, 1874-11-03
THE CIV1L-RlGHTp BILL.

With the close Of the polls today all farther
interest In tho Civil-Richts bill will probably
cease to e1lat. Tho seoato last yoar, as an act
Of posthumous glory to Charles Sumner, passed
tho bill securing or attempting to secure to
colored persons aocia1 equality. Tho bill went
to tho House, and, though tho Republicans had q
majority Of over two-thiirls, 1t WAS not permit
tcdto pass, There were several reasons for this.
Tie white Republican mombers Of the House
from the South werc extremely anxious that it
should not pass. They know chat Oh that ques-
ton there WIS no division OF opinion among tho
white pcoplo ut tho South, Republicans or De1nu-
Gratis, aud that it's passage there would have tho
offect Of uniting the whites at the full
elsctions, thereby defeating the largs
majority Of Republican candidates for Con-
gresa at the South. It waa also understood.
80 far ns such thing could be understood,
that tho President would veto the bill, In which
case 1t WAS posslbe that the negro voters would
consider themselves abandoned by tho Ropublic-
ans ard revonge themselves accordingly. It Was
concluded therefore, to leave tho bill untouched,
"a sort Of pending promise to the co1ored
troops, ind at tho sa1no time brokon ono In the
estimation Of the whites.
Tho agitation Of the bill, however, had all tho
effect TINT its passage could hayo had In the way
Of exciting tho people Of both colorB, and Of
uniting tho whites firmly against it. It had the
offect Of making that bill the sole issue in tho
election Of Congressman, thereby defeating tho
tn III 1%o %f,xY
would otherwise have carried. It hns, in fact
produced that most unfortunate condition Of
affairs where tho voters are arraycd against
oach other by considerations Of race and
color. The Republicans, as consequence, will
today lose dozen or more Representatives in
Congress by reason Of the attempted passage
OF that bill.
In the meantime the white friends OF tho
negro hayo beeu earnest in their remon-
atranees against tho bill. Gov Brornlow, OF
Tennessee, than whom there ia no moro do
tosminod or Intelligent friend Of tho colored
race. Inns roaoIutely opposed its passage, hold
ing it to bo q national calamity, having for
It's inevitable consequence var of races, IN
ending in tho discontinue Of the Africans.
We have his authority and that Of Gov.
Brown, aud Of various othorH Of both partie1.
that all the neishborhood troubles at tho
South during tho past summon ure duo direct
" to the agitation on this bill. 1t has dono
much to disturb the peace aud harmony
which time las effected botweon tho races.
We have a1so the unaoinoua opinion
Of tho gentlemen who administer tho
Peabody Fund, and Of othora deeply nad
J personally interested In tho education Of tho
| negroes at tho South, TINT the passage OF tlo
Cl9il-Rights bill, With ita provision for mixed
| Schools will postpone indefinitely tho education
OF colorcd children, and will destroy all that has
Deen dono atuco the War for general education
in tho South.
! Undcr these crcanstanecs, when 1t is demon.
stzatcd that thu bill, II taaaod will in fact coil
! fer no aubstautial benofita on tho colored peo.
| pic; tint itH paaaago will roault In continued
warfsre bctwoeu the races; that It will lead
immediately to tho closing OF tho public schools
III tho South, both for white aud black, thorebJ
defeating tho laudable efforts to rodeem tlost
States from prevailing ignorance, the good sonAs
| Of Congress will 500 that this bill ought mol
to paAa. The country Ia tirod Of tha atriso
the beat interests Of tho South demand
that tlera shall be peace, Tho colo1ed msu has
boon clnancpatel. md has been arnod with tht
balot. He las all the political rights that til,
white man has. So far sa tho law IL concerned