St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-02-06
Douglas Speech In
Introducing Civil
Rights Measure
Continued from Page ~


enforce, by appropriate legisla-
ton, the provisions of this ar
ticle." Therefore, there can be
no question but that Congress
has the specific power to i'm
plement the 14th Amendment.
Now the United States Su-
preme Court, in the Brown and
other cases. has ruled that segre-
cation on the basis of race in the
public schools is ultimately a viola
ton of the guarantee of the equal
protection of the laws and hence
is unconstitutional. While the
methods and timing are made
somewhat flexible, localities and
States are expected to move to-
ward desegregation with all de-
liberate speed"
Finally, it is appropriate to call
attention to Article VI of the Con-
stitution which specifically states
that, This Constitution shall
be the supreme Law of the Land,
and the Judges in every State
shall be bound thereby, anything
in the Constitution or Laws of any
State to the contrary notwith-
standing" A similar obligation is
placed upon all Members of Con-
gress and State legislatures and
on all executive and judicial Of
ficers on both the State and Fed
eral levels.
In order to implement the 14th
Amendment and to meet the grave
crisis of our day in a reasonable
moderate, conciliatory yet firm
fashion, we are sponsoring this
bill.
1T provides for technical, fin
ancial and administrative assist
ance through the Department of
Health, Education, and Welfare in
school desegregation cases. 1t also
authorizes injunctive relief in suits
brought by the Attorney General
against denials of equal protection
of the laws in school and other sit
uations.
TT thus seeks to marshal our
resources of technical knowledge,
financial assistance, legal repre-
sentation and basic good will to
meet the complex problems Of de-
segregation in a positive, rather
than a punitive, manner.
1t aims to place, the Congress
and the executive branches of our
government alongside the Supreme
Court in carrying out the promises
of the 14th Amendment, recogniz-
ing that we cannot expect the
courts to be the sole protectors of
those rights.
In short, as I have said on an
mum of cooperation and mutual
assistance between Federal and
local governments in ending den
ials of equal protection of the
laws.
In short, as I have said on an
other occasion, it is a bill to put
our moral house in order-for the
benefit of citizens now denied their
rights and for the benefit of the
whole nation in it's difficult posi-
ton as a leader of the free world.
Earlier History of Measure
This is the same bill, Mr.. Presi-
dent, which we prepared and in
troduced a year ago as S. 1887.
Sixteen Senators joined as CO.
sponsors at that time, and IS Mem
bers of the House of Representa-
tives introduced companion meas
ures.
Despite the urging of the Chair
man of the Senate Constitutional
Rights Subcommittee, the Senior
Senator from Missouri, Mr.. HEM
ings, bipartisan majority of that
committee decided that hearings
should not be held on the bill in
the Senate in 1858. In the House
the eminent Chairman of the Jud-
iciary Committee, Representative
Celler, commenced hearings late in
June but they had to be discon-
tinued in the pressure of business
at the end of the session before a
full record could be made.
In recent weeks, I have appeal
ed to. the Attorney General and the
Secretary Of Health, Education
and Welfare to give consideration
to the provisions of this bill ir
formulating the Administration
civil rights recommendations.
have received from each Depart.
ment friendly assurances of such
consideration.
I'VE have also been encouraged
by the widespread interest ex
pressed in the bill by persons who
are inexperienced in the prob
lens of education and community
relations. One such full-lengti
statement was prepared for sub
mission to the House Judiciary
Committee last year by an abb,
Southern leader, Mr.. Marion A
Wright Of Linville Falls, Nortl
Carolina, and 1 ask unanimous con
sent, Mr.. President, that Mr.
Wright's analysis be printed in tn,
Record at the conclusion of m,
remarks.
The Urgent Needs
while the Congress did not ac
on these proposals last year, Mr.
President, the tragic history o
continued notification of the Law