The Chronicle-star combined with the Moss Point advertiser., 1946-10-18

Inc Iedefal government now
has little power or authority
to deal with the social and
government situations which
give rise to civil rights prob
lens"
Caudle gives this summary
of the situation;
The United States Constitu-
ton did not mention civil
rights. But the first Congress,
fearing interference by the
federal government with bas-
ic rights, passed and submit
ted to the states the first 10
amendments.
These now are known as the
Bill of Rights. But-the Bill
Of Rights did not afford pro-
lection to the in Il ivi du a
against other individuals or
the states. 1t was directed
against oppressive acts by the
federal government.
Other Amendments
After the Civil War the 18th,
14th and 18th amendments to
the Constitution were adopted.
The reason was that certain
states would not or could not
protect the liberties of all per-
sons.
Five laws were passed pro-
viding penalties for state Of
ficers and individuals who vio-
lated the rights set out in these
amendments. The rights in
cluded due process of law by
the state. This means you cam
not be deprived of life, lib
erty, or property without a
fair trial.
Congress later repealed most
of these civil rights laws. Two
sections are left. They consti-
tute the sole authority under
which the Justice Department
can act in the civil rights
field.
They deal with conspiring
to harm citizens in, the exer-
else of federally secured rights
(section 5l) and with repriv-
ing persons of civil rights un-
der color" of law (section
52).
Section 81 does protect you
you against mobs. 1t affords
protection only against off
cial-that is, federal or state
abuse. Yet most civil rights
complaints are against an act
of one person against another
person, or of group of per-
sons rike mob) against one
person.
Section 81 does protest you
against private individuals as
well as public officials in these
rights:
To be free from involuntary
serviyude; to be a witness in
federal courts; to be protect
ed in carrying out federal
court DEGREES; to run for and
hold federal office; to be pro-
tected from violence while in
the custody of federal authori-
ties; to have access to the fed
eral courts, and to vote for a
federal officer and to have that
vote counted as cast.
Section So
Section So empowers the
federal government to prose-
cute a state or federal officer
who willfully misuses his of
flee or power TO deprive a
person Of the rights guaran-
teed Ey the Bill of Rights and
the 18th amendment.
Congress on several occas-
sions has been asked to pass
anti-lynching legislation. But
bill of this type has never
been enacted. Such a bill, saws
the Civil Rights Section, would
be new civil rights statute.
The section says all ahti-lyneh-
ing pills were aimed at on
forcing the l4th amendment.
which says an Individual cam
not be deprived of life, lib
erty or property without due
process of law, which means
fair trial.
The standard anti-lynching
bills of the past have been
timed at state officials rather
than at members of mobs, says
the section. They would make
state officials criminally res
ponsihle for failing to take
necessary measures to protect
an individual from a mob. to
act to ascertain the identity
of mob members and to prose-
cute mob members.
The recent lynching of four
Negroes near Monroe, Ga. by
2O-odd white men spotlighted
the prsblem of civil rights.
FBI agents are investigating
the iynching, but they can't
make arrests unless they find
that some Georgia official
eonspired with the lynch mob