Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1874-10-06

delicacy in coming where he was not
wanted, he might perhaps In an action
for damages, after prosecuting it for
or atty dollars for the injury TO hts per-
son and honor, and the court might pos
zibly inflict upon the offender fine of
about the same amount. Thus, II q
man undertake to protect himself
and his theater, restaurant, or
hotel from the distasteful intrusion
Of white man, he may do so at no
greater risk than the possibility Of hav-
inc to nav (either under existing laws
or under the civil rights bill seventy
five or one hRndred dollars. But should
the intruder be black instead OF white
man, and the proprietor should exercise
the same right, the penalty fixed by the
civil rights bill would be fine OF not
less than Eve hundred and not more |
than one thousand dollars, or imprison-
nent for not less than thirty days nor |
more than one year. Thus 1t will be |
seen that by the provisions OF the bili /
which Charles Sumner bequeAthed as a |
legacy to the Republican party, and |
which they seem to regard as a sacred |
gift, a trifling act against q black man |
Is made a grave crime, for which the |
offender may be punished with hne |
and degraded with ImpTisOnment-the
amount OF the one aud the duration Of
the other being fixed in express terms,
so that the mercy Of judge. nor the
sympathy OF a jury, can neither miti-
gate nor suspend the sentence
which the law is made to pronounce.
But should the same act be committed
against s man of the Caucasian race he
would be left to seek his remedy under
existing laws, vague in terms, doubtful
of construction aud dependent in their
application upon the opinion OF Judge
OF the capTices Of jury. It would be
difficult for any fair and impartial mind
to conceive of law so unjust and un-
equal in its application, aud it would be
equally difficult TO compass the insane
fanaticism and wicked malice which
urges its enactment. In speaking thus,
l am moved by no hostility to the color
ed race. but appeal TO every fair judg-
ing man Of any race or color to tell me
if this is not
| A FOOLISH, WICKED AND UNNECESSARY
LAW,
emanatinq from reckless and ev;l-mind-
ed politicians to subserve the basest
party ends When I denOunce and con-
denim it am speaking, as L believe, for
the best interest and well-being Of every
one of both races in the
/ southern States. l speak in
the name Of myself, of every reputable
man in the south, OF the en- ire
party TO which l belong, when | de-
nounce as q foul calumny the statement
so often repeated by Republican paTti-
sans, that we desire to reduce the col
[ ored race to its former condition OF ser
/ vitude and slavery. For myself | have
] ha u.l,raA r,anFala
/ Of the south, nor is there any reason
! why any sonthern man should have, for
| I do them the Justice to say that their
conduct in the main during the fearful
/ political eonvulsions through which the
| country has passed in the last fourteen
wears Of its history commend them to
/ our sympathy and protection. have
/ no respect for that aggressive and law
/ less spirit OF violence which would in
/ flict upon them unprovOked outrsges
/ and subject them TO wantOn insult aud
! abuse. They are an integral part of our
people, their home is among US, their
/ interest is linked with ours, and, in my
| judgment, it is not only q christian duty,
but q political policy, based upon the
I soupdest wisdom, to give them every
protection furnished by the law
/ 10 any class Of citizens, and to
elevate them by proper means In
/ the scale of morality, virtue and
| intelligence; and believe this to be the
sentiment and wish of every class of
I our people. As an evidence Of this |
I may remind my colored hearers that
| only little while ago when a shameful
viola ion Of the law was committed
/ against some OF their races In 3 neigh
| boring county, universal cry OF indig-
nation was heard throughout the State;
! the governor hurried to the scene of the
outrage and brought to bear the whole
of his official power, to bring the guilty
perpetrators to justice. General For
rest, the boldest trooper that headed
charging column, or led an army to
battle during the civil war-a man whom
you have been taught to believe was the
unspaTiBg enemy of your raee-eame
promptly forward and rendered his ser
vices TO 20 in search of the murdereTs
/ and drag them to punishment, and
/ believe what he said; aud that if he had
been sent clothed with proper authority
there would not have been one OF them
| at large to-day. While | am satisfied
that the mass OF
THE SOUTHERN PEOPLE
Of all parties entertain for the cOlored
| man the kindest feeling except when
sngered and exsspersted, by some act
Of aggressive and offensive legislation,
prompted by party leaders for partisan
| purposes Yet there sre few white men
I of any party in sections where they may
themselves feel their effect, who will
consent to the passage Of any laws in
tended to control their social relations
or impair their civil rights. The white
Republicans in Tennessee are almost as
unanimous in their condemnation OF the
civil rights bill as the opposing party,
and the few who do favor it are the
seekers after office, and lack the courage
and independence to oppose it. The
Republican senator in congress from
Tennessee, denounces 1t in terms of
passionate, indignant eloquence, and his
fierce onslaught upon il finds an echo
among the sturdy msuntainesrs Of East
Tennessee, who have heretofore been
the staunch sdherents Of the Republic
esn party. The recent nominee of the
Republican convention at Chattanooga
for governor OF the State, only accepts
it in a modified form, and my
own competitor, Judge Lewis, the nomi-
nee Of the Republican party to represent
this district in congress, in a recent
speech in the city OF Memphis ridiculed
the pretension that it was ever intended
to enforce a commingling Of the races in
the public schools of the country. I'm
Just and tyrannical legislative enact
ments may control the physical actions
OF men; the appliances OF power may
restrain active opposition and hush the
murmurings of angry discontents, but
no power of Legislators, kings or poten.
tates can fetter their minds, or shacklt
the thoughts of mankind. The patriotic
/ Polander is as national in his thoughts
and aspirations now as he was the day
his nation was dismembered and hi
liberty destroyed by the power and ia
pacity Of surrounding tyrants.
THE GALLANT FRESHMAN,
whether wandering in exile or living il
! humble poverty in his native land, re
q members the ancient glories OF his rae
! with the same fond affection which
! stirred his heart centuries ago, before h
: had become the slave Of English pOwe
! and oppression. He is as proud to-day
/ Of the unsullied pstriotisn and higl
! achievements of his Ssrsfeld, O'COn
! mel, Emmett, Mitchell, and others O
! his great countrymen, as though thel
: had been prescribed, murdered or exilet
, bv England. He loves Ireland with tn
same devotion that his fathers did befOr
r the English conqueror led his invading
: army across her border, and while sh
! still had name and q plsce among tn
o nations OF the world. Let US not, by un
q lust legislation, by engendering hstre'
between races and hostility between sec
+ tions, have either an Ireland or Polan,
= in America. Let time adjust and a.
= those relations OF society which no legis
y Iation can reach without danger Of dis
7 rupting them, and let experience dem
!. onstrate the wisdom Of the step befor
q they are further disturbed. Let th
a white race be Just and forbesriDg, an
q the cOlOred race, thankful for the past
J wait with patience the unfoldings of tn
y future. The proper method Of reguial
n ing, by adequate legislation, our nation
\ al currency, of increasing or reduC
!. ing the same, commensurate witt
20 the wants of the people an
n the needs of commerce, presents que;
n ton OF Increasing Significance, and on
a which is rapidly growing national in il
ID magnitude and scope. 1t is already al
ir tracing the attention of financiers an
" politicians throughout the country, an
q during the past session Of congress
ii great number OF expedients were sul
~ gested to meet the emergency, and
.. great variety Of conflicting views e.
s pressed as to the merits Of the differeE
10 measures proposed and advocated on
81 side of congress, Among the peop
40 and political leaders there seems TO
81 as little harmony of sentiment an
,e identity Of opinion as was manifested
10 exist whel the subject was so often an
1e so elaboTately discussed in the nation
~ laOialattire These different or,inioi