davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
TArkansas Methodist. !

Everywhere the colored people are eX-
ercised about the action of the supreme
court of the United States in declaring the
Civil Rights Bill unconstitutional. With
but few exceptions all regard it as an un
mitigated calamity. Some talk as though
it was q step towards depriving them OF
their liberty and all their rights as citizens.
Now and then there is q dissent from the
popular view of it. Last week we read u
calm, dispassiOnate and able editorial in
the Arkansas Mansion, paper published
in this city, and edited by II. Simkens lie
thinks and says very truly that the act was
q dead Ietter-had never been observed,
could not be enforced, and, consequently
was doing no good. He says he had found
that wealth, intelligence and refinement
always commanded recognition and respect
that he had travelled extensively and al
ways found when he had money and be-
haved himself as a gentleman, that he was
treated rs well as any one else. This edi-
torial Is in very great contrast to the in
fiammatOry and denunciatory articles with
which the press of the cOlored people Is
filed.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

The decision of the supreme
court, nulifying the civil rights
law, having been rendered after
tie recent national colored con-
vention, it is, in our opinion, i'm
peratively necessary that the ma
tional executive committee be at
once convoked, and show wheth-
er there be virtue and wisdom in
the existence of such a commit
tee. What say other journals
Cincinnati AfrO-A American:
Why, certainly, that's what the
committee was appointed for to
take the initiatory steps and pio,
neer for the ignorant masses, 1t is
now to take the places the re-
publican party have go well filled
for the last twenty years. Who
could not protect US by constitu-
tional law and undertook to do
it by unconstitutional measures
which has in great many instan-
ces served as q scarecrow, but did
considerable harm in others.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

Hon. Thos. V. Gibbs in cor
responding with the Florida
News said;
All the notables are aroused at
the recent action of the supreme
court of the United States in re-
lation to the civil rights bill. The
bill is chiefly valuable rs a monu-
ment of the hfe work and charac-
ter of one of the nOblest Ameri-
cans on whom God ever set the
stamp Of natures nobility. The
name of Charles Sumner will go
down to posterity. coupled with
the civil rights bill as an attesta-
tion of what he would fain have
done for the race for which he
lived and died. But aside from
its value as q relic, this bit OF re-
construction legislation has been
of little value to us in Florida.
Whatever of our rights we have
obtained has not been obtained by
it, and whatever wc have lost has
not been lcssened by it. AS a
law it never reached Us. as u
corpse it's loss will hardly be Sc
verely felt.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

Kansas wishes it to be known that she
anticipated the civil rights decision and
passed Il law of hel Owl--eVen before the
| civil rights act W. passed by congress, in
fact-coverinX the whole question. ltprO-
vides that any distinction made on account
of race, G. lOr or previous condition of SER
vitude by officers Of the public schools or
by the owners or managers OF railroads,
street ears, stage coaches, hotels, bOardi n &
houses or places OF public amusement, sh All
| be treated as 4 misdemeanor and punished
by u tine Of not less tnan go nor more than
$1,000; and also that damages may be r.-
covered by parties in jured by such distnc-
ton. This law is referred to the southern
states as an excellent one for them to copy
gra.t the coIored man all the rights he
| needs if the federal government will "let
them alone" IN such matter II Globe
Democrat.
A similar law, we are in Informed, is in force
in this state, and has been ever since re-
construction, which has been of SO little
use that We all thought it repealed. Only
one case has been brought under it's pro-
| visions, that was Laport VS.. st. L., l. NJ ~
5. railway, for forcibly putting his wife out
of tirst-class car. The circuit court
gave judgment for the plaintiff, but under
| an arrest of judgment the defendants paid
all costs and $3.50 damages-this was in
1873. The law has not been called up more
| than once since, possibly-Jas. Hollands
case vs.. the same road, for about the same
| offense, which we believe, was similarly
compromised.
In Arkansas the third section of the
State Constitution says: "The equality OF
| all persons before the law is recognized,
and shall forever remain inviolate; nor
shall any citizen be deprived of any right,
privilege or immunity, nor exempted from
any burden or duty, on account Of race,
color or previous condition."
1t might have transpired after the gen.
tleman from Drew in the late general as-
sembly, had offered a bill to repeal the
law, that it was engrafted in the State
Constitution, and the bill died natural
death; we all thought it was repealed.
Therefore, in Arkansas, we have all the
laws We need.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
New York Tribune.l

