Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-24
Inc supreme Court Decision Discussed
by the Bethel Society.

A PAPER INDORSING THE DECIsION-THE QUESTION
OF THE POWER OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT &C.
The Bethel Literary and Historical association
last evening listened TO paper by Mr.. George
H. Richardson on the recent decision on the civil
rights case I'm which he sustained the decision as
legally correct, and argued that the civil rights
law was not authorized by the 18th and 14th
amendments, when strict legal definitions were
applied to their construction. The question OF the
eXpedicncy OF such decision, he said, might be
matter to be discussed by politicians and philan-
throplstS. However much the decision might be
| regretted, he maintained that it was all the
coiored people could expect and was severely and
equitaby just. Prior to the adoption of the 18th
amendment, the speaker urged colOred people had
no status whatever. Bob IngersOll to the contrary
notwithstanding. The OBJECT OF that amendment
was the equalization OF citizenship. Having stated
that all powers not delegated to the federal gov
asked ''Do yul wish the Congress OF the United
states to entirely absorb all the rights Of the
States!'
STATE RIGHTS.
"YOu are right; we do;' said voice from Beth
elite near the stove.
Il am not said Mr.. Richardson, $50 unmanly as
to rest liberty entirely with the Congress of the
United states. The peculiar complexion of the
Congress that viii convene on the first Monday OF
December next might not be q DlcaSlDt THING In
think about If ali liberties were in their hands
hiie he believed the decision lust he could not
pa Hp259 the demorsiizaton ana suffering that
three TemefiieS"the formation o. public sentiments
the passage OF state laws, and an additional
constr uionai amendment" He advised that the
c0iorrd people should not become aarmiSts. and
should not raise their hands and voices against the
highest tribunal of the land, 10 which he imputed
nothing but honest motives. They might find by
such course that instead OF modifying the cOnSe-
quences OF decision which could not be Ovcrruled
they were inviting the reproach OF lawabldng citi-
ZenS.
MORE BOB INGERsoLLs WANTED.
A very interesting discussion followed Mr..
Richardson's paper. 1t was opened by Mr.. Harris,
Who declared that Mr. Richardson's paper was a
very good states rights argument. GAS American
citizens, asked Mr.. Harris 'what right have we to
go TO the states claim that the United States gov
ernncnt has right to protect its citizens not only
in the District of Columbia. but in South Carolina
and Georgia. The idea of the Supreme Court tell
ing us that we must go to the states when it took
this government five years to whip those states
into subsection! They tell us that we must go to
Mss, aSSssiLIl and ask those dirty cutthroats down
needed n Supreme Court with some Bob Ingersols
on the bench ''They say he is an inidel. If this
country was full OF such infideS it would be better
Ior us If am present at the great judgment day
shouldn't be at all surprised to Bob IngerSoll
missing. My idea of religion is based upon pr1n-
ciples OF right and justice and Bob Ingersoll has
them Nine-tenths of these Christians going about
lnSersou ever dared to be-"
OTHER SPEAKERS.
Rev. Mr.. Scott also opposed Mr. Richardson's
views as states rights views and asked how long it
would be before Georgia would learn to protect the
negro II the government had not that power then
the states had better go back to themselves
MI. Waring approved the decision as legally lust
He declared that the doctrine of state rights was
hGt dead, ana predicted that it was the rock upon
Which The republic would founder. A federal gov
eminent that had not the power to enfrancSe the
million colored men in the south had not the
strength to put Il cOlOred man at the table of a
hotel
Mr.. Geo. W. Cook made an appeal to the manhood
OF the cGlOfed people TO elevate themselves
Speeches on the subject were also made by Rev.
Nj. Brooks. and MeS>rS. Smith, Lawson and Min
ton.