The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1874-06-12
THE CIVIL RIGHTS Bile.

from Senator Brownlow, published in
the Knoxville Chronicle Of the ID inst. +,
in answer to the recent attack upon him
by Rev. Mr.. Bartlett, President Of
Maryvillc College, a mixed school. He
says:
81 am opposed to this civil rights bill,
because it is usurpation Of rights and
an oppression on all classes Of white people
in my State and section, but no feature
Of il is TO me more odious than that il is
especially burdensome to the poor white
people, and in utter contempt of their
rights and interests. am the friend of
poor white people, as I have always been,
because | want their children educated
in the public schools at the expense Of
those more fortunate than they, who are
able TO send their childrin TO private
schools. The passage of this civil rights
bill will destroy the free schools of this
State, sit ought to do, for it ie better
to have no schools at all than such as are
arbitrarily dictated under this b;ll. The
mere threat to pass it rs the greatest in
suit aud outrage that has ever been at
tempted upon the honest, hard-working
people Of snail property or no property
at all. The negro-wor.hippers who be-
lieve that the poor white man in the
South should not have equal rights with
the negro, and the politicians who urge
it in ignorance Of the needs or in disre-
gard Of the interests Of the people Of the
South, say to the poor white men: we
know you do not want to send your chill.
dren to mixed schools we know il Con
gress forces this measure it will destroy
the schools; but you shall have mixed
schools or none at ALL
The poor white trash of Massachu-
cetts, from where Mr.. Bartlett emigrat-
ed, may cover and yield to the insolent
demands Of politicians, but the poor peo-
pie OF East Tennessee will never be
driven like sheep to the slsughter-pen by
any class of politicians, or by any politi-
cal party. They know their rights and
dare maintain them They have always
been ireemen and they will always be
such The whole Southern Confedera-
ey could not subjugate them, and the
small politicians and demagogues OF their
own political faith cannot do 1t. Yes,
MIR. Bartlett, you can rally the nr'scegen-
alton add Sh'te ded5ne politlc,a's who
agree Win you thas poor wh'se people
have no rights, and Twill meet you with
honest laborers and poor men whose
rights are outraged ara trampied upon
by this aoomlnation.
lie remarks: The negro now has the
equal protection Of the laws; in other
words, he has equal political rights with
the whites. Beside this, in all Southern
States he has equal fac'hties for educa-
ton at the public expense, though he
does not pay one-tenth of one pei cent.
on the dollar OF taxes which are collect
ed to support the schools. No invidious
distinctions are made against him. Ed
ucation IN these States Is out Of the
sphere OF Pohlics, The negro Is amply
projected ana the national legislature
shouia cease ieg'siatlng on the educa-
tionai question and creating tur-
mon ana BAD blood where
progress ana good ieeiing are being Sc
cured FOR several years the greater
portion OIL .he 'ime OF our legislators has
oeen occupied IN iegislaang Tor the negro
race, Amendment aiter amendment to
the 'onsti'ution mas been adopted and
Ia" aiIer Ia" ior the further protection
OF 'he negro mas oeen adopted until he
Is no" lho Poh''cai equai OF the white
man. now 'his mas oeeh achleved' the
negro business ousn' 70 STOP ihe coun-
'ry AZ large Is becoming disgusted with
'he ehor's now oeing made 10 oppess the
whites IN the passage OF Dill which is
not essential '" 'he protection OF the
olacks,
what the people and the States OF
D . La