National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-01-27
BELRlEG BEFORE TEE IUDlGIABY C]A4IfE
THEY DEMAND eoESTITUUOgaL RIGBFs.
II They IDemaud-AdmissiOn to
Schools, Hotels and Pub.
lie COngeyanees
Required.

the National civil Rights League OF America:
Gsatgenea Of the Judiciary Committee, House of
ReprcseAfGfircS: The undersigned, on behalf Of
the eoIered citizens Of the United States respect
fully represent that We claim, under the Consti-
tuition OF our country, and according to the plain
est rules Of the common law, accepted and judi
eiOUsly enforced in our country, those rights,
privileges and immunities which are enjoyed 10
common BY oil other American citizens. This
general proposition, its proprety and justice, need
mol be discussed before you, for We are Of the
opinion that in the general form in which this
statement is IBaae there is no member OF your
committee Inclined 20 offer 1: contradiction or to
entertain with regard to il the slightest doubt
Difference Of opinion arises. however, even among
cur best disposed felIow-eitizens as touching its
practical application. Our demand is, in a word
one as 10 legal equality as regards our Treatment:
in public inns, in places OF public amusement or
entertainment, for which license from legally
constituted authority is required in stage-eoaches
railroad cars, or other means OF public Carriage
EEpassengers or freight; the burial of our dead in
cemeteries; the impartial enjoyment OF accOmmo-
dStiOIs and advantages furnished by BENEVOLENT
institutions, public schools supported in whole
OF in part al pubic expense, or by endowment for
public use. the admission Of colored citizens up1a
grand Or petit luries in State or United States
courts: indeed the enjoyment Of every legal right
and the meeting OF every legal imposition IN the
same manner with the same advantages and like
sacrihces with all other American citizens, with
out Discrimination. excuse or loss by reason Of
race, color, CT condition o. previous seryitute.
ItW.ll be perceived from what We have herein
stated that We ask 10 q word, the enactment of
THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL
so.caiIed- as the same passed the United States
Senate al tie last session Of Congress Il - h.
cause We have learned that there has been pre-
stnttd 20 your committee an amendment, in the
nature Of substitute, containing n connection
with the hTst section pTOvis9, That (! any State
or tie IrOi'eg authority in aRy State having the
control Of common schools or other public nstf;u-
lions Of learning aforesaid, shall establish and
maintain separate schools and institutions giving
equal educational advantages in all respects, for
different classes Of persons entitled 20 attend such
schools and institutions such schools and insti:u-
tiOEs shau be q sufficient compliance with the
provisions Of this section, far they relate to
schools and institutions OF learning that ap-
IeaE before you.
We concede that this provise is prompted by
spirit OF kindly feeling 10 the class that we ave
the honor Of representing. We believe your hon
Orablt committee is not Insensble Of the fact thI:
the colOred American. in many parts or our cUuu-
try, Is without those conyenieDces Of building and
apparatus SO essential TO thorough aud general
cOmnon-echOOl education, and that il is your pnr-
pose. through the legislation now uuder colsid-
Grafton, to secure to him such convenienees
While we do not object TO the lettering Of the
cOlOTed American in this particular, we ask that
the provision that you make be not peculiar and
separate one; We ask that the school established
By your legislation be a common school one TO
which the children Of American parents without
regard to color and nationality and without re.
gard to religion and pecUniary circumstances,
may 20 and enjoy tBe largest advantages of eda-
Cation-an education which is in fact Americ41
Several objections present themselves to our
minds against the proposed legislation as cJn-
tained in the prOvisO referred to:
First. We are American citizens and electors:
our residence fixed and not to be disturbed: like
Others held 70 duty, to society and TO govern
ment, State and Federal, according TO our stua-
ton and circumstances; interested, too, like
others intelligent and devoted patriots in that
high destiny which, we trust, awaits our country,
we need and therefore respectfully ask, that leg
islatiOn which while i brings Us the advanta yes
81 81 .
IMPARTIAL AND EQUAL,
furnishing an education and discipline which
do not tend to beget clannish and selfish idsas
and convictions, but such as broaden and deepen
oIr convictions as patriots and citizens-such as
do not breed a sense Of degradation in our souls
sell-distrust aud inieriOrity-bu: those which
willie they give US self knowledge, by contact and
competition, give us as we'll knowledge Of others |
leading US to know their strength and their weak.
DeEs, and thus inspiring in us the Spirit Of that
gust emulation which, while It develops the high !
liable sel!-Tespect,
This contact and competition or which we
sPeak, II TIE colored American as scholar and
student Of cur common schools and colleges meets
the expectation Of mis- friends, may tend largely
10 destroy that sense Of sUSsriyIitT which 81,
ahG the negtos condition in this cyuntrv were
We. calculated 70 create, and which obtains 10
s~s-s eAIeLI On the part Of the dominant classes
Of the country.
