The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1883-05-18
Advice to the Negroes.

Va, know that The pnbiic-scbool system
has firm hold upon the people OF Nir'
olnia. aud so you imagine that there can be
no danger 10 your interests as a race in
testing ;ts strength. 1t is popular un-
doubtcdIy; stronger than any party or Sec
ZION; but this popularity amongst the
whites belongs solely TO the white public
schools. The negro schools are not so
popular by any means with the whites, out
are kept mp rather as a supposed benefit TO
the community at large, or as necessity
OF The ease, than because the whites feel
under any obligation 60 keep them mp. Be
ware. therefore. how you impcril your
own interests by laying forbidden hands
upon The white schools.
In Kentucky The negro public schools
receive only the money collected from ne
groes. the white schools receiving that col
lected from the white taxpayers. We are
not sure, but we thi:k, that we have stated
the law rs il Is. The point we wish
10 make Is that there rs nothing IN the Con-
s,itution of the United States which makes
!, obligatory upon any State 10 educate her
negroes.
There are only three new amendments
the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth.
The thirteenth does nothing but forbid
slavery. The fifteenth merely secures the
negro's right TO vote. The fourteenth con-
talas nothing which touches the negro's
,.;ob.s cxcpnf tho folIowinp.
No State shall make or enforce any law
which shall abridge the privileges or inn
munitics Of citizens OF the United States !;
nor shall any State deprive any person Of
life, liberty. or property, without due pro-
cess Of law; nor deny to any person within
rs jurisdiction the equal protection OF the
laws"
This amendment was construed by the
supreme Court Of the United States in the
Slaughtcr-lIousc and other cases. In the
case from Tennessee recently decided by
that high tribunal, the Court said:
.'Section 5519 is not limited to take effect
only in case the State shall abridge the
privileges or immunites Of citizens of the
United States. or deprive any person Of
life, libery, or property without due pro-
cess OF law, or deny to any person the
equal protection Of the laws. IL applies,
no matter how well the State may have
performed IFS duty. Under il private per-
sons are liable 10 punishment for con-
spring TO deprive any one Of the equal
protection Of the laws enacted by the State.
In the indictment in this case. for in
stance. which would be good indictment
under the law If the law itself were valid,
.r,f., hot tot or
nesSce has passed any law or done any act
forbidden by the fourteenth amendment.
On the contrary. the eravamen OF the
charge against the accused is that they con-
spired 10 deprive certain citizens OF the
United States and Of the State OF Tennessee
OF the equal protection afforded them by
the laws Of Tennessee.
"Since. therefore, the section Of the Re-
used StGtuieS under consideration Is d.
rected e1ciuSicely against The action Of prj-
rate persons, lrithOW reference 10 the lGlcS
OF he state or their administration 6y the
officers OF the state, the Court Is clear IL
he opinion that IL Is not lrGrrGnted by any
clause ia the fourteenth amendment to the
Constitution"
The corporation OF Richmond is "per-
son" within the meaning OF the Supreme
Court. This city, therefore, can exercise
her own best judgment as to whether she
will have schools for the negroes or not.
There is no such thing as compelling her
to do il. 1t is a question which her own
people have the unqueStionod and unques-
tionabIe right TO decide for themselves.
What is true of cities under the decision
Just cited is true OF States under the four
teenth amendment itself. There is neither
i'm that amendment nor in any other part OF
the Federal Constitution one single word
which was intended TO take from the States
the right to decide for themselves what
sort OF schools, and how many, they will
have. and who shall be admitted to them.
III there had been IN the Constitution any
such provision the Stalwart Radicals
in Congress would long ago have passed a
law enforcing it, and compelling every
southern State TO educate her negroes in
the highest branches.
These facts should serve Is warning to
presumptuous negroes. Themoney which
pays for the education Of Virginia's ne
groes is paid (nearly all Of it) by the white
taxpayers. They have paid il willingly
heretofore. They win pay 1t willingly
hereafter il The negroes behave themselves.
But If they obtrude themselves into the
white schools, and disgust the patrons OF
those schools, and offend the sensibiliIies
OF the white race, there may be a recon
sideration Of the question. Richmond pays
school.taXos enough now to pay for edrl-
eating all the children in the white public
schools. There is nothing TO prevent hci
from regulating this matter TO suit herself
No Legislature dare TO try TO constrain hen
in this matter; and the Coalitionists dare
not so before the voters this fall upon sucl
an issue as CAMERON, FARR, and BLAII
have by their folly raised in Richmond
She is not obliged to have any but whit,
schools. These she will cherish as the ap
pie OF her eye.
Virginia.
4 Washington correSuondeuf Of tb,