Staunton spectator, and general advertiser. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 183?-1849, 1840-08-06
e'rtnm spRetatna s csfmRral annr rttsrr.

ished by the House of Representatives to-
lay. went to the Capitol, and on entering
he Representative Hall found the House
ngaged in the discussion of the question,
which resulted in the poetponement Of the
rintlng OF the documents. The day follow
ng, however, the Globe gave what the Pres
dent deems "full explanation" of the mat
er. After reading the explanation of the
Globe, could not find satisfactory expla-
nation; but on the contrary, it appeared to |
me that the President had assumed the |
ground OF justification by contendng that it |
had been the usage of the Navy to admit ne
gro evidence on courts martial.
am aware that under the common law
there is no distinction known as to persons,
yet do contend that the President, in appro-
wing the proceedings of the court martial,
ought to have expressed his disapprobation
of the negro evidence.
With this qualification his political friends
at least would have been satisfied.
1t will not do to tell us that the President
had no control of the matter-that it would
not have been proper for him to have inter
fered. The case is within the recollection of
many of us where, after the court martial had
decided, the General in command reversed
the decision, and ordered Il new trial.
Now, if it be competent that subaltern
no one will deny that the Communicating
chief has the authority.
This is question of vital importance to
every white man in the United States-and it
will not do for the President to look with in
difference. not to say with appreciation, upon
| it.
have watched this question through all
its mutations. The Opposition will, no
doubt, avail themselves of this false step of
the President to promote their own political
| views.
| There is strange Indifference, total alb
sence on the part of the President, of that
watchful and ardent solicitude which the We
ry nature of the subject is calculated to in
spire, and which it was his province to guard
and defend. 1t is now said by members oil
Congress that they will pass law to prohib-
1, In future the introduction of negro testimo-
| ny against white man. 1t is too late the
poison has been infused; all the laws on
earth cannot heal the deadly influence.
Tell me not of your fanatics and abolition
lists, when the highest officer known to your
Flaws and your Constitution admits the fact
that a negro is competent witness against a
white man. Is this your Northern man
with Southern feelings? And is this the
man we are to rely upon when the day of
peril and danger may come?
convicted without the negro testimony
Then why introduce il! Was it to jeer and
taunt the feelings of the South? We are
not now trying Lieut.. Hooe, but testing an
all important principle-one connected with
our political and social relations.
The principle of the admission of negro
testimony at all is the question:; not what
they did or did not prove. And if it be a
fact, as stated, that the respondent was con-
victed without the negro evidence, then 1t is
a gratuitous assault upon the policy and in
situations Of the South.
This case presents to the mind the most
singular and extraordinary anomaly in refer
ence to that portion of the Union supposed to
does 6llthhesn yteeliugs and Northern preju-
vania, with her Quaker population always
opposed to slavery in the abstract, she has de-
clared that negro, within the purview OF
| the Constitution, is not entitled to all the
| privileges and immunItieS of a free white
man. In Connecticut, Chief Justice Dagget,
In the Tappan negro school case, decided that
negro was not free man or citizen within
the meaning Of the Constitution Of the Uni-
ted States.
By the laws of South Carolina, and per-
haps of all the Southern States. the admis-
sion of negro testimony is prohibited in the
trial of white man. Yet, i'm the face of
these facts, and within a Southern Territory,
negroes are permitted to give testimony, and
the proceedings Of the court approved by the
President of the United States.
The charge of Abolitonist comes lily from
that quarter now, since the President has Off
cially declared that he saw nothing wrong in
the proceedings Of court in which two ne
groes had given evidence against white
man.
! If we are to have President holding opin-
ions adverse to the interests of the South give
us one born south of the Potomac River-one
! whose early associations, habits, and educa-
ton would make him act with caution, if not
with propriety, however much he might in
the abstract be opposed to slavery.
| Z. S. DAVIS.
WASHINGTON, July, 1910.