Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1875-04-09
wASHimCTCa.
d e K 4 & a L. WARRINGTON DE-
SPAH'Ggs.
Ehe Rights eff White and RIack
Citizens Under the ErsTorceisae,s
Act.

During the argument or Thur, da,
h"fore tie Suprt me Court, III tht
| Grant Parish ease, involving he cGu
Hlitntlonuhty 81 tbe Enforcement Act
Attori,ey-G neral William, coilteH.i.d
that by the thirteenth and folrteentiI
amendments aud the Civil Rights BIZ
the people of the United States in
tended to secure to the colOred man,
under the protection of the general
government, the right to make con-
tracts, to sue, to hold property, ard
the various other rights OF citizens :ip.
| On the other side it was crntetGel
| that the fourteenth amendm+nt was
/ hHthlnE more than an empty formul.,
| And amounts to nothng-uothing but
empty and vain words Even before
| the adoption OF the late amendments
| Congress had the power 70 prot c. t:.,
! right 10 voce for Presidential q. c'ore
| Mir. Justice Bradley said: Suppose
! congress ehO0td enact Il law max .i;g il
felony to stetl the prup..it, OF
another. Congress b $ III Il. iI.5ttt,t.-..
nght to pani>h the stealing Of the
| property 81 tie govern 4lent. o. .;
property In tte service Of tie govern
ment; but beyond thnt the law wou..!
ne IL, constitutional New. w:ien u Ian
- so framed mat one part l. c0nsts-
tntlonHi and the other uucOnsti ailO8al,
aid the NO ar SO blended ~ 10 lie
7Inpos~Ih Z 20 Sever, cIn You hold ole
part constitutional aI.d tie Uthe! bart
unconstitutional
Hi" Attorney General replied that
the law ca2.G be enforced as to those
of noes Whic-i Il Is al ali5;vd are within
Tue Il g.'lmatc power OF Congress 70
prOVi1e Tar. IS to the power assumed
III the enforcement act to PROVED
pCn ties Tor IuteIfsrrnc. with Y ter
At Cong residual eject .ons, tht. very
existence OF the governmeu! Gs.p-nd
GU these elections. II Congo B.. il, u.
power to protect the voters, then tn.
White LeagUe Of L"uIsiann-a M
monty 1T lie peCpje--ctr sfaI:d ar0ui.u
the polls and prevent the majority
iron vrtlrg The fifteenth amendment
GoGters upon tie co:orsd people the
lIght TO vote, and unless C0ugr, So has
the power TO enforce that guaran;e.. 1t
8 of no value whatever.
Mr.. Juet'c" Clifford said that in H.
state halnel the coiored nun aIwav-
had tie light II Vote. He would "a :
the Attorney General whether II To- !
indictments we're found of conspIra- +.
cY-one To pravent q coiGrrd mpl and :
the other to prevent a white nlau fyoi9I
v"ting the Circuit Counts u !
the United States have jurisdiction OF /
both cases
The Attorney General discaired
asserting that negroes have greater
lights than whites, but these am-ni-
ntGtS took the HGgrueS from Il cundi
tlOn OF slavery, GUARANTEED them tGuai
lights with the white man and under
Jok t. protect them against al dis
An indictment for d.
lfiNIt g white man Of the right to
Ote at Congressional election could
1e maintained IN the United States
ourts, but lie could not insist that it |
oaId be maintained if the ]. privat son
j the right to vote was at a State cleo :
ION.
MIR. justice Strong asked, if a con- :
piracy was foim; d To prevent a man
rom voting because he was the son Of ..
u freshman, would the United States ;;
lrcuit Court have jurisdiction of
lat 1t would certainly be a rac.. =,
Inc Attorney General said he had
o donht that Congress had the lower :
prGVI0" for such case, but he did
IT say that IL would come under tins
t. i
Mr.. Jns'ice Strong-snvpose th+ u
ate of 5Oa'h Garolina, where til, ::
rJority Of the people are colore1, :,
l~uld change its constitution ;.uI say :
at 10 white man should vote, wouiI :.
remedy against that lie III tue United -,
nteS courts -
The Attorney General said N, bad :,
) doubt shat 1t wonld His idea it. -
e nam al thee amendments vas i
at any and every right gunrauteed :
them may be protected III the -.
urts OF the United States. :