The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-05-25
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.


by the Senate last Saturday morning,
because we felt that all Democratic
protest would be unavailing aud that
where nothing could be accomplished
by reason, silence was better than
speech. The Democratic members OF
the Senate have, however. made GAL
liant fight against the inevitable and, to
show to their constituents that they
have put forth every means
in their power TO defeat the
abominat;ou OF the bill, kept the
Senate in session all night last Friday
while they uttered their protests against
what they knew to be the determine
ton OF the Radical majority. Of course
no single vote was changed by this long
debate, and we do not suppose that any
of the speakers expected to change q
vote or to defeat the passage OF the
bill. They were resolved to show to
the people that they had done the beet
they could to prevent the adoption OF g
law that will certainly prove disastrous
to the best interests of both the white
and the black races in the United
States. The Senators have done all
they could. 1t now remains to be seen
wha. the House will do.
What the bill seeks to accomplish is
sufficiently shown by the first section
which reads as follows:
"Bsit enacted DC, That all persons
within the jurisdiction OF the United
States shall be entitled to the full and
equal enjoyment Of the accommoda'
tions, advantages, facilities and priv.
Ieges Of inns, public couyeyaDces on
land or water, theatres and other places
OF public amusement; and also OF COM
mon schools aud public institutions OF
learning and benevolence, supported. in
whole or in part, by general taxation;
and Of cemeteries 80 supported; subject
only TO the conditions and limitations
established by law, and applicable
alike to citizens ofevery race and color,
regardless of any previous condition Of
servitude."
To the people at large the most OBJ
noxious feature of the proposed law is
that which relates to the
public schools. The sentiment
which depreeates the education
OF whites and blacks in the same
school has for its support something
stronger than mere prejudice. There
is good and substantial reason. furuish-
Ell by the well known characteristics
of the race, why such co.edacation
should not be sanctioned by law. Ii it
is forced upon the people by act Of Con-
gress, the inevitable result will be the
repeal OF the free school laws in the
border and Southern States where the
negroes are mainly to be found, and
the education OF the children will be rel
egated to the private schools, supported
by individual subscription, as was the
mode before the war. The free schools
of this State and other States will cer-
tsinly 60 down before the evils let
loose upon them by the Civil Rights
Bill, and there is no party in West
Virginia, however ardently devoted to
the cause Of popular education, that
can carry the burden this bill seeks to |
impose.
The force OF the Disaster will be felt
chiefly BY the negroes. The whites
are generally able to provide for the
education Of their children. but with
out the free schools now author
lied by law and maintained by general
taxation, the negroes will be lett in a
darker and more hopeless state of ig-
norance than in the old days OF slavery.
Upon this point it ia proper to quote the
opinion of colored man. Rev. W. D.
Derrick, pastor of q Methodist church
in Richmond, Virginia. In q sermon
recently delivered he is reported as hsv
ing said: ...
From the information received the
government now contemplates the pas
sage OF bill in which the co-education
OF the races is to be attempted. Now I |
may be frowned at by my people, but
regardless of frowns and consequences
/ will say the moment such an enact4
me1t appears on the statute book the
public school System in the south will
receive a blow that will cause it's death,
aud no power this side OF Heaven can
infuse lite into it's dead carcass. Then
who will be the losers,
the blacks or whites7 I need
not tell you. That l leave to
you to answer and ponder over. ! am
anxious Tor the days to come when caste
will be abolished; but the teachings OF
two hundred years cannot be forgotten
in ten or twelve years. / will look for.
ward with gloomy anticipation il such
a law is passed. Why. how long would
such system be maintained in the if
teen ex-slave States 2 just a. long as
would be required to 20 through the
forms OF law needed to destroy it. Some
bring the lswiulness OF the bill in ques
lion; but all things that are lawful are