Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-20
CIVIL RIGHTS.
Frederick Douglass Bitterly La
ments the Recent Decision
Of the Supreme Court.
As q Step Backward and a Revival
Of the Calhoun Theory Of State
Rights,
In which Opinion lie is Joined
by Register Bruce and Other
Prominent COlOred Men.
sneelal % I'D conrler-JournaI.

Special to the Courier-Journal.
WASHINGTON, October l6.-The
leading colored men here are much
disappointed over the Supreme Court
deciding the first and second sections
of the Civil Rights Bill unconstitu'
tional. Just such decision was ex.
pected, however, by all the legal
minds when the question was reached
At the time the act was passed the
leading lawyers in the country gave
it as their opinion that it was uncon-
stitutional. Hon. Frederick Douglass
was found at his residence on the
heights overlooking AnOcastia by a
Republican reporter last night. In
his reply TO the interrogatory, What
do you think Of the civil rights deci-
sion?" he said. ut is rather dis.
heartening, and | regard it as a STEP
backward. Justice Harlan takes the
ground that the Fourteenth and Fiji
tenth Amendments were to prohibit
any discrimination in civil rights on
account of race, previous condition,
etc. | do not think it would be con
sistent for me to say anything now
although the prompting is strong.
The moral effect of the decision
will certainly be mischievous.
The country was going along
smoothly, and the uni6cation of the
people was promised AS under
stand, the decision only applied to the
States, and not to the Territories, the
District Of Columbia and the great
water courses of the country. AT the
close of the war, in view Of services
rendered by colored citizens, there was
a disposition on the part Of the loyal
people Of the country to concede to
/ them complete citizenship aud equal
civil rights 10 the uses OF all public
conyeyances and institutions, and |
regard the decision, as far as | under
stand it, as part OF the general reac.
ton naturally following the increased
| friendship for the South, which comes
/ Of the dying out Of the old controversy
on the subject Of slavery. Nearly all
I the concessions the eolored people
have received have been the result Of
the antagonism Of the two sections,
and as that sntagOnism vanlshes, |
have expected a partial return Of the
old ideas and usages which preceded
the war. Ten years ago | told the
colored people that, as they had gain
ed everything from the ennity groF-
ing out Of the attempted dissolution
of the Union between the people Of
the South and those Of the North, it
bshooved them TO inquire what they
we're likely to lose By the friendship Of
the two sections. The decision, l
take It, Is in the direction and interest
4 the old Calhoun doctrine Of State
as against Federal authority.
/ % not, however. de-
spair OF the ultimate return Of the
liberal spirit toward the colored psO-
pie which prevailed immediately After
the var. / think the decision in this
case has resulted largely from con-
i0audiag social Eilh civil rights. things
which are entirely distinct. There Is
20 sach thing as social equality result
iug irom hFing in the sane city with
other people. EAiking on the same
streets with 1ther people. riding in the
a1s ear. buying goods At the sane
stare. or beng led s1c sheltered a.
tie aus hotel. Men nay be il al
these positions j. evil relations, and
yet socially Be ~ vide apart As the
psles Of The moral universe Whether
% irtsnded OF Dot, the decision OF the
eearr seems 70 Be = concession to a
prtjudice which belongs 10 an extinct
insufuuoa, aud places the American
people a1d government TAR in the rear
Of the civilized nations Of Europe and
Am.rie for nowhere in Europe and
nowhere outside Of the United States
can any man be excluded from hotel
or steamboat cabin, or any place Of
amusement or instruction simply on
account Of his color or race. Even
in Brazil the only dis
tinction between men arises
from the fact that one is slave and
the other freeman. A colored tree.
man has everywhere the same rights in
that country as white freeman. The
same condition exists in Mexico, Can,
ada and other countries. Ii is one OF
the marked contradictions aud incon-
sistencies aud absurdities Of this pref
udice, that, while it is not offended at
the presence OF colored man any
where as servant or a slave, it is en-
ragged at the presence OF a colored man
as a gentleman and as an equal Cit
zen.
Il have said that | do not despair
on account Of this decision Its
contrary to the Declaration Of Inds-
pendence, contrary to the spirit Of
4 Christianity, contrary to The spirit Of
the age, aud, as | think, in violation
OF the Fourteenth and Fifteenth
Amendments. and tends directly TO
make the colored people Of the ooun-
try an aggrieved class, and to weaken
ing that spirit Of patriotism which the
nation may need for its protection IN
l some Deriloug hOur -