very large majority of republicans, not be-
cause they wish to see the colored people
denied any part of their rights, but be-
cause they wish to see those rights fully
enjoyed, without controversy, in every
part of the land. Nothing can bring about
that desirable result except an improve
ment OF public sentiment In certain por-
tions Of the country. That change of pub
lie senttme nt-the decay aud tbliteration
of q prejudice which denies privileges to "a
colOred man merely because he Is colOred
man, regardless OF his character aud intel
ligence, his manners or Worth-wiii not be
retarded, but hastened, We fully believe,
in the removal of an irritating law. that
cannot be enforced from the list OF valid
statues.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
CIVIL RIGHTS.

In an article written ny j. ID. Lewis, q
prominent cOlored lawyer of the Philadel-
phia bar, he said in his "opiniOn the de.
cision was comm endable to the colored
people," That the thirteenth aud four
teenth amendments of the organic law
" which placed the eOlored man on the same
plane of citizenship with all other citizens
of the several states and OF the United
States are not affected by this decision,
nor is it within the Jurisdiction of a state
or the supreme court to annul those srti-
cles Of the National Constitution. He
thinks that the American people are re-
markably quick to accept and apply them
in the thirteenth and fourteenth amend
ments. The acceptatiOn is only to be
found in the narrOw-mlnded bigot who ca
ters to the prejudices of his own accessory.
The above is the production of an emil
nent man. He is the second coiOred man
in the east that we have heard of that new
the law. 1t is truly gratifying to us to
know that we have some colored men who
know as much as white men about the Or
ganic laws of the land in which we live.
Hence wealth and intelligence are the key
to the situation.
"Agaln, this class OF legislation only held
a whip over respectable citizens, which
made them more combative against q reme-
dy thus sought. The civil rights bill was
not q corrective statute, and, therefore, not
an enforcing act. Our courts have ample
jurisdiction to remedy the abridgement Of
any citizens rights without class legisla-
ton. Too much written law retards its
application to justice, and so the colored
people are made the easy prey of prejudice,
artifice an imposition in the hands of de-
signing men, for sinister purposes.
The colored people will sooner secure
their civil rights by relying upon their own
resources in common with all other citi-
Zens. Let them Individually and unitedly
educate themselves to a higher standard OF
respect, industry, integrity ard confidence
i4 each other. Then, ii civil rights, or any
other right which belongs to the citizen,
be denied them. they should raise resid
uary fund for the purpose of diligently de-
Tending themselves against any such az
gressions.
The cOIored people are wrong in their
loud condemnation of the admin istrAtion
and the supreme court by reason of this
decision. rhe act has served ut least to
show the faithful intent of a republican
congress, and Que which ought fully to
demonstrate the desire of tn. American
people toward its coIored citizens. Had
this class legislation been in favor of any
other race of citizens it would have received
the same decree At the hands of the SUI
preme court.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

The Louisville Bulletin holds
that ''If the recent decision was
right, then the Dred Scott decis-
ion was wrong; but if the Dred
Scott decision was right, then
was the Civil Rights decision
wrong.'
The Mansion believes that the
civil rights decision is right and
the bred Scott decision would be
wrong under the present order OF
things, but at that time it was in
keeping with public opinion,
which is in all cases the supreme
law of the land. At that time
the black man had no rights that
the white man was bound to re-
spect, but there was a law passed
in 1862 and sustained by the su-
preme court at that time, which
was unconstitutional, viz: The
fugitive slave law, which was an
act of congress making every citi-
zen in the United States a negro
sleuth hound, but public opinion
being the supreme law in that
instance, triumphed in the gIori-
Gus proclamation Of emancipation
to ali-both white and black.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
In denouncing the civil rights

