New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1874-07-09
Extracts from the Speccis Of Hon.
III. R. Pease,
In the Untted states Senate, on the Civil
Rights Bill, May II, 1871.

l desire, briefly, to give some of the rea-
sons why shall support this bill. l shall
vote for it, first, because | regard it as
measure of justice and second, because
believe the Congress of the United States
has the power under the Constitution to
enact law of this kind. Not only has
Congress the power, but believe it is the
duty of the American Congress to enforce
the provisions of the fourteenth amendment
to the Constitution.
AS to the relation the citizen bears to the
General Government and to the State, am
fully satisfied that the thirteenth, fourteenth,
and fifteenth amendments define and provide
new polcy-a policy unknown to the old
Constitution. The rights, privileges and
immunities Of citizens of the United States
are now defined, and Congress has now the
power to protect the American citizen III
those rights by all needful and appropriate
legislation. l believe the fourteenth amend
ment clearly indicates such Il policy. 1t
gives to every citizen the equal protection of
the laws; it prohibits any discrimination in
the administration of the laws Of the several
States against any class OF citizens on ac-
count Of race, color, or previous condition.
Every citizen, high or low, rich or poor, native
or foreign, can now claim equal protection I'M
der American law, and it authorizes Con-
gress to afford protection by legislation,
looking to the enforcement or the law. 1t
simply embodies the principles of the
Declaration of Independence in nation
al statute. In a word, the General Govern
ment proposes to protect the citizen IN his
inalienable rights"-those rights which
grow out of the nature of society. Argu-
ments have been presented here to show
that this measure is unconstitutional. have
listened patiently and attentively to the able
and ingenious efforts that have been made by
the opposition, and | am satisfied that the
position taken, the arguments advanced by
the friends of the bill have not been met
they are unanswered, and in my opinion
unanswerable. / will not attempt at this
late hour reorganization of the arguments
used in support of this measure it is wholly
unnecessary.
Sir, l have heard what might have been
expected we should hear from the opposition,
of party which has opposed every measure
looking to the elevation or protection of per-
sons of African descent. Why, sir, at every
step and stage of legislation by Congress,
from the breaking out of the late rebellion
up to the present day, every measure intend
ed for the preservation of the Government,
or the equal protection Of tn ecitZen, we have
been met with the cry, sit is unconsttution-
al" The thirteenth and fourteenth amend
ments have been declared by the Democrat
ic party to be Unconstitutional, null, and
void"
And thus it has been in every attempt
made by Congress to legislate for the pro-
| lection Of the people in enforcing the pro-
visions of the amendments to the organic
law of the land.
Believing that we have the Constitutional
right to enact this bill, there is still another
phase Of the question to be considered, and
that is, the question of eXpediency. | be.
lieve it is expedient for the Congress of the
United States to protect the citizen of the
United States at any and all times. 1t is
expedient, in my judgment, to establish at
this time a remedy for existing evils; tC
settle now and forever the question of the
rights, privileges, and immunities of Ameri.
can citizenship.
There is no more opportune time than the
present hour. l believe that this measure
has the endorsement of the popular sense
believe that the American people are pre-.
pared for it, and are DESTROYS that the ques
ton of the status of the negro IN this coun
try shall be fixed. If this measure were
to-day submitted to the American people for
their suffrages, it would meet an overwhelm
ing approval. The American people are dis
posed to establish Justice and the equality Of
the citizen before the law.
The main objection that has been brought
forward by the opponents of this bill, is the
objection OF mixing the races in schools
Every Senator who has spoken in opposition
to this measure has expressed very serious
solicitude as to its effect upon the coloret
people of the South. Now, l have beer
somewhat familiar with their condition, an(
especially with their educational interests
for the last ten or twelve years, and under
take to say that none of the difficulties that
have been portrayed will obtain in the South
l believe that the Southern people recognize
the Importance Of educating the masses O
the people. There has been great revolu
ton in public sentiment upon this subject in
the South during the last three or four years
And believe that to-day majority of the
Southern people are in favor of maintaining
a system of common schools, that shall eX
tend the benefit of the rudiments of ar
English education to all her people and the
people OF the South so fully recognize this
that it this measure shall become law, there
is not State south of "Mason and DiXon's
line" that will abolish its school system.
Men are governed by their interests. The
Southern man knows that it is for his interes
to encourage education and protection of the
lately-emancipated people; that it is for hi
interest to have school-house near hi
plantation for his interest to encourage tht
building Of churches, because it will seeur,
labor, 1t will secure contentnent and perma
nency among the laboring classes. The his
tory OF the last few years proves that Ii
those States or sections Of the country where