New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-06-25
From Virginia.

RICHMOND, VA, June 10th, 1874.
To the Editor Of the Ne,o Nu!ioaal Era:
My last letter to you had the effect Of Gre
ating commotiOn among the several aspi-
rants for Congress in this district, and their
respective friends. Prominent among the
latter are a number Of colorcd men who are
most active in times of political eXcitements,
and who are the loudest in their professions
OF loyalty to the interests and welfare of
their own race. They are equally anxious
that. the Civil-Rghts Bill shall receive the
sanction of Congress, when the question is
discussed in their presence, and yet these
active workers are either office holders or eX-
pect to be, and must do the bidding of their
would-be masters, who declare their opposi-
ton to the Civil-Rights Bill. Why is it these
men DO not come out like men and say they
will support no man for Congress who is OPP
posed to granting them the same rights they
themselves enjoy? Because they are not
true to their own race and their own freedom
Turn them out Of Office tomorrow and they
become peculiar champions of civil rights,
and oppose to the bitter end any man who
may dare to differ with them. Equal rights
is secondary consideration with them, and
will be so rs long as they feed from the pub
lie crib. They were among the first to de-
neunce Mr.. Smith for expressing opposition
| to this measure and yet they have not found
it necessary to prefer as his successor any
one who is any better.
| The want of united action and the appa-
rent indifference Of the colored people to the
fate of the Civil-Rights Bill, has had more to
do with shaping the course of Southern Re-
publican representatives, than any conviction
on their part that affirmative legislation
would be hurtful to either race. L have ire
uuently conversed with representatives in
Congress, and when the question was dis
cussed, they would invariably say: 1.-The
negroes do not demand it, and the whites do
not want it; besides, could not be returned
from my district if voted for it," The lat
ter reason being the great moving cause iol
their negative action. Mark you, Mr.. Editor
81 could not be returned if voted for the
Civil. Rights Bill.n When once these gen.
j tlemen were made to understand, they would
not be returned if they voted against the bill
they would soon vote their sentiments, in
stead of, as at present, being guided by poll
cy. We would then be able to see who wa
for us and who against us. There is not
Republican in Congress to-day, from an.
Southern State who does not owe his electlol
to colored votes, and while it is true in man.
instances, by them alone they could no
have been elected, it is equally true tina
without them they would be dead cocks in tn
pit. 1 have yet TO meet the first colored MAJ
in Virginia, who is opposed to the Civil
Rights Bill; even that great and goo'
English man, Rev. w. Il. Derricks, whose
remarkable remarks have been so highly ap
plauded by the enemies of the bill, SAID
me, he was not opposed to the bill, and on
of the objects of his sermon was. to agltat
the question and force the cOlored people u
take some stand with reference to 1t. MI
Derricks' great reason for opposing, IN Ill
speech, the bill, was that it would jeopardiz
the present educational system in the South
and l believe this is the same reason give
/ by Republicans who oppose it. Ii its oppo
nents would think for a moment, and 60 bac
, over the various battle-ground of the South
where, since the war, we have fought ie
! measures tending TO advance the colored ma
f they will find that not a single measure
| any character has been proposed that has NJ
been combated just as fiercely, and as a
, structive prophecies made as are now.
boyo not forpOtten the first time ever adv,
, caetd free schools in Virginia, and l fe
l that to my personal popularity alone 10
j owe my escape from coat of tar and feat
s ers. Men swore they would never submit
4 taxation to educate other peoples children
as for teaching "niggers" to read and write