Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1883-10-23
An Important Matter to Consider.

The decision of the United States Su-
preme Court, declaring the ''civilrights bill'
passed by Congress to be without constitu-
nal warrant, the question now is whether
we shall elect a Legislature that will give
the negroes the privileges which that law
was designed to effect or not-equality in
hotels, railroads, steamboats,, theatres and
other public places of amusement, &c.
This question is now remanded to the
several States, and it will be for the State
Legislatures to pass law granting these
privileges or not. AS the Richmond State
says, 'it is easily to be seen how this may
be made disturbing question in our poll
tics, not only in Virginia, but in every State
of the Uniou, and particularly in the South
ern States; and as the Legislature to be
elected on the 9th of November will no
doubt be called upon to deal with this very
matter, in fact, it will be almost certain
to have it forced upon tour people should
be all the more careful and circumspect in
the selection of their senators and dele
gates.
If the "Mahone Colored Coalition" sue
coed in electing majority in both houses
we may look for the immediate introduce
ton of ''Civil Rights BILL" worded in
even more stringent language, and with
heavier penalties than the Federal law
which has just been wiped out. The color
ed men in the House will demand this as
an act of justice to their race, and will en-
force their demand. The white Malone
ties will not dare to deny this, nor can they
evade the question, and their Governor,
whose delight it was "to lead Africa into
the war;" will under no view of the matter
interpose his veto to prevent the consumma-
ton of the outrage, nor do we suppose his
Supreme Court of Appeals would declare
such law unconstitutional.
Seeing this new danger which is now SO
imminent-and we doubt not the decision
was timed for its effect on the elections both
North and South-our canvassers every
where should demand an expression of the
sentimentssand intentions of the Malone
candidates, and, in fact, of the entire Ma
hone party. Force them to show their col
ors at once. Put the question directly to
them, whether they are in favor of and will
vote for the adoption of Civil-Rights bill
in Virginia to force social equality upon the
white people.
1t has come to that complexion now, and
there is no need to mince matters. We are
in favor of giving the colored people all
their political rights under the Constitution
of the State and the United States, and to
| allow them their separate school boards
but we do not believe the white people OF
Virginia will ever tolerate social equality
as understood by them, and as Malone will
be forced to grant to them, or lose his hold
altogether upon their confidence.
A Democratic Legislature will not be
compelled to pass civil rights bill, to give
the colored people the rights and privileges
they may claim, and which the white PEG
PIE are willing and ready to concede to
them; but Coalition Legislature will be
| forced to pass such a measure, and the en-
forcement of it here would mean-what?
Bat it is not to be thought of for a mo-
ment. It would never do. And we must
therefore insist that every Democrat in the
State cast his vote on the 9Th of November,
| not merely to elect Democratic Legisla-
ture, but to prevent the election of a 'fMis-
cegenation" -"Civil-Rights' Malone Leg
| islature'' &