The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1875-02-24
Esainey Oh Civil Rights.

" A>HiNGTuN: fepruary 9.-Ihe
speech Of Representative Rainey on
civil rights appears in the Congress
Si0na! Record Of this morning. I
groto the concluding portions in refer
ence to social equality and mixed
schools:
I venture to assert to my white
teliow-c; c;tizers that We, the colored
ncople. are not in quest cf social equal
Ky For one I DO not wish 10 be in
iroluced iuto your family circles if
YOU are net disposed to receive me
there. Among my own race we have
as much respectability, intelligence.
virtue and refinement possible 70 ex-
pect from any class circumstanced as
we have been. This being 50, why
should l cast imputation upon MY own
people by saying to them, Il do not
want your society; I prefer 10 asso-
ciate with the whites" Why should
| be ashamed o. them with their
blood flowing in my veins? Such is
not the promptinss of my heart nor
Of my colvred colleagues on this floor.
We are not naturally more disposed to
immortality than others. Under the
new order Of things we are hopeful,
however, that higher order Of morali-
~ vii! be established III the South
than existed there in ante-b -bcllum days;
for tie time has come when it is ad-
mittcd that the negroes have rights
that white men are bound to respect.
Among my race I AN free to con-
fcSs that we have soue immoral men
and women, but our consolation is that
such resretful examples are not con-
fined to ary race or people. 1t might
be said, however, in extenuatlon Of
this condition Of affairs, that many of
them have been kept bowed down in
tic Ic;id trenches cf slavery for 50
long time that their senses have be-
come blunted beyond keen concep-
ton Of their own rights and interests,
which has led many to believe that
they are contented with such privileges
as they now enjoy: without desiring
further legislation i'll their behalf.
The n;sfortuucs Of this class are not
chargeablc to any but those who DC
lighted to degrade US in the past and
desire to continue the same treatment
in the present. 1t is to be hoped,
therefore, that they will not be consid-
cred as rejecting the opinions or wishes
of the more intelligent in this regard.
The earnest desire for the passage
Of this bill as measure of justice
and equity becomes more evident from
the stubborn opposition made to it.
There has been no measure passed by
Congress having for its avowed object
the benefit Of the negro race in any
way but what has met the same con-
tention that has been 50 apparent in
this instance.
Much has been said about the cou-
stitution and It's bearing upon the
passage of this bill, ard the ultimate
result of such az event. Time will
not permit me to refer to them all. I
will say, by way Of general reply, that
those who read the constitution with
partial and selfish motives in view fail
TO see the interests Of the colored race
apart from what is implied in the
three last amendments thereto, and
frequently with narrow conception
OF those. We claim equal rights and
Interests with other citizens who are
embraced within the limits of its pro-
visions. If this should not be ad-
mitted, the people would soon lose
appreciation for that Instrument, and
clamor for q change that would afford
them more general and better protec-
tion. Believing it to be adequate for
the ample security Of all, the people
are content with it.
Article +, section ,, o. the constitu-
ton reads thus: The citizens Of each
State shall be entitled to all privileges
and immunities Of citizens in the
several States
According to this provision it is un-
constitutions! to deny any privilege Or
immunity to colorcd citizens in either
Virginia. Georgia, Kentucky or any
other State that is guaranteed to other
citizens. 1t must be remembered that
we are not dealing with the past, but
with the immediate present and toy
the future.
In this connection reference may be
properly made to public schools. All
the objections that have been urged
against the general commiugliug of
white and colored children in these
schools have been stated and success
fully refuted in the past. There was
great dissatisfaction shown at the in-
augurat!on of this system in those
States where it has been in successful
operation for years. 1t is gratifying
to state that the satisfactory results Of
its workings has dispclled al doubts
in regard 10 its practicability, quieted
apprthensions, and contributed largely
to remove fears and annihilate that
prejudice which has been declared
upon this floor should be fostered and
respected. 1t is with the aim of ma
king more complete the destruction Of
this uncharitab!c sentiment and pro-
>cription that the opening Of the pub
lie schools to all is 50 much to be
desired. Surely the children are not
better than their parents, who now sit
with us in the jury box, the Legislative
hall. aud are daily to be Seen in the
same public conveyance. Therefore I
c"n see no reason why the white and
colorel children cannot attend the
same public school.
What wc desire, Mr.. Speaker, is TO
have the cloud of prescription removed
from our horizon. that we may clearly
see our way TO intellectual ana moral
advancement. This is nothing more
than what all good citizeus desire to
enjoy and ought to have. I therefore
favor the passaee Of the Senate bill |