The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1874-01-16
CIVIL RIGHTS.
hr. Eiiiott's Great speech, Delivered Ina
the House Of Representatives, Jan. z.
IN Answer TO Alex. IL. Stephens.

n.
In Answer tn Alex. IL. stephens.
The bill to secure the civil rights of
Americans being under consideration,
MIR. Elliott, colored Representative
from South Carolina, said
While am sincerely grateful for this high
mark of courtesy that has been accorded TO me
by the House, II IL a matter of regret to me
that 1t Ia necessary at this day that / should
rise in the presence of an American Congress
to advocate bill which simply asserts equal
rights and equal public privileges for all
classes of American citizens | regret, sir,
that the dark hue of my skin may lend color
to the imputation that am controlled by mo-
tlves personal to myself in my advocacy of
this great measure OF national Justice Sir,
the motive that imPels me liz restricted by no
such narrow boundary, but is as broad az your
Constitution. l advocate it. sir, because it is
right. The bill, however, not only appeals to
your justice, but it demands response from
| your gratitude.
In the events that led to the achievement of
American independence the negro was not an
inactive or unconcerned spectator. He bore
his part bravely upon many battle-feds. al
though uncheered by that certain hope of
political elevation which victory would secure
to the white man. The tall granite shaft.
which grateful State has reared above it's
sons who fell in defending Fort Griswold
against the attack of Benedict Arnold, bears
the names of Jordan. Freeman, and other
brave men of the African race who there ce-
mented with their blood the cornerstone of
the Republic. In the State which | have the
honor in part TO represent the rifle of the
black man rang out against the troops of the
British crown in the darkest DAYS of the
American Revolution Said Gen. Greene, who
had been justly termed the Washington ofthe
\ North in letter written by him to Alexander
Hamilton. on the 10th day of January, 1881
from the vicinity of Camden, s. c.:
There Ia no such thing as national charac-
ter or national sentiment. The inhabitants
are numerous, but they would be rather more
formidable abroad than at home. There is a
great spirit OF enterprise among the black peo-
pie, and those that come out as volunteers are
not little formidable to the enemy"
At the battle of New Orleans, under the i'm
mortal Jackson, colored regiment held the
extreme right of the American line unhinch-
ingly, and drove back the British column that
pressed upon them, at the point of the bayo-
net 30 marked was their valor on that occa-
sion that il evoked from the great commander
the warmest encomiums, IA will be seen from
his dispatch announcing the brilliant victory.
AS the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Beck,
who seems to be the leading exponent on this
floor of the party that is arrayed against the
principle of this bill, has been pleased, i'll sea
son and out Of season, to cast odium upon
the negro and to vaunt the chivalry of his
State, may be pardoned for calling attention
to another portion of the same dispatch Re-
ferring to the various regiments under his
command. and their conduct OH that field
which terminated the second war of American
independence. General Jackson says
AT the very moment when the entire dis
comtture of the enemy WAS looked for with
confidence amounting to certainty, the Ken
lucky reinforcements, in whom much rel
ance had been placed ingloriously fled"
In quoting this indisputable piece of his
tory, do so only by way of admonition, and
not to question the well-attested gallantry OF
the true Kentuckan, and to suggest to the
gentleman that it would be well that he should
not taunt his heraldry proudly while he
bears this bar-slnister on the military es
cutcheon of his State-a Stare which an
swered the call of the Republic in 1861, wher
treason Numbered at the very gates of the
capital, by coldly declaring her neutrality il
the impending struggle. The negro, true u
that patriotism and love of country that have
ever characterized and marked his history OF
this continent. came to the aid of the Govern
ment in its efforts to maintain the Constitu
ton. To that Government he now appeals
that Constitution he now invokes for protec
ton against outrage and unjust prejudice
founded upon caste
But. sir, we are told by the distinguished gen
tleman from Georgia (Hr. Stephens) that Con
gress has no power under the Constitution Il
pass such law. and that the passage of sucl
an act is in direct contravention of the right
of the States. | cannot assent to any sucl
proposition. The constitution of a free gov
favor OF human rights. Indeed, the Thir
teenth Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amend
ments, in positive words, invest Congress
with the power TO protect the citizen in hi
civil and political rights. Now, sir, what ar
civil rights? Rights natural, modified b.
civil society. Mr.. Lieber says
- By civil liberty il meant, not only the alb
sence of individual restraint, but liberty with
in the social system and political organism
combination of principles and laws whic
unlsnn xyl a1U
of man. Civil liberty is the result o
mans two-fold character as an individual an
social being, so soon as both are equally re
spected. "-Lie6er on CiUH Liberty, page 20.
Alexander Hamilton, the right-hand man o
Washington in the perilous days of the the
infant Republic, the great interpreter and OK
FOUNDER of the Constitution, says:
L" Natural liberty is gift of the beneficen
Creator to the whole human race civil libert
is founded on il; civil liberty il only naturs
liberty modified and secured by civil society.
-HdmiHon's History Of american Republic
vol. l, page 10.
In the French Constitution of June, 1906
we find this grand and noble declaration:
Government is instituted to insure to ma
the free use of his natural and inalenabl
rights. These rights equality, liberty sc
curity, property. All men are equal by natur
and before the law. Law is the sam
for all. be il protective or penal. Freedom
the power by which n man can do what doe
basis is nature, its standard il justice, its pre-
lection is law, its moral boundary is the max
i'm Do not unto others what you do nc
wish they should do unto you
Are we then, sir, with the amendments
our Constitution staring us i'll the face wit
these grand truths OF history before our eyes
with innumerable wrongs daily inflicted upo
five million citizens demanding redress,
commit the question to the diversity of Stat
legislation? In the words Of Hamilton
is it the interest of the Government
sacrifice individual rights to the preservatio
of the rights of an artificial being Gale
States? There be no truer principle tina
this, that every individual of the communit
at large has All equal right to the protecto
of the Government. Can this be free Go
eminent If partial distinctions tolerated
maintained 2"
The rights contended for in this bill a
among 81 the sacred rights of mankind, whiC
are not to be rummaged for among old pare
ments or musty records they written,
with sunbeam, in the whole volume of h
man nature, by the hand of the Divinity itse
and can never be erased or obscured by mort
power"
But the slaughter house cases the slaug
ter-house cases
The honorable gentleman from Kentuck
always swift to sustain the failing and disho