The New York herald., 1875-03-02
CIVIL RIGHTS AND TENNESSEE.

INTERVIEWS WITH GOVERNOR PORTER AND Elk
CHIEF JUSTICE LoCHRANE, OF aEoRGIA-PRoB-
ABLE PRACTICAL EFFECTS OF THE CIVIL
RIGHTS LAW.
NASHVILLE, March I, 1875.
The Banner reporter interviewed Governor
Porter and ex-Chief Justice Lochrane, OF
Georgia who is here instructing leading
lawyers and prominent colored men. as
to the. probable practical effects Of the
Civil Rights law on the South. Governor
Porter said that he knew enough or the negro to
say that the black would not make himself obnox-
ious by intrucing himself where he believed he
was not wanted. Governor Porter said that ne
had been q slave owner. had defended them as
counsel, had tried them as Judge, and nine.tenths
o: the negroes were prosecuted by their kind. A
few might act lOolishly over newly acquired
rights, under the unconstitutional Civil Rights bill
but the great masses themselves were Indifferent
as to its passage. He had some apprehension
that 1t would cause strife In some parts OF The
State, but would counsel people to bear with the
inequality, because they were already too much
Impoverished to Withstand the suits that might
be brought against them. The only place wnere
he feared the negroes would want to make the
most OF themselves conspicuous was at Memphis,
which has large negro population. and
many OF them were very rough characters.
That which they had to lear the most was the
partisan nrebrands, who would urge on some
to bring about conflict. Tnis was just what the
republican leaders meant by passing bill that
would STIR up deviment in the South: That
might ride rough shod into power in
1875. but the people would no. give
astrous food, though ruined by the most destruc.
tive drought, though cattle we're dying OF starva-
ebo by the want OF currency which the govern.
ment OF the United States ought to furnish. and
.ods By
heaped upon them % BY PARTISAN san, and relentless
that would call forth the admiration OF the Amer.
ican people and have the effect of Overwhelm-
ingy defeating the republican party. He would
counsel moderation on the part Of the peo-
pie. II only let alone by republican cnarla-
sun % continue to i've peaceabIy together. UtT Xer
all the S0utherner was the 'blacksn best friend.
THAT TACT was practically exhibited in every
day life.
VIEWS OF CHIEF JUSTICE LoCHRANE
= Chief Justice Lochrane was decidedly OF the
were concerned, would be universally resisted In
the South and as law was manifesty unconsti-
take a couple OF years before they were finally DIS
posed OF by the Supreme Court. Universal 0ppO.
sitlon % to the law he r., thought, would render ls
nullity. John M, Fleming, State Superinten-
dent OF Public Instruction, says:-'The law
is calculated to bring about a greater
but as the bin did not include the public SCHOOLS
ne protested against the Legislature taking any
action whatever with regard to them, dec aring
that the present school law required no change
whatever. Both republican and democratic
lawyers say that the law Is unconstitutional.
federal government has no authority 10 regulate
domestic AFFAIRS, the power alone being
vested IN the states. Abraham Smith, Nell
Ali Meneiee, were all prominent coiored
men. They assert that the negroes viii
not take advantage OF the Civil Rights
bill to make themselves obnoxious; had too
much sell-respcct to go where they we're not
wanted. This was a mistaken notion on the part
OF the whites TO hint that they would intrude upon
the whites. lew bull-headed, bigotted negroes
might do so, but tney were very lew. The coored
people wanted peace and as little agitation as
possible. They had good schools. Tennessee was
satisfied with Its railroad management, which will
have three fares-hrst, second and third class.