching the colored children. They
are contented with sending their
children to their own schools. and
when they have not colored teachers
they are satisfied with competent
white ones. Our people are anxi-
Gus to aid the colored people to
educate their children with a few
exceptions, and these exceptions
will soon disappear. Ny State did |
not 60 as far as | had desired or
had hoped in provi ling a common
school fund for the education OF
both white, and colored, but all things
considered did we'll The law set
ting apart the funds for the educa-
tion of our children makes no dis
tinction on account of color, although |
The greater part comes from the
whites.
/ said tile colored people of my
district were content with their con-
1ition. / should have stated with
few exceptions, and l am sorry to
say that these are what is known as
: smartIes," or would-be'' leaders.
They are rot the most sensible are
we'll to do colored people. When
ever we find an industrious, sensible.
thrifty co.ered man in my country
le tells yoil that he wants no mixed
hb wants no more excite
nent between the whites and his
ace that he is content; that a few
ears. ago lie and his wife and child
en- were cllattels; were denied the
light to learn to read, that they
night learn of their creation and
ave ct least some intelligent idea
f the future. They we're not citi-
eus could not testify against a
Fhite man could not sit on iuries
ould not hold offices or vote. All
hese rights have been given him