The Rodney telegraph. (Rodney, Miss.) 1838-1840, 1840-07-30
The Negro Witnesses.

The case of two negro men being brought
before a court martial as witnesses in the
trial of Lieutenant in our Navy, has given
n good deal of nausea to many of our Van
Buren, friends, and they talk strongly about
quitting his support, if they shall be convin,
ced that what has been published as his en-
dorsement on Lieut.. Hooe's remonstrance is
genuine. To satisfy them in this particu-
lar, we publish the following document, in
which it was introduced, word for word as il
was read at the Clerks table in the House
of Representatives.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.
FRIDAY, June II, 1910.
Mr.. Bolts, Of Virginia, asked leave to
offer the following preamble and resolution;
observing that he held himself personally,
and as Representative, responsible for the
truth of every word and syllable contained
in the preamble, as established from per-
sonal examination of the records of the case:
Whereas. By reference to the proceed
ings of Naval General Court Martial, held
IN the month of May, 1889, on board the
United States ship Macedonian, then lying
in Pensacola Bay, for the trial of Lieuten-
ant George Mann Hooe, of Virginia, of the
U. ). Navy, on charges and specificat ions
originally preferred against him by Com
mander Uuriah P. Levy-among other ir-
regularlties complained of by the accused,
the following facts will appear, which call
loudly for redress, to wit:
That, on the Both day of MAY, 1899,
James Mitchell. the steward, negro SER
want OF the said commander, Uriah P. Levy,
OF the United States ship Vandala, was
called and sworn as witness on behalf of
the prosecution, to testify against the said
Lieutenant Hooe; that the accused objected
to the examination of the witness upon the
ground that be was colored man; that the
court, after deliberation, did not consider the
objection valid one, and ordered the exa-
mination TO proceed; that the accused then
offered the following protest, which was, at
his request, spread upon the record
"Ihe accused begs leave 10 state to the
court, most distinctly, that he solemnly pro-
tests against the evidence of this witness
being received and recorded 1t is far from
the wish of the accused to object to any evil
dence which the court may deem legal: but
the witness is colored man, and, therefore.
IN the opinion of the accused, is not com
petent witness even before this tribunal
GEORGE MANN HOOE,
Lieut.. U. S. Navy
| Whereupon the witness proceeded tie de-
liver his evidence before the court; upon the
conclusion of which the accused offered the
following paper in writing, which, at his
request, was also spread upon the record:
"Ihe accused having protested against
the evidence of this witness, on the ground
that he conceives his testimony to be al.o-
gether illegal; that he knows il would be so
considered before the civil tribunals of this
Territory, the forms and customs of which,
ne humbly thinks, should be as closely fol-
lowed by martial court as possible, there
fore asks to spread upon the record the fact
that he cannot consent to, and has totally
declined, cross-examinlng the witness
GEORGE MANN HOOE,
Lieut.. u s. Navy"
That, on the same day, Ito wit: the Both
day of May,) Daniel Waters, negro cook,
and private stewart of the said original pro-
secutor, Uriah p. Levy, was called, sworn
and examined before the court; whereupon
the accused presented the following paper
In writing, which, at his request, was spread
upon the record:
"The court having determined to receive
and record the testimony of colored persons,
the accused, inlregard to this witness, can
only reiterate his objections as set forth in
the case of Mitchell, the Captains steward.