This fact turned many of the Southern Unionist class back to the Democratic party, there to remain for a long time.

In 1875, as a sort of memorial to Sumner, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act, which gave to Negroes equal rights in hotels, places of amusement, on public carriers, and on juries.

Some Democratic leaders were willing to see such legislation enacted, because in the first place, it would have little effect except in the Border and Northern States, where it would turn thousands into the Democratic fold, and in the second place, because they were sure that in time the Supreme Court would declare the law unconstitutional.

And so it happened.
In regions where the more unprincipled radical leaders were in control, the whites lived at times in fear of Negro uprisings.

The Negroes were armed and insolent, and the whites were few and widely scattered.