The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-05-31
SOCIAL EQUALITY PRACTICALLY IL
Illustrated.
EXTRACT FROM THE SPEECH OF SENATOR
NORWOOD.

The recent speech in the United States
Senate by the Hon. Thomas NJ. Norwood, of
Georgia, on the Civil Rights Bill, has at
tracted much attention throughout the
country. 1t is humorous, pungent and sa-
tirical, and at the same time argumentatlve
and eloquent. From time to time, as our
space may permit, we shall publish extracts
from this speech, which our readers will
find to richly repay perusal. Speaking Of
the strong prejudice existing, even among
Congressional advocates Of the bill, against
association with negroes, the Senator pro-
eeeds as follows
The prejudice is not peculiar to the Demo
Gratis. 1t belongs to us all. 1t is nature, it
is instinct, it is reason. But l will go one
step farther in this direction, and then turn
!, to another branch of this subject. Let us
suppose a case. And without doing violence
to the hypothesis, we will suppose that after
some champion of this bill to establish social
equality has by his vote conferred upon his
poor white constituents the honor of free
association in schools with negroes, those
constituents should meet in convention and
resolve that they have taxed his patriotism
long enough and will not impose upon him
the burden Of serving them IN Congress any
longer, but will permit him to take rest in
the bosom of his family and among his
cOlOred associates, even against his earnest
protest that he is willing t" sacrifice himself
further ia their behalf Fortune meantime
deserts him, and he becomes poor - for
even Congressman, after his term is
ended, may become pOOr-and from necessi-
ty, has sent his daughter to a mixed school.
When she attains sweet sixteen, young
"A gentleman of African descent, of untainted
blood, who can trace it back in its ethnO-
logical purity as far as Noah and the flood
educated and refined, exquisite in dress as
Beau Brummell, as worthy to lead the fash
ion as Beau Nash, wealthy as a moiety con-
tract, Custom House or District ring can
make him, and approaching the advantages
OF civil rights, calls to ask of that ex-cham-
pion of social rights the honor OF his daugh-
teFs hand. Does any one doubt from which
extremity of that ex-champiOn the instant
reply would cOme-whether from his head
or his heel! He would not reply categori-
cally; but with few vigorous utterances,
not strictly canonical he would impinge on
that astonished Adonis with both ends in
action like supple-jack and battering-
ram combined.
But. turning, he finds his sweet sixteen in
spasms, and on inquiry for the cause, hears
tale that makes him cry with old Braban-
ito, Who would be father!" She tells
that doting father, that civil rights advo-
buy the negro vote cheap has sold his
daughter dearly, that the elected gentleman
is her affianced lover that she has dotted on
him from her youth up; that in the same
school where her philanthropic father
placed her at ten, close at her side sat, day
by day, for years, that idol of her heart;
that her first lesson in Peter Farley and
Ovid's Art OF Love rippled in melOdious &C
cent from his angelic lips
il cayne ar nv ear like sweet south,
That breathes upon the bank Of violets,
Stealing, and giving odor -
shat when to the theatre and to the church
she went, the Apollo Of her bosom followed
and took seat near by, and thus ana thus |
he had won her heart
And finally, in loves rhapsody and with |
Cassandra's inspiration, she forewarns him
that her life, like his political party, must |
be failure, and, like Ophelia's, end in |
z. muddy DEATH" unless he will bless the
bans, aud after death lay herself and dar-
ling side by side in the same graveyard be-
meath damask rose and a lovely black
lack-Or quercas aigrd-as emblems OF their
homogeneous union, and chosen by his pO-
etc soul as the happest type of civil rights.
ILaughter.]
a Let us pause for moment and consider
whether this advocate for civil rights would
thus act. Ii there be one who would not,
let him avow the fact. If any white man
IL,
such an alliance by a member of his family,
let him declare it and put himself in Coven-
try. Ii he would not, the conduct OF the
champion is true to nature But would it
be logical from his standpoint He denies
that he has any prejudice to the negro race
Then why not intermarry with them! He
has no feeling Of hostility! Then, all other
things being equal, why oppose his marry
ing a relative? The question admits OF but
one answer, and that is the answer that God
has put in the mouth Of every white man
since he created man in his diversity. That
answer is, it is repugnant; it is loathsome;
it is unnatural. The feeling, the prejudice,
the repugnance is universal. Such an ALI
ance is unnatural and what is unnatural is
forbidden, and what is forbidden is unlaw-
full. say this prejudice is universal. Chimes
do not change it. Education does not sub
due it. Christianity does not abate IS. Civil
izatiOn but intensifieS it, and science has
demonstrated it's wisdom and its benefit to
the physical, intellectual and moral power
and greatness of the white race. 1t had its
birth at creation, has survived the ages, the
graves of empires, the subjugatiOn of races,
and will ever live, and perish only with the
last expiring man. The question of its uni
versal existence no more admits of doubt
or argument than the proposition that black
is not white, or that the races are distinct.
But it is said, "Admit it, then what Of it Z
. We do not mean that blacks and whites
shall marry" Well, if you do not, then
be consistent, be logical. Let precept and
example be in harmony. If you would not
marry them, then coerce no conditions in
lite among the poor, who cannot protect
themselves, by which YOU increase the dan
ger of such relation. You would not en-
courage marriage between the two races,
but you compel them to associate in every
social condition. You tell your child not to
gamble, but that he must associate with {
gamblers. You tell him not to drink, but he
must affiliate with drunkards. You instruct !
him not to lie, but chain him neck to neck
with liars. You caution him not to make ,
companions Of negroes-not to marry one ,
but you tie him side by side in the tenderest
age of life with negroes. And thus you tell