The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-06
V I r G I N I A.
Tho Civil Rights Bill Offensive to the Old
Dominion Conservatives-A Protest and
Counter Protest Sent to Congress
Colored Men a Jurors.

RICHMOND Jan. 8. 1s7A
There is great excitement in legislative and
ofaclai circles here over the proposed passage BY
Congress OF the Civil Rights bill, already alluded
to in the HERALD, which Is mainly owing to the
educational feature OF that document
Both houses OF the General Assembly to-day
adopted a series Of resolutions that declare:-
That there Is purpose upon their part upon the
hostility to the federal and rsar%ns
S Is caa ac c e
recognize the four eenth amendment OF the federal
so sR snas aaS
msn Hns the law Of the and
should oSeysa rsspssssd BY a he socrdins.s
iSle congress s Civil s VIOLA
Court; nirinse%eai On ths s9nstiip a and
sn and ss 10 Ie s
ton OF the southern States ana that It's en9rcsd app
s systems 81 s's " the enshH
ef'SlSa Ii
sna s
spsi Inn re-
ssl sspsriss ana shs and insasiss
Ss
the people Of vrE S its ssrnes
request Represen taiivesn Congress firmly, but
the ana se and
The above resolutions of protest were trans
mtted BY the Governor to the President Of the
Senate, Speaker of the House and the virginia
Representatives in Congress.
COUNTER PROTEST FORWARDED.
Soon after the adjournment OF the General AZ.
semby this evening the colored members OF the
two houses held conference and adopted coun-
ter protest against the action OF the majority.
They declare that the resolutions adopted by the
two houses were inconsiderateiy rushed through,
onn n m n fraf n r.
the question at issue. They further protest that
this action does represent the sentiment Of the
masses Of the people OF Virginia; that 1t Is at vari
with the Oft repeated declarations Of the con-
sentative party, ana especially Of those used in
the last campaign, and that 1t Is In viola
Of p the General Assembly and every ofcer Of the
State government, accepting the civil and political
equality OF all men before sne Ia law Inc coiof req
denial Of the privileges which the Civil Rights
bill coniers will be, on the part OF the conserv-
and breaking it to the hope" Acommittee OF two
the part or the Senate and three on the part OF
the House, with colored Senator W. H. Stevens as
chairman, was appointed to take this protest to
| Washington. for the purpose Of laying 1t before
Congress as an antidote to the conservative pro-
| test.
! The white republican members Of the General
Assembly DO not endorse the extreme views OF
their colored brethren. They favor the passage Of
the Civil Rights bill, except that clause which
|
catl0nal interests OF the states, and which would
| practically enforce mixed schools, and thereby
break up the present excellent free school system
! in Virginia. Colonel Robert W. Hughes, the late
republican candidate Tor Governor, and oil the
prominent speakers OF the party in the last cam
paign, boldly expressed themselves In opposition
to mixed schools, and the opinion Is strong here
that the most sensible and intelligent persons OF
the colored race do not favor that suicidal policy.
C0LORED JURORS IN CRIMINAL CASES
In connection with the above Judge Guigon OF
| the Hastings Court, to-day made the following
reply to petition OF numper OF c0l0red citizens,
| asking that where colored men are to be tried
colored jurors be selected TO try them. He said -
such Inhabitants as 1t shall think well quaned TO
serve as jurors, who shall be persons OF sound
| judgment and Tree IRON legal exceptions. the
Code Of 1860, section T. chapter 1872, page 6Ss ana
| OF Rights of Virginia provide that the accused
shall be tried by an impartial Jury. 1
have endeavored in the past, as shall IN the
future, to comply fully with these requirements.
selected either as to their intelligence imparttaity,
integrity or fitness In any respect sucn snouI0
come 1t would be my duty as wen as my pleasure
promptly to inquire into and c0rrect the injustice
TONERS and try coored accused by specially select
| ed Jurors OF cOlored men should 90 SO,
| NOT BECAUSE OF THEIR INTELLIGENCE.
| importantly or integrity, nor because Of their
to form for themselves just Judgment and inde-
pendendence to bide BY It uninnuenced; nor be-
| cause OF any other peculiar fitness, out simply be-
cause OF the race, color and previous condition Of
| the accused and his triers compliance with this
| request would therefore be the adoption Of test
| OF qualification not only not recognized by the
law but IN violation OF the spirit at least OF the
| Fourteenth constitutional amendment and the
Civil Rights bill. For these reasons decline to
grant the prayer OF the petitioners"