In denouncing the civil rights
bill to be farcical it was not our
intention to reflect disereditably
upon neither the originators of
the bill nor the republican party,
as we still believe and always
will believe that the republican
party conscientiously freed the
colored people and did all in their
power to secure their equal rights
before the law. They were so
egotistical in the matter that they
even passed unconstitutional laws
in order to accomplish that end,
and at the expiration Of twenty
one years or thereabouts, when the
colored people meet in national
convention and declared that they
were Of age and desired to be their
own moral free agents to think
and act for themselves. In res.
ponse to this the national gov
ernment only disrobed US of the
shield which was in good faith
thrown around us for asafeguard.
Hence we called it farcical be-
cause public opinion prohibited
its enforcement, as under our laws
all men are entitled to q trial by
jury. Public sentiment rules eu
preme, civil rights laws to the
contrary Notwithstanding.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

We much admire the good
sense and good humor of our af-
fable and very clever colored con-
frere; Henry Simkens, of the Ar
kansas Mansion, in regard to the
recent decision of the United
States supreme court on the so
called civil rights bill-a law con-
ceived in humbuggery and en-
acted in fraud. The colored peo-
pie of this country need no such
extra and cxtraneOus 'prOtec-
ton" Let them "act we'll their
part" and they will go unframed
AS much so at least as any other
race or color. And we freely say
for our colorcd population, that
they are as good and deserving
as any other race or class of citi~
zens, according to their chances
and even better in some res
poets; and they will always and
under all circumstances find in
us an unflinching friend accord
ing to their merft--"regardless of
the color OF the cuticle. '--Black-
burns Free South.
Unanimity Of opinion on this
subject is no longer a question in
Arkansas. All newspapers in the
state are in accord with our Opin-
ion, both democrat and re-
publican black and white. The
sentiment above expressed comes
from Col. w. Jasper Blackburn,
the oldest newspaper editor in
the state and a powerful writer,
when you get him started. In
unity there is strength. As we
have all agreed, let us unitedly
advocate those principles, and
good results are sure to follow.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
NOTICE FOR PUBLICATION.
No. 962.
No. 962.
Land Office at Little Rock, Ark,
October 10, 1888.

Land Office at Little Rock, Ark, !
October 10, 1888.
NOTICE is hereby given that the
IN following named settler has
filed notice of his intention to make
final proof In support of bis claim
and that said proof will be made
beforo tho Register and Receiver OF
the Land Office at Little Rock, Ark,
on November II, 1888. viz
VIM. III Stevenson, who made
Homestead Entry No. 1920, Tor the
Sc n Equarter and N w > II
quarter, Section Ii, T 3 N, Il Ii
west.
Ho names the following Witnesses
to prove his continuous residence
upon, and cultivation of said land,
viz: w w Nettles, J K White, Poy-
ton CASTING, Austin Walker, all OF
rchee. NJ.
w. GIBBS, Register.
&c. KELSEY, Receiver.
Oct 13-5t
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

of liberty. 1t reduces the majesty
of the nation to an aggregation
of ruffanism, opens all the Issues
of the late war, sets the country
to wrangling again, puts the ne
gro back into politics, revives the
ku-klux khan and white leaguers,
resurrects the bludgeons, sets men
to cursing and blaspheming God
and man, and literally unties the
/ devil"
With all due respect to the
learned and honored Bishop, to
say the least OF his views on the
decision of the Supreme court of
the United States on the civil
rights question, they are retro>
gressive. When we were enfran-
chised and made full citizens OF
the United States, the ballot,
which is the instrument by which
every citizen directly or indirectly
enforces his rights, were placed
in our hands, this endowed us
with all the rights of any other
class of citizens. But our citi-
zenship was peculiar to all other
citizens, for the reason that we
had just emerged from slavery
and had neither land, money nor
education. Yet we were made
citizens, which we were justly en-
to after serving the United
ouares more than two hundred
years as slaves, and when made
citizens we were held by the laws
of the United States as parent
does his child, when he becomes
a full grown man his father gives
him his share of property and says
to him act for yourself as other
men for you are free man. This
Is exactly what the judges of
the United States says to us.
Then why should a man like
Bishop II. NJ. Turner attempt to
excite and throw q shadow of
retrogradism on his people over a
thing that is no good to us and
never has been. We need no
special legislation to enforce our
civil rights; we must enforce them
just as every other citizen OF the
United States does, and l will at
tempt to show the way for enforc-
ing them by a brief reference to
some of your points given above.
First. You say that wealth
and intelligence is the key to the
situation
Second. Educate the youth,
give them professions and trades,
and patronize them.
Third. An educated lady or
gentleman will not open hotel,
barbershop or restaurant and dis
criminate against their own race"
This is deep proposition,
penetrating to the very interior
of our best societies But have
we such characters in Little Rock!
If 80 has anybody heard them say
anything about the recent 0ecis-
ion on the civi! rights question!
1t will not do to say that those OF
the colored people who make such
discrimination against their own
race, that they are unwise. But
what will be the answer should
they protest against discrimina-
ton by other races? They would
say "thou fool" do you expect
us to do that for you which you
will not do for yourselves?
Fourth. If we will only carry
out these wise propositions and
use our ballots discreetly, we will
eventually have all we are enti-
tied to in the way OF equal rights.
/. B. ATKINSON.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
In the two last issues of th

