Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1847-02-05
VOL. 2.---N0. 81.

huidt DtlSouSs pdSStu JdludiJ SOs lOUI,
il is provided, that no black or mulatto per-
son shall be permitted to give testimony in
any court in this State, where either party to
the sam is a white person; so that the white
man can commit whatever outrage he p~leases
upon the property or persons Of the colored
man, with IMMUNITY, II he is cautions to COM
mil 1t only IN the presence of colored people
no difference il the white scoundrel has muir
de!ed the colored mans wife, and ravaped
his house III his presence, and in the pre-
sence OF his sons and daughters, he can have
no remedy by the laws of our State; not be-
cause he is not acknowledged as a man, but
because He who holds the destinies of ma
lions, as well as individuals, in his hand, has
made his skin black! The colored mans
property is not unprotected, because he does
not contribute for the purpose of supporting
our government, and the sustaining of our
laws; the official records of our State proves
that he pays taxes for these very purposes.
1t is not Tor the reason that he has not the
same feelings, actuated by the same motives,
and responsible TO the same God, that the
white man is-for his physiological and phre-
biological history, together with the word Of
God, prove him to be devoid of none of these
but the true reason, and the only reason
that can be given is, that he is guilty Of a
SKIN not cOioTed like our own"
The colored man may have given, during
a great number Of years, indisputable evidence
OF his devotion to truth aud virtue-may have
established an unquestionable reputation for
ver"city; yet cannot testify where a white
man is interested while the most abandoned
and degraded wretch is permitted to testify,
however much he may be celebrated for his
total disregard of truth, if he has a white
-IIn ' t.,f,rtt,- e ,... ---,- -. z,x--.
bel eve for "A moment, that the complexion of
mai's face adds or detracts anything from his
character for truth and v~erdcity, and would
preserve, by the repeal of these laws, "the
ancient personifed emblem of Justice, so Of
ten seen browning her temples, from the deg
radiation and pollution of removing the band
age from her eyes to discover the complexion
of the humble petitioner in her court, and
laying aside her even balances to dispense
cOiOred justice" Let our courts be open to
all men, and leave to the discriminating in
telllgence OF our Judges and jurors 10 deter
mine, from the character and credibility of
witnesses, the proper weight of their testimo-
ny. In the ordinance of 1897, it is declared
that judicial proceedings shall be had accord
ing to the course NJ the common laW. BY this
law, every man, whatever his grade, color
or condition, unless personally interested,
by crime, or an atheist, has the
right to testify-and hence this portion of
these laws is in violation of this ordinance,
as well as the second section of the fourth ar
ticle of the Constitution of the United States.
One of the judges of the Supreme Court Of
this State declares, that in his long practice
at the bar, lie has never known an instance
in which this part of these laws were en-
forced. but what injustice was done thereby.
Injustice is not only done the colored. but the
white man also. There are cases constantly
occurring, in which the white man is the in
jured party, by the operation Of these laws.
There is one other law which may, and is
properly denominated BGck." which a ma
jority Of your committee deem ii their duty
to notice, viz that law which deprives the
colored population of the State of the benefit
of the School Fund. 1t is declared in the
ordinance Of 1887, in the third article of said
ordinance, that " religion, morality and know
ledge being necessary to good government
and the happiness of mankind, schools and
the means of education, shall forerer be en-
outraged" On the Both day of April, 1909,
Congress, in pursuance Of the principles as
serted in the ordinance of 1887, passed IN act
declaring, the following several tracts of
land in the State of OHIO are hereby appro-
priated for the use of schools in that State,
and shall, together with all the tracts Of land
heretofore appropriated for that purpose, be
vested in the Legislature of that State, in
trust, for the use Of aforesaid, and for no 9TH
er use, intent or purpose whatever" These
lands were appropriated for the express pur-
pose Of educating all the youth of the State,
colored as well as white. The trainers of
our State Constitution, feeling the necessity
and importance of having all the people edu-
Gated in a republican government. and i'm
PEELED by a deep solicitude for the welfare of
your country, and understanding fully that
education is the hope Of our republic, that no
free government can exist long hut by the
intelligence and virtue of the people, and
fearing that the time might com when their
children would forget the instructions of their
fathers and cease TO reverence the principles
that animated them when they laid the foun-
ddtion of this government; they, therefore, de.
clare in the twenty-ffth section, and eighth
article, that no law shall he passed to pre-.
rent the poor in the several counties in this
State from an equal participation in the
schools, academies, colleges, and universities
within this State, which are endowed, in
whole or in part, from the revenue from dona'
lions made by the United States for the sup.
port Of schools and colleges; and the doors
Of the said schools, academies, and universe,
ties shall be open for the reception IF Schoiar'
students and teachers Of eUery grade, ,ciihouI
any distinction or preference lUhateuer contra.
ny to the intent for which said donations were
made" 1t was evidently the intention oil
the trainers of our Constituti n, and this
clause most cl'arly does give to all, without
distinction, the benefit of our common school
system. All laws which deprive the colored
nOnuldtIpn of our SLatp Of THAR nrnro.,;z. -
the school fund. are, in the opinion of vom
committee, in direct violation Of the Consti.
tuition of our State and the ordinance OF
1887, as well as the Constitution of the
United States. A majority of your commit.
tee are impressed with the belief, that on the
Legislature Of this State rests the vast re.
sponsibility Of saying, whether the multitude
Of colored youth in our State, now debased