The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-01-23

Speaker, desire 10 ask tne majority oh
this floor, one and all, is that good
reason why the colored citizens OF the
United States should not have their per-
sonal rights protected by law Does
not every gentleman know that II any
respectable class of citizens subject to
the British crown, were subject to the
same persecution, violence aud outrage,
that are visited upon the colored race in
many States of this Union, to-day, 1t
would raise storm of indignant protest
throughout the Queens domain Do
they not know that the perpetrators of
such outrages would be brought to
speedy and merited punishment, even If
it should take the whole power Of the
empire to accomplish it?
Mr.. Poe, of Cuyahoga-Will the men,
ber from Lorain permit me 70 ask him
question?
Mr.. Washburn-Certainly, / will.
Mr.. Poe-Does the gentleman not
know that England has been in the prac-
tice of incarcerating her subjects with
out trial, and denying them the privi'
lege of habeas corpus
Mr.. Washburn-Mr. Speaker, that
was long years ago, before the people
wrestled from King John the power to
commit such outrages-before they CON-
PEELED him to sign tho greet charter Of
English liberty. That custom is too
remote to be quoted as authority for
opposing a civil rights flaw at this day.
Gentleman do violence to their own con.
sistency when they prate with newborn
zeal their love for the colored man, know.
ing the cruel indignities he is subjected
to, almost daily, and at the same time
opposing any measure that is proposed
for his relief. They must know that in
many States of this Union thousands of
colored men who are guilty Of no crime.
are subjected to outrages that no other
civilized nation on' the earth would suf.
fer to 60 unpunished, If inflicted upon
any class Of citizens.
Mr.. Poe-The Repu blicans have been
in power In this Government for more
than twenty years, and why have they
not put stop 70 the outrages of which
the gentleman complains
Mr.. Washburn-I will answer the
gentleman by saying that in the locali'
ties where these wrongs ore inflicted
public sentiment is in harmony with the
wrong -doers, and the law has been
wantonly dlsregarded. The Republican,
in congress have done oil in their power
to prevent these outrages. They enacted
law to protect the rights of coloret
men in all the States, but that law hal
been declared to be valid only In the
Territories and the District Of Columbia
The power to protect their rights Is i'm
posed upon the States. This is why W.
are here to-day asking for the enactment
of such a law. That law was obeyed il
opc portion Of the Union and disobeyet
in the other.
Mr.. Speaker, II every person woulC
deal justly by his fellows there would b
no necessity for law to protect thu
rights of any human being. But such Il
not the case. There are thousands Of
colored citizens in this Union who arr
merely suffered to live; whose persons ar
subjected to outrage; whose propert!
receives no adequate protection, and WHIT
are helpless and hopeless in their strug
gle to improve thsir condition. Shal
we say they need no legislation In theil
behalf tell gentlemen on the othe
side Of this chamber, and challenge sue
cessful contradiction Of my statement
that every civil right which distinguishes
them from slaves that the colored citi
zens of this ustion enjoy to-day, wa
conferred upon them by the Republican
party. And say further; that ever!
wrong and outrage which they do to.da!
suffer in person or in property, so far a
political rights are concerned, is inficte'
upon them by men who are allied will
the Democratic party.
Mr.. Bargar, Of Coshocton-Will tn
gentleman permit me to say that tn
rights Of the colored men are alread!
protected in Ohio.
Mr.. Washburn-The existing law I
insufficient. In some localities Of 0hi'
II respectable colored citizen enters
hotel or restaurant, tenders his none!
and asks for food, that he may not fam
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