The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1875-05-19
CIVIL RIGHTS ON A TRAIN.
An Ex-President-A Noted Edf-
tor and q Famous lawyer
Ousted from q Negro Car.
Naahrille paprer.

| NOA &Gt1A - n N1AAAOO0 La "
Ousted from Negro Car.
Nashville Banner
On the upward bound train on tn
Macon and Western division OF TIN
| Central Railroad from Griffin, yes
terday. were the Hon. A. III. Ste
phens, Col. CIisby, of the Macol
Telegraph. and that fine old gentle
man, Col. CincinnRtus Peoples. o
this city. AS is usual with Mr.. Ste
phens, he took what he thought the
second class car, so that he could in
dulge in his pipe and conversation
without offense to any one Every
thing went pleasant enough, because
nobody thought anything was wrong
Pretty soon an old blind negro man,
with his wife, entered the car and
seated themselves. Nothing was
thought of this proceeding, and the
Vice e-President, editor and lawyer
were making themselves as comfort
able as the condition of that road
would permit 1t was noticed that
the car in question was of new finish,
handsomely upholstered and very
neat. The surprise of the whole par
ty may be imagined when the con-
ductor came along and very plainly
told these distinguished gentlemen
that they must get out, as that car
was provided solely for colored peo-
pie, and white folks were not per-
mitted to ride there.
Then the 8 Great Commoner" and
Mr.. Clisby and Col. Peoples looked
at each other. and then at the con-
ductor. Mr.. Clisoy undertook to
smile and Col. Peoples looked con-
fused. Mr.. Stephens, always equal
to any emergency, looked monstrous
wise at Mr.. Clisby and Col Peoples,
and scratching his head said "Wei,
Clisby, have lived long time;
have always enteavored to tote fair
with my fellow man; [ pay my hon.
est debts, and | love my country,
but never expected to witness teis
scene.
Mr.. Clisby replied that God, in
His inscrutible wisdom and kindness,
had permitted him to live out the
time allotted to most men; that he
had successfully conducted on of the
best daily papers in Georgia for
years; that his conscience was clear
and his health good. He aad, by
uniform good conduct and urbanity
of manner, won tue respect and es-
TEEN of the entire southwest portion
of the State, vet. now, at this late
day, he was forced to leave car be-
cause he was not considered as good
as q blind niger AZ
MIR. Stephens, who had az Niie5 ~
intimation grabbed his erlrcf aifU
was then making an aborf ny fttempt
to rise. remarked to Cor Pres. in
his peculiar and 1dsnhfTe voice
Gentlemen, you know me. The
world knows me. | have been q
most successful school-teacher, and
have attained some notoriety at the
Bar. / have served my State in the
councils of the nation. l have been
Vice President of the Confederate
States of America, the most brilliant
galaxy Of eonfederated stars that ev-
er shone in the armament Of nations.
] have successfully 'stood' twice
for Congress in my district. and am
now on an errand of mercy, having
been to Griffin to address the State
Association OF Teachers. / have al
ready paid my railroad fare. and
paid no attention to the franking
and mileage privileges offered by
Congress; but this is the first time
| was ever called on to vacate a car
because | am not considered as good
as a negro"
Come, come" said the conductor,
g have no time to listen to speech
es. you ought to throw in and hire a
hall for that purpose. This car is
set apart for colored folks, and white
people are not permitted to ride in
here. Get out - And the poor
crippled ex-President. the Macon ed
itor and the Atlanta lawyer were in
contently hustled to the rear car.
But after due reflection, Mr.. Ste-
phens and Mr.. CIisby and Col. Pee
Piles each and all decided that it was
right. The law. in the first place,
prescribes certain rules, and then
the negroes pay full fare, and the
railroad authorities provide a first
class car especially for their accom-
mediation, and white people have no
more right there than the negro has
to take the car set apart for the
white people.
And all this. too. was carried on
when the two old innocent negroes
were sound asleep and had not no
ticed, nor knew anything of what
was going on.