Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-03-27
For the Register.
THE CIVIL RIGHTS REMEDY,

passed both houses of Congress and be-
come law, people as matter of course
are casting about i'll their minds what
they shall do about it, or how they may
get around and evade it. The fact that
there is nothing in the bill itself which
deprives the Legislature of state Of
the right of adopting legislature enact
ments which shall practically nullify
it has set many of our Legislators to
thinking and some of them have en-
bodied their thoughts in propositions
to their respective Legislatures.
We do not propose to discuss the
constitutionality of the Civil Rights
Bill here; we prefer to leave that matter
to those whose duty it is to pass judg-
ment upon such things, viz: the Judi
cial functionaries Of the government;
but we do wish to say word as to the
measures of relief proposed. The pas
sage of the odious bill was simply a
matter of Hobsons choice with US, we
could not help ourselves and such be-
ing the case it becomes us as sensible
people to accept the situation and do
the best we can underthe circumstances.
We all recognize the design of its pro-
jectors as being in great measure, to
create disturbance during this critical
period Of party politics; therefore let us
make up our minds firmly that they
shall be defeated in this and General
Grant shall be deprived of the pleasure
of bounding US with his dragons. The
unfortunately seems to rub the hardest
upon the feet of inn-keepers, common
carriers, &c, and it's proposed very
generously to relieve them of all obli-
cations to the public, Or to bestow upon
them discretionary powers which shall
amount TO the same thing.
While our sympathies are with those
who are placed in this some what en-
barrasing position by the law in ques-
ton, yet we doubt the expediency of
doing for them that which is proposed
by some society from its earliest stages,
has seen the necessity, in its dealings
with this class of persons; to place the
restrictions and obligations which are
now recognized upon them, and We
venture the assertion that there has
been no provision of this common law
more jealousy watched or more rigor-
ously enforced than those relating to
the duties and responsibilities OF inn
keepers, common carriers aud show
men. Notwithstanding the rigorous
exactions of custom, law, competitions,
&c, there is constant litigation about
these matters, and the most learned de
cisions and most ponderous law books
have been written defining and laying
down the reciprocal rights and duties
of society and these persons. In
word We apprehend that the most ser
rious consequences may flow out OF
such measures and we are there
fore disposed to look Ye:y narrowly
into them before we give them uIipall-
fed approval. For example we will
suppose that there are three hotels in
our town, conducted respectively by
Messrs. Smith, Brown and Jones.
These gentlemen meet in council and
jointly agree to raise their charges far
above the usual rates of hotel charges,
or determine 20 discriminate for or
against whoever they please. We are
travellers, perhaps athousand miles from
home, strangers in strange land, we
enter one Of these hotels, register our
names, place of residence and tender
what the law has determined to be
reasonable consideration. The proprie-
tor being beyond the control of law,
takes advantage of our necessities, de-
mands an exorbitant price and threatens
US with election if we hesitated to pay
it, and we must either submit or we are
left to the pleasing alternative of hug
ging lamp post for the night, amid
the winds and storms of this rigorous
climate.
Some will say that such thing is
not likely or it is very improbable while
there is 50 much competition in this
land. Such however has not been the
experience of the past and there is no
reason to suppose that the human ma
ture of inn-keepers has undergone any
very material changes for the better in
this respect. We would at least recon-
mend caution and discretion in the
enactment Of such measures of relief as
are now proposed.