On this day in history, February 3, 1875, Republican Congressmen Joseph Hayne Rainey and Richard Harvey Cain responded to Democrat Congressman Joseph Whitehead's opposition to the Civil Rights Act of 1875 on the floor of the House of Representatives.
The bill guaranteed equal access to public places, and equal treatment, regardless of race or previous condition of servitude. Congressman Whitehead said the bill would infringed upon the rights of white people, if it passed.
During his speech Congressman Rainey said. “I cannot permit this opportunity to pass without a few words in reply to the gentleman from Virginia. I must say, judging from what I have heard, that the gentleman has made no argument, in my opinion, that can do the civil-rights bill any harm. He has attempted to ridicule the same; he has attempted to ridicule the people whom it is designed to benefit.
But he has not adduced any strong argument, logical nor legal, why the bill should not pass and become a law or why the class of people against whom he has raised his opposing voice tonight should not have their constitutional rights. His premises are erroneous altogether, consequently his conclusions are fallacious and void of force.”
During his speech Congressman Cain said, “I have sat in this House nearly nine months, and I have listened to gentlemen recognize as the leaders on the other side attempting to demonstrate as they supposed the inferiority of a race of men whom they have so long outraged, and to cast a slur upon them because they have been helpless. But revolutions never go backward. The mills of the gods grind slowly, but surely and exceeding fine. The times have changed. The wheels have rolled up different circumstances from those that were rolled up in the days of the old regime.
The gentleman from Virginia calls in question the propriety of passing the civil-rights bill. I cannot agree with him, and for this reason; my understanding of human rights, of democracy if you please, is all rights to all men, the government of the people by the people, and for the people's interest, without regard to sections, complexions, or anything else."
During his speech Congressman Lynch said, “It is not social rights that we desire. We have enough of that already. What we ask for is protection in the enjoyment of public rights…rights that are or should be accorded to every citizen alike.”
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Now - PBS is running a number of specials in celebration of Black History Month
◼ PBS: This Day In History for comparison purposes.
◼ PBS: Black Culture Connection