In the two last issues of the
Mansion we gave our opinion on
the decision of the civil rights
bill, which was fully eoncurred in
by the Gazette and Democrat of
this city. Also the adverse opin-
ion of the colored press of the
country. In this issue in another
column we give the favorable
opinion of the press and great men
of the country, which we hope
will be carefully compared with
our views on the subject
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
Notice for Publication.
No. 973.
Land Office at Little Rock, Ark,
L. October IL 1883.

NOTICE is hereby given. that the
~ following named settler has
filed notice OF his intention to make
final proof in support of his claim,
and that said proof will be made be-
fore the Register and Receiver at
Little Rock Ark, on Nov. II, 1888,
viz Lawrence Prokaska, " no mado
Homestead EntryNo 1888. for f half
N w quarter, and additional Home
stead No. 1910, for tho w half n W
quarter, for the Section 9, Township
= N, r 12 west.
He names the following witnesses
to prove his continuous residence
upon and cultivation Of said land,
viz: Andis Hoipkowrak. Blazy An
dueas, Jon Kosllney, Maik Chudy,
all of fPulaski county, Ark.
NJ W. GIBBS, Register.
c. E. KELSEY, Receiver.
October cost.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
COL JAMES LEWIS,

United States Surveyor General, of New
Orleans. La, when asked his opinion re-
garding the c feet of the decision. replied ::
The civil rights decision affects the
colored people Of this state but little. 1
don't believe there is desire on the part
OF the white people to deny the colOred
man his civil rights in public conNeyances
number of any white citizens desire, nor
would they Permit the curtailment of these
privileges"
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
[Philadelphia Times.

A few years ago the prevailing public
sentiment W as rather careless of constitu-
tional restrictions and disposed to resent
any denia al of the unlimited power of u con-
gressional msjority. To-day everybody ac-
cepls the decision which knocks to frag-
ments one of the prOu lest achievements OF
party statesmanship-the only one OF tie
kind that had not been knocked to pieces
before, as though it were quite matter OF
course. We are getting back to more con-
servative ideas and methods in politics.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
Notice for Publication.
No. 974.
Land Office at Little Rock, Ark,
October IS, 1888.

October Is, 1888.
AlOTICE is hereby given that the
following named settler has
filed notice of his intention to make
final proof in support OF his claim,
and that said proof will he made be-
lore the Register and Receiver at
Little Rock, Ark, on November
17th, 1888, viz:
Laura Jano Asher, formerly VIII" OF
Richard Davis, deceased, who made
Homes cad Entry No. s610, for the
S half S w quarter, section 10, town
ship I N, r 10 west.
He names tho following witnesses
to prove his continuous residence
upon, and cultivation Of said land,
viz: James Merit; F NJ Smith, )
IL Fulkner, Sam'l Holt, all OF Jack :
sonville, Arkansas.
M. w. GIBES. Register.
G.. f. KELSEY, Receiver.
October 2O-5t
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
MCALMoNT STATION, ARK,

