Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1895-01-31

deorgsa, characterized it, "a plan
evolved from the mighty brain of
the carpet: bsgger to make the pe-
gro the equal Of the Southern white
man by an act of Congress. !"
Thoagh there is no intention TO dis
cass political questions IN this ar
| ticle, to the civil rights bill more
than any one incident tofreconstruc-
ton was due the implacable hostil-
| ity OF the average Southern white
man. He knew it was enactes! SOLE
ly on the demands of certain fanat-
lics Of the dominant party for South
IIerp hnmilistion. ~, Conklipg,
Governor Morton, Of Indiana, TIE
greatest man ofthe stormy era from
1865 to 1867; Speaker Blaine and
others of high rank in the party
councils were opposed to it. But
it was enacted, and dreadfully did
it avenge itself on its perpetrators
until Justice Bradley of the United
States Supreme Court killed it.
CooLEY's DECISION & CHALLENGE.
But to return, Judge Cooley took
the first opportunity to declare the
civil rights bill valid. Some negroes
went into a famous New Orleans
cafe-Dumantiel's, on Canal street
and demanded to be served. They
we're politely informed that persons
of color were not entertained there.
In an hour after the proprietor was
arrested. He was tried in Judge
Cooley's court. convicted and fined
81 900 and costs. In some rul-
ings and in his charge to the
jury the court took extreme ground
in favor of the civil rights act.
The entire city was deeply
excited at the outcome Of she case.
The press criticised Coolry fiercelv.
Especially bitter WAS the Plcayune's
leader. 1t was written with ur-
doubted ability and W full Of in
vpctivc. Its dcnuuciation uf Judge
Co"lry was Us force ful and effective
bit of writing as the New Orleans
press has ever printed. Ii s'ung
! Cooley beyond expression, and he
determined to call the Picayune's
responsible editor out. Though
the article in question was said to
have been the work of Judge Alex
ander Walker, a distinguished jour
nalist, a native of Alexandria, Va.
who had been in New Orleans since
his youth. the editor responsible"
was r Barmwel! Rhett, of South
Carolina. MIR. Rhett had not been
at the head of the paper very long,
but was an able, If at times some
| WHAT pFoiI4, writer.
After consulting with the lead
ing men Of his parry Judge Cooley
sent Rhett peremptory challenge.
There never was Rhett that would
not fight, but the editor of the Pic.
ayune was somewhat embarrassed.
He, unfortunately, had not taken
any part in the war as a soldier. In
an interview. which appeared in the
New Orleans Republican, the off,
cial journal of the Republican par
ty, Cooley sneered at Rhett's cour-
age, and intimated that there had
been -four years of war in which
the valor OF the South Carolina i'm
portation might have expended it.
self in the rage of battle" Rhett,
being a stranger, did not know just
how to proceed in the matter Of
seconds, for ones most intimate
friends usually act when he is about
to be married or stands up to be
shot at. Finally, taking the ad-
vice of man who knew New Or
leans well Rhett went to perhaps
the very best man in the city to adj
wise him, General Harry +. Hays.
Though not u '.fire-eater," General
| HAYS had been ..out" himself and
] was known for his GOODNESS aud
nigh courage. He commanded the
Seventh Louisiana II Rrgiment in VIr-
ginia until he wa' made Il Brigadi-r
! General, one of Stonewall j Jackspn's
"reliab.es - I'm the riots of July.
1866. Hays was the only man VIII"
conld restore order ia New Orleans,
and yas made High Sheriff of the
Parish of Orleans and given unlimi-
ted authority By General Sheridan.
This was the man to whom Mr.
Rhett told his story.
Il am a stranger here, General"
he said, land l wish to be advised
how | shall act"
Il have always opposed dueling
| when there was any other means of
procedure answered Grneral Havs.