Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-10-17
Colored Men i'm the South.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL DECIDES THAT THE ExECtr-
TIVE CANNOT REDRESS THE GRIEVANCES COM
planned OF BY MR.. NILES-wHEREUPoN MR.. NILES
UTTERs THE WAR CRY OF "sEPARATIoN 1.-THE
CIVIL RIGHTS DECISION.
MI. j. W. Niles, of Arkansas, who advocates "sep-
aration" for the colored people, has received from
Attorney General Brewster an answer to his COM
mun1cat1on, addressed to the President, alleging
that the coored people OF Arkansas were suffering
certain grievances at the hands not only of pri-
vate persons but Of the civil authorities The
Attorney Generals letter says: tYour state
ment has received careful attention, for no
good citizen, whether In public or private station
win regard with Indifference injuries such as those
under which these people are said to be labOr1ng
The questions. however, which you raise are ques-
tOns OF law, and so, OF course to be determined
by the Constitution OF the United States as inter-
preted by the Supreme Court. For instances: 1t Is
very much TO be regretted that impediments should
be thrown In the way of the efforts OF our colored
IeiiOW-c1tZenS to better their condition by reg,l-
lary entering and settling upon public lands But
II appears that the particular lands of which you
speak speak are public lands OF the state Of Arkansas.
InaJ State mas entire control OF them Clearly
then, the United States, having no power over
the subject cannot interpOse for your relief
Nor can the United States Interfere by their exec
utive power, In respect to the state prosecutions
OF which you complain, or the fines which you
be na enforced 69 BY i'm
instituted and these fines imposed, are
States, the remedy has been placed by that Con
St1tutiOn in your own hands, i. e., by appeal from
the judgments OF the state courts to the Supreme
Court OF the United States. The same is true of
cruel punislments Inflicted upon coored people at
prison farms, to which upon trifing pretexts they
are condemned II the state laws under which such
proceedings are had are unconstitutional the only
remedy by appeal TO the highest of the state
and from that to the Supreme Court of the United
States The executive of the United States has no
power whatever in the premises.
AS TO mere mob violence, neither the President
nor any other authority of the United States can
afford redress 1t is only in the OF such insr
rections as the state cannot put down that the
power OF the Executive Of the United States can
legislature or the governor; and the judicial noWer
TO try and punish the individuals who make up
such mobs and commit such outrages as Won de- p
SCRIBE is in the state alone These acts are directed
against 'life and personal liberty"
After citing Cruikshanks case 90, @. s., D. 553,
the Attorney General proceeds; he refers to the i'm
possibility OF Congress enacting laws to bring such
cases into the United States courts. The Attorney
due consideration the good citizens whom Won rem,
resent will admit that their remedy lies In such an
peals to public opinion within the state of Arkan-
SS as nave always heretofore prevailed and whilst
the cause OF free government and human happiness
remains hopeful, must always hereafter prevail in
the long run to the suppression of wrong and the
advancement OF right amongst civilized men"
Mr.. NILES DECLARES FOR "sEPARAT1oN.n
Mr. Niles has prepared an address to the colored
people in which, after setting forth the contents OF
the letter, he says that 1t will be seen that there is
little hope for redress for any grievances that the
colored people of the South may complain of to the
general government as the cOlored people, as rule
have not the means to test the constitutionalty OF
the state laws.
1.-THE whole tenor OF this answer,n says Mr.. Niles.
Sis simply to taffy the col0red people Of the South
or else they have been misled by politicians and
shysters in. the south who have professed friend
ship to them. / have only to repeat again: their
only salvation as a people Is to prepare to leave
this country, and In the meantime refrain from
voting at any OF the polls until some party makes
provision for the redress OF all grievances of our
people. A fund should be placed in each state to
remedy our wrongs and give us protection for the
future. II this should fail the sooner we
appeal to Congress for Indemnity for our
race TO enable us to separate from
the whites the better 1t will be for both races
l would advise the cOlOred people who have taken
hostile attitude to the southern whites by doing
the service Of the bagger and his associates
to seek the favor OF that class In the south which
win really consider our rights and act with them
hereafter and against an administration which re-
fuses to render us redress The decision OF the Su-
preme Court Just rendered gives force and emphasis
TO this view OF the case, and shows that we have
no rights which other people are bound to respect
Therefore, let US seek refuge elsewhere and eStab
nSh Status for ourselves; let us found civiEa-
ton in some cOngenial clime that win give us q
standing In the world OF commerce and industry
and enable us as race to play nobler part In the
great drama OF history"