K.L.K. (fl. 1866) to Charles Sumner
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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC07202.03 Author/Creator: K.L.K. (fl. 1866) Place Written: s.l. Type: Autograph letter signed Date: circa 1866 Pagination: 2 p. ; 18 x 11.5 cm. Order a Copy
A vitriolic death threat signed with initials: "Your infamous equal rights bill if passed will secure your death inside of 8 months. The spirit of 76 is not dead yet & the Land which my & our forefathers fought for shall never be compelled to submit to the motion of a petifoger, or the filthy arm of an alien Black ignoramous nor shall her [2] sons & daughters be made to bow their heads, & grovel in the earth at the command of an Alien. So beware I sware & I never sware falsely your life shall be the penalty." Signs the letter, "Yours with extreme disgust." Writes a post script stating: "Perhaps you are working for a negro son in Law we will all award you one."
In 1866, Charles Sumner and the Radical Republicans began pushing a civil rights bill, legislation designed to protect freed slaves from Southern Black Codes. It was reintroduced in 1873. After Sumner's death, the bill became the Civil Rights Act of 1875, outlawing racial discrimination in public places. The Supreme Court overturned the law in 1883.
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