New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-10-20
THE STATES AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

Various leaders Of the cOlOred people continue to
show Indignation over the Civil Rights decision,
which seems exaggerated when IL is remembered
that the law was practically dead letter. In the
African Methodist Episcopal Conference at Denver,
one of the Bishops declared that If the negroes
rights were to be thus trampcd upon" there
would be Z" revolution" Talk of this kind is GER
tainly ill-adviscd and it is pleasant TO sec that
some cOlOrcd leaders are moro sensible. The Rev.
Mr.. Laws, Washington clergyman, VINO was
delegate TO the Louisville Convention, says the
Civil Rights law a useless one, and never did
any one any good. He is satisfied with the rights
the race have under the Constitution without any
additional class legislation In their favor
The coorcd people should remember that the Su-
prcmc Court has simply dono It's duty in declaring
the law as It finds IT, Tho Court could not have
done otherwise than say the law was unconstitu-
tiona and il is foolish odcnoncc this decision rs If
il involved some moral wrong Orp0litcal trcachcry.
The best friends Of the will tell them that they
are better OF without any law, but if they are sat
shcd that they must have one, their best plan is, in
stead Of abusing the Supreme Court, TO induce Con-
grcss and the State Legislatures to take the subject
MP. Il do NOT seem likely that Congress viii pass
anyucw Civil Rights law though its right to make
one affecting only interstate commerce, under I'm"
commerce clause Of the Constitution, will probably
be conceded. No doubt the States could also pass
such laws governing commerce within their borders
but experience has shown how easy 10 is for the
states also to get beyond their Jurisdictions.
few wears ago the muster Of steamboat plying be-
tween Yick,bury and New Orleans was sued by
negro 10 whom hc had refused passage under the
laws Of Louisiana forbidding discrimination by
common carriers within the state account of race
or color The United States supreme Court held
that the law required all those engaged IN inter
state commerce 10 give equal privileges 10 all per-
SONS travelling I'm Louisiana, and this was an inter-
ference with the freedom Of Interstate commerce.
While fine law purport,d only TO control the carrier
within the State. it would necessarily influence his
conduct to some extent in the management Of his
cuisines. throughout the entire voyage Tho Loutsi-
ana low was therefore declared void.
Others Of the states have Civil Rights laws.
PENNSYLVANIA has one passed eight years before the
Federal law. which declares that any railroad or
railway corporation, within this Commonwealth,
that shall exclude or allow to be- excluded, by their
agents. conductors or employees, from any Of their
passenger cars any person persons, ON account Of
color or race" etc. or shall for such reason, COM
pei or attempt to compel any person, or persons to
occupy any particular part of any OF their cars,
shall be liable i'm the sum Of $500. Another law
forbids any school director, superintendent or
teacher in the public schools to make any distnc-
tiou whatever" on account of the race or color of
pupiIs Perhaps other states will be asked 10 make
similar laws In Ohio where the Democratic politi
clans were prOfusc in their vows of friendship to
the blacks, the Republican papers are already sug-
costing that there il an excellent chance for Dem
ocrltic Governor and Legislature to prove their sin
certify by passnga Civil Rights law. No doubt
they will do so with great pronptucss.