The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1874-07-23
A TIMELY WARNING.


made mistake in following white agi-
tators and demagogues into the support
of a measure so extreme and repugnant
in some of its provisions to the prevail
ing sentiment of the nation, as the
Civil Rights bill
We have argued from the official acts
Of the colored leaders themselves that
/ the mixed school feature of the bill has
not really been desired by them. In
+ Mississippi 50 far from advocating mixed
schools. the colored leaders have had
/ the good sense to steer clear Of the issue,
and have been instrumental in estab-
/ fishing system Of separate schools from
/ the lowest to the highest grade. More
Z over the Civil Rights la4y, which they
enacted, contained no provision relating
to mixed schools, nor was any such meas
ure asked for by the colored Legislators.
When, there fore, it was proposed IN
Congress by the agitators to insert such
a provision in the bill introduced into
that body the representatives Of the
black race would have shown sound
Judgment and consulted the welfare Of
their people, by denouncing and repu-
dating it. The effect of their advoca-
ting it has been to ALLEVIATE from them
many Of the hitherto staunchest cham
pions Of their political rights and earliest
abolitionists. They have all read the
earnest remonstrance Of Senator Brown
low Of Tennessee, who has dared and
suffered more in the cause Of the blacks
than almost any other man in the coun-
try. They have been informed Of the
able protests of the \. Y. Times and
other leading Republican journals. And
now We behold an older and more stead
fast abolitionist and Republican than
any we have mentioned pursuing the
same course-Ex- Senator Truman Smith
ofConnecticut He has written letter
expressing the warmest sympathy for
the colored race; and at the same time,
deprecating in the strongest terms the
proposed Civil Rights bill. He argues
that it is fraught with evil to both races
and especially to the blacks. He argues
that if there exists prejudice on account
Of color, its extirpation can never be ac-
complished, but on the contrary that it
will be increased, by compulsory legis-
lation. He says that the Congressional
measure would break up the common
school system would turn over all the
poor whites and the blacks almost without
exception to utter ignorance. 1t would
make unit of the white race as against
the black And in the contest which
would follow, the whites would be sure to
| win.
These are the opinions, let US bear
in mind Of RepubIicans-Radicals if you
please-of the most approved orthodoxy.
We are satisfied that the mischievous
agitators and the blind fanatics of the
white race who have initiated this move
ment, have placed the colored people in
a false position, one which they would
not have chosen for themselves and
which is not called for by any of the re-
quirements of their condition; and
that the wisest thing they can do
would be to disavow all connection with
it.
The following extracts are from the
letter of Ex-senator Smith:
Having in view only the true interests and
highest welfare OF the negro, this measure
without a shadow nt pracncability in it,
should not, in my judgment, have passed
the senate, and should be unhesitatingly
rejected by the house when it comes before
it at the next session. The evil AT which it
strikes, to-wt. the prejudice ofcolor, should
be left for extirpation by means and causes
which emancipation Is certain, ere long,
To bring into activity. 1t is DOT in the pow
er of congress, by an act of legislation,
TO stitle that prejudice, irrational and un-
christian as it is; but it is in its power to
break up, as we have good reasons to believe
this measure Will, the whole common school
system of the late slaVeholding States, and
remand the children of poor whites, very
numerous class. and of most, if not all, the
blacks, to their former condition of barbar-
ism. But this is not all its tendency will
be TO unite the great body, perhaps | should
say, all of the white race OF that section, i j
political action against the cOlored race, and
in such contest the former certain to
obtain the asceudency. unless South Carolina
be an exception. In that State colored cit
iZens are in a decided majority but never
theless, their tenure of power is not a little
uncertain in Consequence of the mOnstrouS
abuses, instigated as is understood, by white
adventures, that have been pracJiced in
their administration OF affairs But with
the great body of whites united in a strug-
gle for power in their respective States,
with success achieved. or with moral GER
tainty of it, where will they cast themselves
in the great contest which is to come off in
the fall of the approaching centennial year
Under the circumstances. TO adopt a policy
which is highly deprecated by ali of
our friends the white race in the late slave
Sates-citiZens who maintained their fidel- |
ity t. the Union amid perils and sacrifices
OF which 1t i difficult To form an adequate
conception, and that, too, when they are
standing by the coortd race in all essential |
partIculars-wouid seem To me to be the !
height of imprudence. Why should we |
enter at this juncture upon such a hazard |
oHs experiment
Another Indiana Platform.
TpIiora i frr,i+FrI Of rrDOl ~,