New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-11
FUTURE OF THE NEGRO RACE
ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE CIVIL RIGHTS
RITJ,

THE COMMON SCHOOL SYSTEM OF THE SOUTH
IN CASE OF IT'S PAssAGE-ALLEGED DESIGNS OF
TIE DEMOCRACY UPON THE RIGHTS OF Ihk
BLACKs-sENAToR EAToS's RECENT UrTERANcEs
CRTCIsED-THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE ADMoN-
IsmED To EsCHEw FEDERAL POLITICS.
To The Hon. W. q. BRowNLow, U. 5. senator from Ten
nesSce
SIR: | had the satisfaction Of perusing
your recent letter wherein you express sentiment OF
vehement opposition 20 the Civil Rights bill Whe
should feel myself justified in using language as
strong that which you have seen fit to adopt yet
fully concur with you in the opinion that thus measure
ia not only uncalled for at this time, but would De
raught with serious evils to both races and particu-
larry the cOlored race Having In view only the true
interests and hghest welfare OF the latter this measure
without a shadow Of prdcticabity In IT, should not
in my Judgment have passed tue Senate and should
DO unhesitltugly rejected by tho House "heh
1t before it at the next session. Tue e'i at
which it strikes TO wit; the prejudice OF color should be
left for exrpation by and causes which emanc
patton Ia certain ere long bring into activity 1t Is
not i'm the power Of Congress- by an act OF legsalOn
TO stiae that prejudice irrational and unchrisan as IL
is but t in its power TO break up as we nave goou
reason 10 believe tins measure WILL the whole common
school system OF the late SayehOldDg States ana re-
mand tho children OF poor whites, very numerous
class and OF most II not all the blacks to their former
will be the great body, perhaps should say all
Of the white race that section IN political action
against the cOOred race, and IN such contest tio
former are certain to obtain the ascendency' unless
South Carolina be exception In tnat state coiored
citizens are in a decided majority; but. neyerthe-
less, their tenure of power Is not niue I'M
certain in consequence OF the monstrous abuses,
instigated as is understood by white adyenturers'
that have been practiced in their administration OF
aft irs But with the great body of whites united in
struggle for power in their respective states WIN sue
cess achieved with moral certainty OF IT, "here VIII
they cast themselves the great contest when Is 10
come off in the Fall Of the approaching centennial
yearl VIII it not be into the arms OF the Northern
Dcmocracyl Tho latter will the ith Of March, A. d.
1871 have been excluded from place and power ior 10
long years aud are looking with greedy eyes
from other side OF Jordan into the land which, II
il does flow with milk and honey, hath nevertheless an
abundance OF alment To 2ratlfy the DEMOCRATIC dppe
te however voraciOus it be. In short IL must oe
apparent every Of dscernment that they lhtehd
to have possession OF tho Government from
and after that date, and that, too. by
coalition with the unrcpentant Rebel Democracy
OF the South Such coalition Is inevitable and VIII ere
long become apparent the whole nation whether IL
shall succeed not Is the great the paramount Issue Oh
which the next residential election should be maze 10
turn. But not a few acts have been done' measures
adopted AMI proceedings had at Washington since freS
ident Grant was tumphantly reelected winch were cal
cuated to cast this issue into OBLIVION aud to bring dis
credit on the party which had carried on the Govern
ment with so much up that date such as the
Credit MObcr Investigation. the Congressional graz at
the contents of Treasury the Jayne aud sanporh
swindes alike garruoUs and vacillalng treatment Oh
the currency question having for one OF It's most por
tant results measure which President Grant was con-
strained veto because 1t set all sound plcipe' anu
the experience of the world at defiance.
Under these circumstanc to adopt policy which IL
highly deprecated by all friends Of the white race
ia the late Slave Statescltizens who maintained their
fidelity to the Union amid perls and at sacrifices OF
which it is difficult to form an adequate conception anu
that too when they standing by the coored race III
all essential partcuars-would seem to me to be the
HIGHT OF imorudence Why should we enter at this
iuncture upon such a hazardous experiment. 1 am
sensible that that this bin, properly con-
srucd, does not require the cOmnlnginS Oh the TWO
races IN one and the school or In other words
does not make illegal for the people OF that section to
have separate schools, set for white children ana
another for cOored as now universally the But
II would be so represented by demagOgues and VIII be
believed SO generally to bring on those friends
all OF the evils OF direct and positive en-
actment IL is apparent that its tendency will
be to strengthen the Southern Democracy, ana
fear il will embaTrass those white Citizens VINO nave
hitherto taken the lead opposition thereto as to in-
duce them to abandon the struggle in despair "h1t
can the coored race do in carrying the contest SIN
clebaudedi They need the counsel and assistance OF
thi, class OF citizens and il there are any who are not
disposed to treat their opinions and wishes on such
subject with Difference desire it may be understood
that not OF the number
But let me return to the interests Of the cOored
INQUIRE What have they toexpect from coalition such
as have adverted to- provided it shall by means OF this
and other ndscreet be enabled to get posses
sion OF the Government the ith Of March, A D. 1877
Is il not certain that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments will for the time being be and become
dead letter. every preten,e of right thereby secured
TO the colored race be spurnedi
We have recently had in Connecticut revelation OF
what likely or rather certain happen in the event
alluded TO- The Democracy here, with the active as
sstapce Of the railroad and sprtuous liquor interests
both powerful and with the indirect aid OF ultra tenn
perance men, who ran separate Ticket have, after
lapse Of quarter OF century, succeeded III obtaining
control Of all branches OF Government. The
Legislature elected the Hon. W. W. Eaton, highly re-
spectacle gentleman, a member or the United states
Senate to succeed the Hon. WIN. A. Buckingham. who
as Governor did far than other Of our civilians
10 crush out the late Rebellion, while Mr.. Eaton
"a ala understood open in his utterances condemning
the measures adopted by Mr.. Lincoln and his compeers
TO that end The Senator-elect Is remarkably frank
man. and do honor 10 that trait OF his character He
made speech Hartford some time ago, In response
to grauatory serenade on occasion OF his election,
from which, for the purpose or showing tue correctness
OF views here expressed, submit an extract, as fol-
lows:
shall try with other honest Senator'S, TO take away
the Federal bayonets from brothers in the South
thai every State land shall have the same right OF
local selGovernment and the same exercise OF II as
our own has that Arkansas and South Carolina and
Louisiana may elect their Representatives you elect
yours. [ now, as / always have been a state
Rights Democrat OF the old Jerersonan school.
What the honorable gentleman means by state
Rights Democrat OF the OLD Jehersonian school" 1t
would puzzle another Solomon to tell. In the first
place. have say Mr. Jefferson never called himself
Democrat but a Republican. 1--WE ALL" he once
wrote "Federalists, and all republicans" and that