The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1875-03-05
To correspondents.
Passage Of The Civil Rights Bill.


BY the passage of the Civil Rights Bill
the Republicans in the 43d Congress have
added another and crowning act to the
long list of infamies which will consign their
names to posterity as the most corrupt and
unprincipled men oftheir day and generation.
The bill, having previously passed the
House, WAS taken up in the Senate on Sat-
urday, and after every amendment was quiet
ly voted down, it was passed by vote of 80
yeas to 90 nays. The Democrats voted solid
ly against it, and were Joined in their oppo-
sition by Senators Carpenter, Ferry, of Conn,
Lewis and Spraguc, all Republicans, and
Senators Hamilton, of Texas, Schurz and
Upton, Liberal Republicans. Before the f.
nal vote was taken Senator Carpenter made
an able argument, in which he showed clear
ly the unconstitutionality of the bill, affect,
ing, as it does, to regulate the internal and
domestic affairs Of the States. Senator Ham
lton, of Maryland, also spoke of the consti-
tutional objections TO ii, and asserted the
fact that the two races could not be brought
together in social equality.
The clause in regard to mixed schools was
left out so that TIE bill will hardly satisfy
the more extreme of the Radicals, who re-
gard this rs its most essential feature. The
provision guaranteeing the negroes equal
privileges with the whiteson steamboats, and
railroad cars will have but little effect, for
the favored race has, ever since the war,
claimed and been protected in equal rights
in public conveyances.
The principal source of trouble from the
law, and one that is already being felt, will
arise when impudent negroes force them
selves into hotels and restaurants, where
their presence is Objectionable This will
doubtless provea constant source of irrita-
ton, from which the negro will receive no
benefit.
The section forbidding distinction be-
tween whites and blacks, in the selection of
jurors in State courts, will also be of lit
tie benefit to the negroes for the States may
require certain qualifications for jurors, such
rs the ability TO read and write, for instance,
which would efIectually exclude the large
body OF negroes from the jury box.
Altogether, notwithstanding the pleasure
with which the passage of the bill has been
hailed by the negroes, they will soon per-
ceiye that the law for which they have wait
cd and prayed so long, only keeps the prom
Use TO the car while breaking it TO the hope
The bill las been signed by President
Grant and has thus become the law of the
land. When it was agitated before Grant
declared his intention to veto it, iii came
before him. This promise, it is conecturcd,
was madcifor the purpose Of conciialing the
South and making friends in that section for
his third term scheme. Having by his des.
potic and arbitrary measures alienated the
whole white vote Of the South, he now signs
the bill to conciiatc the negro vote thus
showing more regard for his own selfish ends
than for the peace and welfare of the country.
1t appears to be the settled purpose and
policy of Grant and the corrupt and reckless
men who surround him to goad the unrc-
sisting South into open, armed resistance,
that the pretext may thus be furnished for
grinding them still harder beneath the heel
of military dcspotism; but in this the Radi-
cal faction will be disappointed The South
. has learned by bitter experience the power
Of non-resistance to defeat the designs of ty-
rants; and accordingly they will not be I'M
prepared or surprised by this fresh attempt
to goad them to desperation. They will bear
bravely, as they have heretofore done, tic
unparalleled evils which Cypress them, look
ing TO the better day for the whole country
which we earnestly trust and believe is not
far distant
The Washington Star says there is doubt
whether some of the clauses Of the Civil
Rights Bill will stand the test ofthc Supreme
Court, as being void on account of unconsti.
nationality, A test case will probably soon
be made before that tribunal, and an carly
decision rendered.