Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-07-28
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.


The bill which is a misnOmer, and should
have been styled ''the social rights BILL" is
fraught with more vital interests and alarm
ing consequences than, perhaps, any meas
urC vet presented TO the consideration of
the American Congress since the close Ofthe
civil war. Its passage would, in my judg-
ment, be a violation Of the constitution, a
mOckeTy and delusiOn to the African, an
outrage upon the white man, and be fol-
lowed in those States where the negro race
is numerous by the most blighting infuen-
ces upon material prosperity and in
tellectual development, The large ma
jority by which it passed the Senate
the twenty-thiTd of May last is only
another of the many evidences Of a purpose
by the leaders Of the dominant party to use
the cOlOred man to maintain their control
of the government in defiance Ofthe consti-
tuition and in fragrant violation Ofthe rights
OF tbe'white man. If, by the provisions Of
the first and second sections of the bill. it is
intended to give new remedy both to
whites and blacks, when excluded from
hotels, railroad cars, theatres, public schools
etc, it is another attempt at interference
with the municipal affairs Of State govern
ments, so fragrant as to impress the mind of
even the casual reader Of the constitution
with serious alarm. But if, as l think, the
purpose is TO give to the cOlOred
man practically an exclusive right
to recover a penalty Of 500 when
refused admission into hotels, pub
lie cOnveyanceS, places Of amusement,
and into public schools, etc, it leaves the
white man with only his common law rem
edv, which is now open to all. And by the
fourth section it is obviously the purpose of
the bill to create a severe penalty against
an officer who fails or refuses TO summon a
colOred man as juror. The whole bill is
intended as discrimination in favor Of the
cOlored against the white man.. It is an eff
fort to place the black man in the South
upon a higher platform than the white man.
1t IS unjust to the cOloTed man, because
it arrays against him preludioes which
had subsidized. II is legislative adj
mission that the COlOred race Is intellectu-
ally the inferior of our race, and unable to
cope with him in the march Of civilization.
1t is a solemn declaration by tie assembled
loisdOm of the nation that the negro, with
every constitutional and legal provision in
his favor, guaranteeing to him equal pO-
litical and civil rights with the white man,
is unable to take care Ct himself Il is an
effort to degrade the white race by eleva-
ting the negro above him, by afOrding him
superior facilities to enforce his remedies
against imagined social wrongs. This bill,
as 10
TENNESSEE,
and many other States, is an invasion, by
Congressional action, Of constitutional
guarantees. We have, for instance, a pro
vision in our State constitution prohibiting
a mixture o. whites and blacks in our pub
lie schools. This bill proposes to strike
down this part of our organic law, and
would destroy our system Of common
schools. And who would allow his child 70
sit on the same bench, and recite "a she
same classes, and grow up IN teTIns Of child
ish intimacy with the black child9 Noman
who loves his children, or retains one YES