Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1874-06-19
Senator Lewis on The Civil
Rights RiI1.


The following letter from Senator John
+. Lewis, of Virginia, on the Civil Rights
Bill, has been made public. 1t is as fol-
lows:
Severn Wil1iauas, Esq.-My Dear Sir
Your letter of the 18th instant is before
me. You ask, lis, there any possible
chance for our Civil Rights Bill this ses-
sion 7" | would have given your letter
earlier attention but from the fact that |
was absent from the city when it arrived.
1T is hardly necessary that should say
to the people of Virginia that am true
and sincere friend of our colored citizens,
and desire to see them protected in all
civil, religious, and political rights with
out invidious distinctions of any kind. /
means of acquiring educatiOn-a blessing
so long denied them by the laws of the
Southern States. Strange as it may seem
to you, for these reasons am opposed to
the Civil Rights Bill in it's present form
/ have very little time to discuss this
matter, and am compelled to confine my
self to few Of the prominent reasons
! which will control my action on this bill.
In the first place there is no power in
the Government to regulate social rela-
lions between it's citizens, and any attempt
W w GHlo NY Ullo OOHSI6oo VI Ullo OulGtu
States would result disastrOusly to the
Republican party, which, in my judgment,
would be calamity, and your race the
greatest sufferers.
The churches are the property OF private
citizens, built by subscriptions from indi-
viduals, and, therefore, do not come within
the ptrvieW of Congressional legislation.
But think the denial, by church, Of ad-
mission to any race, not only wrong, but
sin that ere long will call down the curses
of Providence upon the head of all who
practice it.
1t is known to every intelligent person
that the white people have large and in
creasing majority in Virginia, and in point
of education and wealth, are very far in
advance of the colored population. 1t is
also known that there is an inveterate
prejudice entertained by a very large ma
jority of the citizens against mixed schools.
1t is equally well known the school fund
has been fairly and impartially distributed;
or more correctly speaking, that the color
ed schools have been literally cared for
Make it penal offense to refuse to have
universal schools, and the constitution and
the laws will be changed and the Legisla-
ture will refuse to appropriate money for
the common schools. Take care that in
grasping at the shadow you do not lose the
substance.
The colored race have the right to build
churches and school houses, and to exclude
the white race therefrom, if they desire
to do 50.
They have the right to exclude the white
people from their social gatherings, and
they have the same facilities for travelling
in all public conveyances. Then what
rights have my race that are not enjoyed
by yours
Let there be no antagonism between
courage kindly feelings and to forget the
prejudices engendered by the unfortunate
and wicked civil strife, and to this end let
us try to stop the agitation Of the race
question.
In the language of our great and wise
President, ''let us gave peace.''
Truly, your friend, ~
JOHN f. LEWIS.