The daily gazette., 1874-09-23
The CirH Fights BjU0 Meas
ere OF me Republicdn PdrtY.-
Is IL Constitutional.
From the \. Y. Trime..

An instance in point, and one tol
which the Republican party would DOL
we'll to paV more careful attention.
than it has done Vet, is the Senate |
Civil Rights Bill. The measure has
been in terms, or hy inference, indors
cd by several Republican conventions
in the North, though it has received
a very cool reception lay the Repuhli |
cans Of the South. We did not hcsitat,
when il was before the House last ~r~
sion. t. cypress our own disappl.Nal
of il But il stands on thc calendar oi
the House with the Endorsement of the
Senate. and it is likely to hc call'l ur|
for action one Way or another nest
winter. IN Our opinion it i a hlll
which seeks some ends not worth seek
ing AT all, and seeks other very rood
ends hy means entirely beyond the
legitimate powers of Congress. 1t
proposc~ To- give the Colorcd people
equal "cniuyment ot the acconnnoda-
tions. advantage, facilities, and privi-
| lcgcs Of inns, public conyeyances on
| land and water, theatres and other
| I,laec, Cf public amu~cmcnt>.' We
| 1ail To- md anywhere in the Constitu-
ton any authority Tor the assumption
hy Congress of the right 10 control
theatre or inns and if it existed, We
question very seriously if IT would be
wcll to exercise il in the way proposed
The bill also guarantees equality in
the advantages oil common schools and
lpubIic institutions OF learning, supper
tod in whole or in part by general tax
alton This certainly, 50 tal as II Is
meant to secure education 10 the ne
grocS. pursucS not only praisworthy
hut necessary object Of legislation
The negroes must he educated. J.
the States 7cparatcly Will not educate
them, the Federal Government viii bC
compelled 10 find means to do 50. Blu
surely no one will pretend that among
= the means authorized by the Constitu
ton Of the nitcd States for this pur
pose j. the subiection TO a heavy 1lnt
of school teachers and trustees who re
fuse to receive blacks with whites il
State schools. Thi- method of gcttinl
at the proposed object Is al best clumsy
and feeble. But it j. also clearly un
!, constitutional Of VIC might say, extra
= constitutional.
@ Now we beg ouI friends v hO thlnl
a that this fact may safely be disrcgarde
to remember HAT our observance of lh
Constitution y absolutely essential |
: enable us 10 compel others 10 obscrv
n il. The Sanctity of the tundancnt:
.s law is all that stands in the way of III
o payment OF the Rebel debt, on compcl
# SatIon for slaves, or, to bring the cas-
:. down tolhc very rights weare arguing
the overthrow Of ALL the civil right>
t. the COlored people. If, iii our cilur
es 10 promote negro education, We -
le aside the necessity of direct author
Lh Ity from the Constitution, can We e
AZ pect the Democrats, il they should ga
! The power, to let the Constitution pI
vent them from helping their ancie
oi and present friends " are thrcs
IN ening the Constitution from a periet
al ly good motive, but good motives
he politics are feeble as compared wi
,w selfish ones, and a constitution which
violated by the one will not resist 4
force of the other.
% The rights which the amended Go
stitution was intended 10 secure d
al important and clear. These ought
w he firmly enforced. But if We stra
're That amendment TO cover Il crowd
he things it was, never meant 10 cover,
IN. shall only break down its capacity
At usefulness altogether.