Alexandria Gazette

THE CIVIL RIGHTS BILL—Letter from Hon. J. F. Lewis, of Virginia.—The following letter from Mr. John F. Lewis, of Virginia, on the civil rights bill, has been made public. It is as follows:

Severn Wilkins, Esq.—My Dear Sir: Your letter of the 13th inst. is before me. You ask, "Is there any possible chance for our civil rights bill this session?" I would have given your letter earlier attention but from the fact that I was absent from the city when it arrived.

It is hardly necessary that I should say to the people of Virginia that I am a true and sincere friend of our colored citizens, and desire to see them protected in all civil, religious, and political rights without invidious distinctions of any kind. I am desirous to see them provided with the means of acquiring education—a blessing so long denied them by the laws of the Southern States. Strange as it may seem to you, for these reasons I am opposed to the civil rights bill in its present form.

I have very little time to discuss this matter, and am compelled to confine myself to a few of the prominent reasons which will control my action on this bill.

In the first place there is no power in the government to regulate social relations between its citizens, and any attempt to do this by the Congress of the United States would result disastrously to the republican party, which, in my judgment, would be a calamity, and your race would be the greatest sufferers.

The churches are the property of private citizens, built by subscriptions from individuals, and, therefore, do not come within the purview of Congressional legislation. But I think the denial, by a church, of admission to any race, not only wrong, but a sin that ere long will call down the curses of Providence upon the head of all who practice it.

It is known to every intelligent person that the white people have a large and increasing majority in Virginia, and in point of education and wealth are very far in advance of the colored population. It is also known that there is an inveterate prejudice entertained by a very large majority of the citizens against mixed schools. It is equally well known the school fund has been fairly and impartially distributed; or more correctly speaking, that the colored schools have been liberally cared for. Make it a penal offense to refuse to have universal schools, and the constitution and the laws will be changed and the Legislature will refuse to appropriate money for the common schools. Take care that in grasping at the shadow you do not lose the substance.

The colored race have the right to build churches and school houses, and to exclude the white race therefrom, if they desire to do so. They have the right to exclude the white people from their social gatherings, and they have the same facilities for traveling in all public conveyances. Then what rights have my race that are not enjoyed by yours?

Let there be no antagonism between your race and mine. Let us strive to encourage kindly feelings and to forget the prejudices engendered by the unfortunate and wicked civil strife, and to this end let us try to stop the agitation of the race question.

In the language of our great and wise President, "let us have peace."

Truly your friend,
John F. Lewis.