The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1874-11-04
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL.

Gerrit Smith PronOunces fn FAVOR
OF the Measure--What the Republic
can Party Must DO.
Editor of the Chicago Advance.
MY DEAR SIR: in your much es-
teemed letter, which came last even
ing. YOU ask me for an argument in
favor of the civil rights bill. Par
don me for replying that no argument
is needed; certainly no such extended
one as you will naturally expect from
me. All that is needed is few lines,
which shall cut short all argument.
During our mighty struggle against
slavery, [ was wont to say to my hear
ers: There is no law-there can be
no law-for slavery" [ justified the
declaration, not only on the ground
that slavery is the superlative piracy,
anl that not even for the inferior
forms of piracy can there be the law;
but | also justified it on the ground
that slavery, or what is claimed in
slavery, is an impossibility. Slavery
claims to transmute man into chat
tel-immortality into merchandise.
But ali its laws to this end are, neces-
sarily, no laws, and utterly void. For
d
thing are as absurd and vain as would
be laws which declare wood to be
stone, or stone to be wood. No judge
or juror is bound to respect such laws.
Laws that fly in the lace Of nature and
of God are to be trampled under foot.
What argument, then, based on
valid law, can there be against the
'civil rights till?" None. This bill
but afirms (and provides punishment
for action to the contrary that "a
mans man." and nothing less, what
ever his complexion or condition. Ify
then, there is a State law or a NatiOn-
al law in the way of this bill, such
law is void. Every State is bound to
uphold the rights of manhood, and to
maintain the equality of all men in
their civil rights, or, in other words,
in their equality before the law. The
nation is bound to do likewise; and is
never at liberty to abdicate its supe-
rior power and skulk behind a State.
just here let me say that social rights
do not need, and are not entitled to,
the help of law. They are to be left
to regulate themselves.
God grant that the time may soon
come when human law shall be con-
fined to its proper sphere, and be held
back from all interference with the
Divine law! God grant that the time
may soon come when human law shall
consent to accept man just as he comes
from the hand of his Maker-from
the hand of Him who hath made of
one blood all nations of men! Then
human law will no longer busy itself
in curtailing human rights, and in
distinguishing among the races of
men; but then, instead of this bias
phemy, it will be reverently aiming to
protect these God given rights.
In the matter of legislative and ju,
dicial proceedings the vast majority Of
our countrymen are practical atheists.
If they would only cease to make
mans law paramount to Gods law,
they would all be in favor of the civil
rights bill
The Republican party is now wit
Messing in sadness-may it be in deep
" penitent sadness!-the first fruits
of its hesitancy to pass the civil rights
bill. 1t was mainly this hesitancy
which emboldencd the dcvilish De-
mocracy to multiply its numbers at
| the South, and to push OH with fresh
| zeal for election triumphs at the
| North.
The Republican party, if not indeed
| the nation also, will perish if 5,0O0.-
600 Of her people shall continue to be
| insulted and outraged by the contin-
ued delay to pass the civil rights bill.
But the party will save itself and the
nation also if it shall lose no time to
make this righteous bill law. l dc
not fear that it will sink into minor
ity by its members running after Ohio
and Missouri in their diseraceful and
detestable policy of imitation and re.
pudiation. They are at least toe
worldly-wise for that. My only feal
of the Union, of the party, or the ma.
ton comes from turning their backs
on God and His humble poor.
| Very respectfully your friend,
GERRIT SMITH.
| PETERBeRO, Oct. 20.
L