New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-02-26
From Tennessee.
NASHVILLE, TENN, Feb. II, 1877


10 lie Editor Of the MeO National Era and Citizen.
While looking over the morning paper 1
noticed an article under the head "W. G..
Brownlow's views on the Civil Rights bill y
in which he most decidedly misrepresents
the colored portion of his constituency.
lie was elected to the position which he
now holds by a radical legislature, upon the
broad and Heavcn-approved principle of
equal rights to all mankind. We concede to
the Senator many acts of justice and right to
the colored people Of the State while govern
or, but since his election to the United
States Senate he has never lifted his voice
in defense of the equal rights of the colored
man; so you see that all his loyal acts as
governor have been comprehended by the
more than cimerian darkness of this q guess)
his last act, viz, opposing the mixed school
feature in the Civil Rights bill.
We think the Senator, like many others,
has outlived his days of usefulness.
He says "the colored people of Tennessee
have now fine opportunity to show their
good sense"
Yes, and we propose to avail ourselves Of
this opportunity by demanding our Represen-
tatiyes in Congress to support and give their
votes and influences to every measure of this
bill; and if they fail to do this they misrep.
resent the colored people of this State, and
need not hope TO be again supported by their
suiirages. l know I speak the sentiments of
every respectable colored man in this State.
We believe that civil rights are needed more
in this State than in any other State of the
Union. Again, the Senator says 81 appeal
to the colored people Of Tennessee to say if
they believe their race can get better educa-
tional facilities by attending the same schools
with the whites" We say most cmphati-
cally, yes. First, because in most districts
iirst-claSs colored teachers are not paid as
good wages as first-class white teachers
secondly, because in most cases when the
pro rata is insufficient to pay all teachers
their full wages, Gas it most invariably ISL
the colorcd teachers suffer most the conse-
qucnces are that all colored teachers of real
worth go to other States to ply their avoca-
tion. Thus, you see, that most Of our best
teachers must so elsewhere to make living.
The Senator again says, let the colored
people Of Tennessee ask Congress to desist
from legislation which enforces mixed schools,
and they will have a new claim to respect
and confidence" We ask Congress to pass
the Civil Rights bill as presented by Hon.
Charles Sumner, without change; and we
would say to the Senator from Tennessee, if
asserting the rights of freemen will not "cs-
tabish a new claim to respect and conf
dence," we ask not their Respective ask
not their confidence.
The best method Of Graduating American
prejudice is by the co-educatinn Of the races:
it is by this only that the white race can be
taught q practical lesson Of the equality of
the colored race to the white race.
Ask Hon. A. II. Stephens and Robbins
what they think of the equality of the races,
assuring them that you will not give pub
icty to their opinions and mark the change
which association and debate can make in a
few weeks. So much for co-education. We
ask for the mixed school clause because we
think it advantageous demand it because
it is right.
JAMES w. WHITE.