NC separate school Will ever WORK the destru,-
ton Of the seLse or inferiorty or the sense OF
EQpeTiOTtty Of when We epead, as existing On the
part Of the colOred American 10 the first case,
and in tie second on the part Of the white. We
therefore ask the establishment Of the Common !
school in the interest Of both classes, AMI 50 in |
The interest Of society generaly-the highest !
good Of the country,
Second. again, we regard the proposition as
n the pTOYisO as altogether impracti- |
cat bic, and for the following reasons viz: In the |
trst place il is impossible tor school authorities
70 establish double public Institutions or learn
ing, which, being separate wholly, can furnish |
equal educational advantages in all respects" |
The impracticability OF such attempt will the |
more strIKiugly appear when we take into account
the fact that the classes TO be provided for are on
the part, white, and On the other cOlOred. !
The FIRST class generally being in authority, and
for many years largely the tax-payinZ class and
without ILat interest IN
THE coLoRED CLASS
which they have in themselves and in their own |
children. will in all prOba bty fail to provide for
The colored class schools as ample and convenient
and advantageous. Put us all, therefore, in the |
zane school, and when provision is made gene
rally tie colUTed child, going with the while 10
tie same schOOl-TOUm and 10 the same Instructor,
has the assurance given him, the guaranty fast |
and firm, OF education and its blessings Brought |
by taxation which is at once grounded in selfish
and enforced by law; while IL this proViso Of
which We speak becomes the law governing in |
this matter, the taT-payIng class, as Indicated,
having controlling influence, and being them.
selves Judges as to whether they do furnish the |
cOlOred American equal educational advantages
in all respects, will not furnish US such advan-
taRes as il would seem this pTOvisO cOntemplates
Indeed, as We feel and believe, the thing is i'm
practicable.
In this connection It is to be recoIIected also
that taxation for eOmmon-schOOl purposes is not
at all popular in many parts of our cOuntry-in-
deed, it is by no means popular In any part Of the
South. II 1t be answered here that the eOlOrei
American in many localities outnumbers the
white American, and may therefore OutVOte the
ether class, imposing large taxes for the erection
Of schOOl-hoUses for his own children, to the eX-
clusion even Of those Of the other class We wsuid
submit that we favor no such condition Of things
as this. We would have a common tax assessed
imngspd nv and tRir imD1girOn nd e,l
lected in the interest Of the entire Community
without discrimination as to color or nationality
In the second place our communities generally
are Tot able to pay such tax as would be needed
TO provide separate double, public institutions Of
learning. Ordinarily our different communities
ind It TO De all that they can do, certainly all
that they are willing to do, to provide toIeraOly
fair school Accommodations for the dominant
class, while hey provide very inferior and in
Perience and your observation, gentlemen, attest
the truthfUlnesE Of this statement. We respect
fully submit that it would be
NEITHER FAIR NOR WISE
to impose such double tax. 1t would neither be
Just Tor the black taxpayer nor for the white;
and this suggestion is worthy OF consideration.
Take, If you please, illustrative this statement
munity Of one thousand white taxpayers; the
white taxpayers decide that there shall be es-
tablished double school accommodations OF a
separate character, the white taxpayers pay
double tax, the cOlOred Taxpayers are not ex-
cused, and they are compelled to pay a double
pTeEsOrs. Where is the justice 10 this proceed
Jog? The eOlOred taxpayer certainly, one would
leel, might properly enough enter a protest. Il |
will be perceived that this prOViso lie tWo-edged
sWCrd-cuttiDE both ways The negro objects to |
a separate school; under this provIsO, however,
ana the CIRCUMSTANCES supposed, be is compelled |
70 aid in its support.
}. But allowing that the proposition contained
IN the pToviso is practicable, We regard IL and
all fuch legislation as plainly uncOn sttutional.
Our Constitution ss at present amended, II not
terror 10 the ratification Of the fourteenth and
EUeenth amendments guarantees equal freedom
and equal rights without Discrimination in eX.
press terms, and BY natural and Inevitable i'm
plicRtiVn impartial and equal enjoyment Of Suoh
rights, as we'll ns equal and impartial protection
10 such enjoyment. We have no doubt that our |
courts, State and national, should the subject be
brought 10 their attention iudiclally in view Of
violation OF the provision, would declare such |
provision null. Our Constitution and our laws.
certainly the general Jurisprudence Of the conn
Try, recognize and tolerate no measurement Of |
Individual rights predicated upon compIexlon
The word white" is not 70 be found In our Coust
tuition. The fathers, after due elaboration re.
fused 10 put II there. By what authority can
Congress legisate as II II were there? CertaInIy
there lie no confederation OF
REASON OR LAW
iuFtifying such course; and more the very ob,a.,
Of the fourteenth and fifteenth amendmentS ~
the Constitution, and the laws Of ConRresS an
acted in pursuance thereof as well as the present
amended constitutions OF the various StateS Of |
the Union, and laws enacted In pursuspce Of
these az these constitutions and laws have n A. |