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1.  Negro - Legal Status - U.S.

AH

SPEECH
OF
HON. ALONZO J. RANSIER

Mr. RANSIER said:
Mr. SPEAKER:  But for some remarks made by the gentleman from Georgia [Mr. HARRIS] the gentleman from north Carolina, [Mr. ROBBINS,] and the gentleman from New York, our learned and genial friend, [Mr. Cox,] during the protracted debate on civil rights, made before and subsequent to the recommittal of the bill on the subject to the Judiciary Committee, which in my judgment call for a specific reply, I would not again ask the attention and indulgence of the house for myself.

Statements have been made by one or all of these gentlemen, and others who oppose such a bill, as many of us think ought to pass, that ought not to go to the country uncontradicted, and a condition of affairs pictured by them as  likely to follow it enactment into law which if true or likely to occur ought to go far toward the defeat of such a measure.  If, on the other hand, these statements are shown to be untrue and to rest upon no foundation in point of fact, and that the enactment of such a law by congress will be of benefit to all classes of our people and promotive of the ends of justice, of concord, and harmonious relationships, as we think we can show, then we cannot pass this measure a day too soon.

Mr. Speaker, this measure has been presented to us in masterly efforts in its constitutional aspects, and we are asked to consider it now in the light of practical statesmanship.  We are asked to consider what would be the effect of its operation as to our school systems and upon the relationships between the races.  To these inquiries I propose to address myself as briefly as possible, and to this end I ask the indulgence of the House.

Before proceeding I desire to express my regret that anything should have occurred calculated to create ill-feeling between members of this House during this debate, and which the press of the country has characterized as contravening the legitimate limits of parliamentary courtesy.

It were far better if grave questions such as are involved in the consideration of a measure like this could be discussed in a spirit of fairness, and without passion or indulgence in such allusions as are calculated to give offense to members personally. Each of the friends of the measure, however, can say truthfully, "Thou canst not say, I did it: never shake they gory locks at me."

Mr. Speaker, the honorable gentleman from Georgia, [Mr. HARRIS,] in his speech on the bill, said:

I am satisfied, Mr. Speaker, that a very large majority of the republican members of this house do not understand the true condition of affairs in the south.  For if