november =, 1909.
Editor Mansion:
Dear Sir-After reading your
editorial Of the 9th ult.. | was
induced by its contents to teg a
small space in your valuable col
umns to advance a few thoughts
and express my entire approva! of
your courae and position IN the
matter at issue, viz: "Our Civil
Rights" / also noticed an article
in the same paper entitled Turner
on Civil Rights" | will not at
tempt to discuss this subject at
length, but wish to rehearse a
few paragraphs, sddiDg my ap>
proval and disapproval thereto, it
being u great national question.
1 heartily approve of the fol-
lowing paragraphs as delineated
in your editorial of the above
date;
First, That wealth and intelli-
gence is the key to the situation,
these once acquired, will bring
US in contact with all the leading
factors OF the world, and of itself
demand the smerited respect.
First, we must educate our youth,
then give them professions or
trades and patronlze them. An
educated lady or gentleman will
not open a hotel, barber shop or
restaurant and discriminate
against one of their own race.
Second, Now the farcical civil
rights bill has been annulled
by the supreme court of the
United States, equal rights falls
back upon its merit where it
rightfully should. These things
should be let severely alone to
regulate themselves, then like
the more favored races, every
man will be respected for what he
knows and has, which will be an
incentive to the race to acquire
kno owledge and wealth.
Third, how, if we continue
to qualify ourselves end not
stop to force ourselves on any
body who is not willing to
receive us, the cast prejudice
will in time die of itself sooner
than it could be killed by any
special legislation.
Fourth. A political revolution
is imminent, and we should be
prepared to make our interests
paramount to any other par
ty or sect and we think our
leading men will see it in that
light, just a. soon as they allow
their excited passions to be cooled
down, .
Fifth. 1t should be remembered
that at the National Convention
at Louisville we pronounced the
civil rights amendments a dead
letter in which the supreme court
has only concurred. So let US be
patient, if we can't stay in the
states let US go to the United
States territories, not to Africa.
BISHOP H. N. TURNER INTERVIEWED
ON THE DECISION OF THE
SUPREME COURT.
In answering the questions of
a Globe-Democrat reporter, Bish-
Cd Turner said that it is a dread
full career OF feudalism. 1t abb
solves the negro's allegiance to
the general government, makes
the American flag to him rag
of contempt instead of a symbol
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
Notice for Publication.
No. 259.

No. 209.
Land Office at Little Rock, Ark, !
October 5, 1888.
Complaint having been entered
at this office by Henry Brooks
against J. w. Watkins, for abandon
ing his Homestead Entry No. 1929,
dated January 6, 1888, upon the
S half 8 e quarter Section l, Town.
ship 2 s, Range IA west, in Pulaski
county, Arkansas, with view to the
cancellation OF said entry; the saio
parties are hereby summoned to ap.,
bear at this Office on the 9th day VI
November, 1883, at 1890 o'clock a.
m, to respond and furnish testimony
concerning said alleged abandon
mont.
NJ. w. GIBBS, Register.
c. e. KELSEY, Receiver.
Oct. 13-5t
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

The Monroe county Sun, In
their salutatory of last Saturday,
informs US that they have been
making some changes, and in
future the paper will be run by
the Sun publishing company and
by F B Kelley editor.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

The latest reports from Pana-
ma represent that active work is
going forward on the maratime
canal, and before long $4,000
men and many machines will be
busiiy engaged in excavating.
The great difficulty, that of man
aging the Chagres river is yet to
be encountered New Orleans
Daily States.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

In it's recent decision the court
decided that they "do not under
take to decide what congress
might or might not do under the
power to regulate commerce with
foreign nations and among the
several states, the law not being
drawn with any such view"
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

The name of the Key West
News has been changed to that
of the Florida News and also
changed from a four page folio to
an eight page quarto which Is
evidently signs Of progress;veness
in our old friend. Its editor and
proprietor J w Menard.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

At convention Of colored men held in
Illinois, last week, one of the resolutions
passed contained the following sentiment
God helps those who help themselves.
The remedy henceforth must be in your
own hands. The civil rights already ac-
corded us in the several states will hardly
be abridged. For others we must labor
and wait.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
w., A oo;ofonf POSfn,oS

First Assistant Postmaster Gen
eral Hatton in his report recom~
mends q one cent rate for drop
letters. We agree with the gen.
tleman and hope the reduction
will be made at an early day.
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10
THE PRESS.
Brinkley Argus.

Henry Simkens, the coiored editor of the
Arkansas Mansion, in discus ing the civil
rights decision, characterizes the evil
rights bill as ''fRrcicai,'' - and argues that
special legislation has harmed the negroes
in the past and can do them no good here
after,
Arkansas weekly mansion., 1883-11-10

Ignorance is dynamite, says
H. w. Beecher, because there is
no telling where it will fall.