Richmond planet., 1900-01-27
"JlM GROW" SEPARATE oeAoHss.
[BY AMOS

tablish justice, insure domestic tran
guilty, promote general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty" etc.
The proposed "Jim Crow" bill. now
before the General Assembly of Vir-
ginis to be enacted into a law that COL
ored persons shall ride in separate
coaches over the railroads OF this state
is certainly contrary 60 the law and
spirit Of said Constitution
Justice, is the quality of being Just,
Or reasonable, impartiaiity, righteous
nese, giving Co every nan exactly
what he deserves.
What Justice is there in putting rail
roads to an expense in furnishing sep
arate coaches for persons of color to
ride ir2 Is there promotion to the
general welfare OF tbs state when strife
is engendered, a race war proclaim ed
one race publicly degraded by another
race one race proclsiming itself 20 be
by nature supe rior, the other race SO
inferior by nature that il is scarcely
re eched by the rays of heavenly light?
Why humble, subjugste, oppress a
person because of color? Can the
Egyptian change his color: or as leop-
ard, his spots?
A separate coach for a person of col.
or Indicates that they can change their
color, and II they do not want to be
degraded because CT their color, then
change their color that they may ride
in the coaches for white peoples
A separate coach for white people
indicates that there is something in
them below par, and that they are not
good enough to ride with black folks !;
and II they want 20 be with them they
must change their color What i'm
partialitv is there in discriminating
against man on account OF race, COL
or, or previous condition OF servitude?
PECULIAR CONDITION.
A person of color, trained in Virgin
las public schools, raised in first
family OF Virginia. finished his educa-
tion in one of the highest schools OF
the land, has an industrial education,
is noted for piety, Is not Roberts
but is respected by all, is forced into
separate coach, although he may be o
seock-holder in the road, and regular
tax payer, giving no trouble to q de.
linquent tax collector while a white
person who has none OF the said Quail
ncations, yea, in social equality is not
recogn zed by the patrons of the DILL,
yet he is not degraded by being placed
exterior. Is such impartiality? Does
not sucn engender bitterness. strife,
revenge?
The american Negro OF to-day does
not as tamely submit "to the oppres
sor's wrongs and the proud mans con-
tumely," as he did in years past. The
hutcheries sud damns ble atr Jcities in
dicted upon some OF our people is
done to put out the fires of manhood
kindling in the bosom OF many and 70
cast an intimidation, a fear over them
that they will not strike back. Such
will avail nothing. You might as well
endesvor to suppress the eruption of
Vesuvius as to atte mpt to quench the
spirit OF msnliness and revenge of
wrongs brooGing in the black mans
bosom,
IN VIOLATION OF THE Law.
The proposed "Jim Grow law'' ia in
violation of the spirit of the XVIII
Amendment. While in letter il NAV
apply solely to suffrage, but in spirit it
prohibits Determinations, making q
distinction, treating unequally, un-
fairly on account OF race, color, or
previous condition Of servitude. Eve
~ lawyer, whether he pleads in the
ed, biased, against the black man sees
clearly that the said Jim Grow bill is
contrary to the spirit of the XVIII
Amendment. Every philanthropist
within and without the General As
semDly, who believes in the Father
hood of Goo and the brotherhood of
man, sees clearly that it is against the
great object and objects for which the
Federal Constitution and the Constitu.
tion OF Virginia were adopted.
What fairness is there in some white
men, because they do not want a COL
ored man TO ride in the same coach
with them, to enact, that railroads 8
must go to the expense OF preparing
separate coaches for persons of color
TO ride in? Separate coaches demand
separate stations, or waiting rooms,
and extra employees, with the same
propriety, millfonAres, men OF wealth
learning and high in Office may de-
mand the Jefferson and other hotels
to prepare separate dining rooms sole
~ for their use and no others. Such
IS respect OF persons-he that hath re-
spsct OF persons cominitteth sin.
SHOULD INCREASE THE RATES.
IflegislAtors will cause railroads. be-
cause OF their foolishness, in colorpho.
biA, prejudice and respect of persons.
to incur unnecessary expenses, then
the said railroads ought to advance
their passenger and freight traffic to
meet the expenses, or they be given a
draft on the state treasury.
IL after q railroad has given a lepis-
lator or newspaper man q free pass.
travels tree over the road, then they
put the railroad to 3 foolish expense
as jim Crow car" then the railroad
should take the pass from them and
let them pay their way as other men.
The same with a clergyman, who has
q clerical permit. If he aids and abets
she unnecessary expense. take his per-
NIT from him. Railroads, as Others,
have rights to be respe stsd. MANY