The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1875-02-11


sation.
from the Cincinnati Enquirer Feb. 5th.l
The Passage Of the Civil Rights
Bill.
The House passed its Civil Rights
Bill yesterday, with one clause struck
out. The single fact that risesabove
all others in the history of the Re-
publican party in connection with
this measure is the constantly evi-
dent attempt of that party toassume
a virtue-if-it may be called virtue
which it has not. Several years ago
the real father of the Social Rights
Bill, Charles Sumner, told his most
intimate friend that his only re-
naming work in the politics of this
generation was to secure the passage
of this Civil Rights Bill" so-called.
To that Sumner did mistakenly dcdi-
cate several Of the closing years of
his life. His party had three-fourths
Of both branches of Congress, and his
party steadfastly refused to pass the
bill. 1t is a significant fact that the
bill which passed the Senate at the
last session of this Congress, on the
battledoor and shuttlecock principle,
which was on the Speakers table
awaiting action, was spurncd in the
House yesterday BY vote Of 13 yeas
to 14Snays. The Republicansin the
House had the power to pass the
Senate bill, which would have left
the Presidents signature alone nee
ceSsary to make the bill the law of
the land. The House yesterday, to
our surprise, by an exceptionally
emphatic vote, refused to do any
thing of the kind. 1t passed a bill
which must run the gauntlet Of de-
bate in the Senate in the closing
days of this Congress, and in which
sea it is hopeless of shore at last. 1t
is the game Of battledoor andshuttlc-
cock again. Even This bill, if We
mistake not, has substantially been
before the House more than three
years. 1t has been referred to the
judiciary Committee and reported
back, and has been recommittcd and
tossed from House to Committee and
from Committee to House like hot
potato. The action of the Republi-
can party touching this measure can
be described in one word-hypocrisy
81 thank thee, Jew!!'
We had some fears that this ny
pocrisy would end yesterday. and the
Senate bill be passed, but the Repub-
lican tendency to cheat the black
man was more evident yesterday
than ever. To win the colored votes
not earned was still the policy. The
terms of the bill as passed may be
found among our dispatches. By its
provisions the negro is registered in
to hotels, whence white men may be
elected almost at the option Of the
proprietor. He is to be carried by
National statute into the theatre and
other places of public amusement,
which are conductad for private gain,
and to which white men may be re-
fused admittancc with impunity.
He is to be nationally enacted into
any scat he chooses to take in all
public conveyanceS, while white men
frequently find their liberty to enter
Il ladies' railway car curtailed by
some bcgrimed brakeman. Most hui
man legislation has been confined to
the living, but on behalf Of the black
man legislation must go beyond the
life that now is. This bill would
carry man into the graveyard ac-
cording to the act of Congress. It's,
in more than one sense, the dead
mems bill. One most obnoxious fea-
ture of the bill is that it will allow
black man who is refused privileges
which white men are also refused to
bring perpetual and vexatious suits
which no white man would think Of
bringing, or having brought, could
maintain. Two classes of suits may
be brought against violators of this
act: one a civil suit for damages in
which the nominated penalty is $500
and costs; the other prosecution at
common law and by State statutes
for misdemcanor, the named punish
ment being a fine of from $500 to ST.