Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-03-03

pdsSrt W NC cld'eS IL IS power given to
the Federal Government only to pass upon the
aot be power given to Congress to act by leg
islalou directly on the persons of the State by
enforcing penalties for violating its provisions,
The Constitution declares that no State shall
pass u law impairing the obligations of con-
traces, [, cannot be aud never has been con-
teoded that this provision enabled Congress to
meddIe by legislation with the private con.
tracts Of ciIizeus of the several States, but ONLY
gave 10 he Federal courts the power to declare
all such laws unconstitutional and void which
impair the obi yatons OF contracts. This illus.
tration is familiar to every lawyer. But it IS
maintained that the fifth section, which gives
TO Congress the power to enforce by appro-
pirate legislation the provisions of the four.
tcenth article, gives the power to Congress to
pass this bill. The power contained 10 this
fifth section was already granted by the last
clause Of the eighth section Of the first article
of the original Constitution. which says:
The Congress shall have power to make all
laws which shall be necessary and proper for
carrying into extcu ion the foregoing powers,
and al other powers vested by this Constitution
in The Government OF tho United Stases, or in
any Department or officer thereof.
As we'll contend that this last clause author.
Fed the Congress 10 enter the wide field Of leg
slation regulating contracts between citizens
of the States as that the fifth section of the
fourteenth amendment conferred % the Con-
greos the right to pass this bill. The meaning
OF both is that Congress shall SO provide that
the Federal judiciary shall have the power and
meaus to declare any such laws unconstitutional
aud void. This has already been done by the
judiciary act and amendments thereto
But this bill should not pass it the power of
Congress to pass it was conceded aud plain. 1t
processes to be for the benefit Of the coored
man. 1t is believed it will be ruuous alike to
the white aud cored race
desire to say here that the white people Of
the South generally haze no such prejudices
against the blacks as are ascribed to them by
the peoi lie of the Northern States. They are
willing and DESTROYS to give them protection 10
every right aud to cOncede to them equality
before the law: but they will resist by all legal
means every attempt, whether 10 or out Of
Congress, to establish social equality between
the races. There still remains much OF the
feeling of kindness toward the colored people
which existed 10 the days Of slavery. During
the war, when the white male population was
in the army, their wives and daughters we're
often left at home under the protection of the
slaves Many OF them deserted their posts
when the Federal Army approached, but
know of 90 Instance 10 which this trust was be-
trayed ty violence. When the war ended and
the freedom OF the slaves was ar accepted fact
in the Southern States, they were orderly aud
polite. Kindness existed between the men who
but recently occupied the relation OF master
aud slave, which relation had just been rudely
sundered by the fate OF war.
Not until the mcaneSt OF the northern peo-
pie came among us aud sowed the seeds Of dis
content and impertiuence did We see any mis-
behavior on the part of the colored men. And
even now, after they have been used by the
republican party as political tools and seuti-
ments of hatred to the whites have been care
fully instilled into their minds, say, without
fear of successful contradiction that no race Of
people, as ignorant, uodcr the same circun-
stances have b.. haved so we'll 1t is not preju.
dice or feeling Of uukludness TO the coored
man that Influences the opposition of the
southern white mau to this bill, but a sincere
desire for the welfare of both races and a wish
to live together in peace.
We feel that peace 10 the South is a neces-
sity to us. Our torbearaoce under SO many
provocations ought to satisfy the most skepti-
cal that W, are determined if possible to keep
the peace. We DESIRE therefore, to keep away
all sources Of irritation, all causes Of collision.
uaoy of which will follow 10 the train Of this
bill when it bee, mes law
Who does DOT know, who knows the colored
man, that he would never have desired mixed
schools, mixed sittings at hotels, theatres, 10
cars 10 camboats and aSylums, If he had not
been iudusriously taught TO demand them, aud
even now the great body Of the race does not
desire any such privilege" 10 many, be-
Iievc iu all, Of lhc Sou,hero States they have
now the privileges OF all except at hotels aud
in public schools and asyums.
Where is the community 10 the Northern
States which would pstrouzs any hotel where
colored men We're allowed ~ come to the same
table aud sit between man AID wife? An at
tempt to force this on any Southern community
will eudaDger the peace of that community.
Where is the Northern hotel keeper that would
like 10 be forced to receive colored people and
give them mixed sitting with his white guests,
ifespeclally the colored guests outnumber the
white, as might be the case in many localities
in the South? We are impressed with the
belief that the mixture Of the two races in Iu-
patio and deaf and dumb asylums will destroy
them iu the South and thus break down the
most useful and beDi6cent charitable institu.
tons 10 our land.
Virginia has striveu honestly under thous-
and difficulties to give the coo!ed people their
rights, but 10 some particulars, for the good OF
both races, has given them separate rights.
She has established an asylum for colored lu-
natics, well provided and we'll governed, the
first ever established 10 the world. But the
worst feature of the various amendments to
this bill is that providing for mixed public
scho u.s. Virginia has ouly since the war en-
tered upon the free school system Of education,
and though by her Constitution she was not
compelled to enter upon it till 1876, it was
taken hold of at once. We 10 that State felt
the necessity OF instrucing and educating the
colored people, and the system ipaugurated in
1871 has already attained large proportions
To appreciate fully the progress we have made
10 public schools you Must look at our impoV
erished condition. A people almost bankrupt
have done wonders toward educating the child
rem of both races. By the last annual report
OF w. H. Ruffoer, Superintendent of Public
Instruction, pages l22 and l23. it will be seen