Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-01-15
The Civil Rights Bill.

which we find reported in the papers,
in substance as follows:
MIR. Stephens then took his position
in the back part of the hall on the
Democratic side and proceeded to read
speech in opposition to the bill, re-.
marking that in view of the great i'm
portance Of the subject, he had re-
duced his views to writing. He was
opposed to the bill not because of
any opposition he had to do full and
ample justice to every human being
within the legitimate jurisdiction of
the Federal legislative power
The chief end of all GOV ernments,
whether State or Federal, should be
the protection of right. His opposi-
ton to the bill sprung from no preju-
dice against any man, woman or child
within the limits of the United States
on account of race, color or previous
condition Of servitude. lie enter
tanned no feeling Of that kind and was
not governed by that action by any
influence of that sort. His opinion of
justice and its proper administration
was not founded on that dogma so
generally announced, and so pernic-
ious in principle, but that ii should be
for the greatest good of all, without
detriment or injury to any. While he
did not hold the doctrine of the equal
ity of races he did maintain the great
truth, however paradoXical it might
appear, that all men were created
equal. That great truth had been an
nounced first by council Of state on
the 18th of July, l776, but it was new
er meant to convey the idea that all
men were created equal in all respects,
physically, mentally and morally. 1t
was, however, meant to assert the
great law of nature that all men had
an equal right to justice and to stand
perfectly equal before the law.
In proof Of his willingness to have
all natural rights secured to colorel
men he sent to the Clerks desk and
had read extracts from addresses made
by him to the people of Georgia, He
was opposed to this measure, Or to
any one kindred to it, because of the
want Of the necessary power on the
part Of Congress under the Constitu,
ion He assumed that every mem.
Der would admit that the pow ers of
Congress were specific and limited,
and that all the Legislative powers
which Congress could rlghtfully exor-
else were held by a delegation from
The people of the several States, and
he commended that no powers had been
onfo""ol n" To"os"oee Nv nithor a.,
18th or 10TH amendments to the Con
stitution.
The proper remedy was in the iudg-
nent of the courts to be rendered in
such Il way as Congress should pro,
'1de, declaring any State act in viola.
ion of the rights of citizens to be null |
md Of no effect. He opposed the
bill further because of its inexpedien-
y. Even if the power were mQues-
Toned in Congress to pass this law,
le thought it would be iniudcious
md unwise to exercise it. 1t would
,e better to leave all such matters to
he States. He did not believe. in
'oint of fact, that the colored people
# Georgia desired it. Their religions
md church organizations, except in
he case Of Catholics, were distinct
rom those of the whites, and they had
heir own schools and a college for
olored youths. They did not desire
0 have mixed schools.
Mr.. Stephens occupied an hour and
quarter, having had his time extern
led twice. AS usual, however, in the
ase of written speeches, its delivery
id not command or receive the atten-
ion of the House. The peroration
'as in these words:
you who call yourselves Republic
ans shall, in obedience to what YOU
onsider a party behest, pass this bill
4 the vain expectation that the Re
ublican principles Of the old and true
ehersonian schools are dead, be AS
ured that you are indulging in fatal
fusion. The old Jefersonian Demo
ratic-Republican principles are not
cad, and will never die so long as
ne devotee of liberty lives. They
Jay be buried for period, as the !
lagna Charta was trodden under foot
1 England for more than half cen
1ry, but these principles will come {
p with renewed energy, as did those