The weekly Louisianian., 1874-03-14
THE CIVIL RIGHTS or OUR
! RACE

i There is now pending before the
sNational Congress-, a bill PROPOSING
ito guarantee and protect the civil
rights of the colored people of the
acountry; and the subject has been
3exhaustively discussed in its various
relations before the Lower House,
fand to some extent in the Senate.
GIN addition to the views presented
lin debate, thepresence of this ques-
ation before Congress, has elected or
Expression of opinion from promin-
sent men in political positions and
sotherwisc, outside the halls of leg
lislation.: OF this latter class of ut
aterances, md for the purposes Of
9this article we quote Senator
sBrownlow, of Tennessee, who, after,
declaring his opposition to the
pending Civil Rights Bill, adds:
II bclievo that any attempt to en-
sforce, by arbitrary act of Congress.
4 the attendance of the two races in the
schools AMI churches, will result in the
) total destruction Of the free schools;
System III Tennessee" ;.-
/ And concludes: .:
"Let the colored people Of Ten
messed ask Congress to desist from any
Hesitation which cnfofces mixed
schools, and they will have established
q new claim to respect and confidence. !
In the instance OF the Senator
! from Tennessee, and the m%ajorit,
1of those who would abridge the1
civil rights Of colored scitizens il
the matter OF public transit, recrea-
lions, and especially of education:
the false assumption is made that;
athc Civil Rights Bill, involves the
question of Social Equality, OF the.
forced mingling of the two races in
4 che domestic relations of fife. Con-
tact, of the different members of
! the community with each other is a
i condition necessarily invoyed in the
existence Of society itself.
! On the highways, in the bus,
marts of trade, and in a thousand
conventional forms, we meet and
part daily, but in this there is moth
ling that affects the sacredncss O.,
our homes Or determines tho ques-
atAn of our intimatcs. We recog
nize the social question as a per-
5onal one, covering those impre
scriptible rights that are not sub
fleets for either individual or legis
4 !ativo intcr'neddliDg, and that need|
4 no legislation for their protection.
I'VE recognize alike the sanctity oil
the individual taste, and the indi-
vidual conscience, and would II.
more by law or otherwise attempt
Ito dictate to our fellow-cstizens i'll
the selections Of their associates.
that in the choice of their religious
3creed and worship. When we ask
for civil rights: such equality bel
1fore the law, as to the public privil-|
9eges Of citizenship, as give us til.
chance to make all the good and
legitimate possibilities of life a sue
lcess to us, as fully as to the white
Race, we make no covert attack
upon their right to regulate thei,
social relations, as their tastes in
1clinc and accord them in this mat
ter cheerfully-a privilege we pro
hose to claim ourselves.
Tut when, from misapprehensior.
'of the purposes and effect Of the
legislation sought for Or protcc-
zion in the vital question Of educa-|
ton and other matters, either Re {
|publicans or Democrats, taking rel
|fuge in the prejudices that have
up out of the great wrong oil
slavery, attempt to prescribe our
race, We must protest. No misap-
.prehcrsion however gross, and mel
prejudice, however sanctifed by age
and the sincerity Of tho parties enter
tanning it,. can make us forego OF
|abate one jot Or little of our de-
mand for ourselves and children, to
possess and enjoy the same public
and privileges that attach tof
the most favored classes of the COM
munity, and this DO we claim under
tl,o ~nnarantee of the National CONF