Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-10-06

be seen, no negro or muiatto persons e"e't
be permitted to emigrate into anu seuie ~
Ohio, without giving bond win security ~
the SUN Q: FIVE hundred dollars Ior lhelr gov
behaviour and mainten ince. Inc oeuiany
of security for good behavior is understood
10 imply that the party may be convicted oil
some misdemeanor. There is probably no
legal axiom more fairly established than that
innocence is always to be presumed Where
guilt is not proved. And all experience de-
monstrates that the sufest method OF rem
deiing a man an enemy, Is to treat MIN as
one.
A man tina, would have friends must show
himself friendly. To presume that person
Of whose actual character nothing is known,
is more lik, ly to disturb the peace OF the
community. merely because of an African
origin, is, we are fully convinced, 10 oiste-
gard the lessons Of experience.
When we reflect upon the injustice meted
out TO the descendants Of the African race In
this country, the laws and usages by which
their rights are violated in many OF the
States their education prohibited BY law IN
some; and their improvement retarded IN
noirly all; and remember how few violent ell
forts they havs made TO redress their wrongs,
we can hardly resist the conviction, that Ia
ken as a mass, they are a patient and peace
able people. Would the AngIo-SaSon race
have submitted, under similar circumstances
to eqnal injustice without more numerous
acts of violence ! Where then, feliow.citi.
zens where, then, fellow professors OF the
christian religion, do we find occasion for
the enactment and continuance OF a law re-
quiring This helpless people to give security
for their good behavior 7 How far can the
citizens Of Ohio lay claim to the character OF
humanity and benevolence, while they re-
quire security of these people, In ADVANCE
for their maintenance, in case OF inability 10
support themselves Such a rule, 1t ap.
piled TO people of every complexion, would
exclude from emigration the class oil settlers
upon whom the prosperity Of the State prin-
clpally depends. Why, then, upon pTlncl-
plies Of common policy; to say nothing OF
= humanity and a sense of justice, can we
: make he,disiinction now under consideration!
= Those who rely chiefly upon the labor OF
D their hands for their support, constitute the
D bone and sinew Of society. A proposal to
e adopt the provisions of this section OF the
e law, in case Of white emigrarts, would no
doubt be rejected without hesitation. And
we are unable to discover any valid reason
@ why they should be applied to the colored
l. race rather than TO our own. We believe 1t
o will be found, on inquiry, to bea fact, thatin
# States where Justice is meted out TO these
people with the most equal hand, there we
B ! snail Hnu tue greatest pIOopGIN1s idhihb
good the scripture declaration,-"But the
o liberal deviseth liberal things; and by liberal
r things shall he stand" Every citizen OF
o Ohio who is in the habit of travelling, must
r be aware of the fact, that in our hotels and
d steamboats,, a large proportion Of the service
9 is performed by colored persons. Thus
a they contribute greatly to our convenience
g and comfort, Notwithstanding our inhibitory
o laws and deep rooted preiudices.
The third section of the amendatory act
t of 1907. imposing a penalty ofone hundred
dollars for employing any negro or mulatto
who has not complied with the provisions OF
D.. the above laws, is so manifestly unreason-
g able and unjust, as well towards our own
citizens, as towards the colored race, as to
o require but little omment We need only
= observe that this provision Of the law is vi.
n ola,ed by our best citizens; proving that 1t 10
a dead letter; except in the hands ofihe most
e unprincipled and unfeeling; are used as an
q engine of revenge; in such cases it is capa-
e BILE ofbeing made vexatious. and oppress-
70 i've, in a high degree, and on this account, If
T no other, oughtat once to be repealed.
It Let us now take a passing notice of the
d 4th section of The law of 1907, disqualifying
;, colored persons from giving evidence, &c.
As every act Of legislation is supposed TO be
designed to edress some evil, or TO procure
y some advantage, we naturally inquire what
h was the evil to be redressed or advantage to
y be gained by this provision Of law Was
it supposed that negroes and mulattos were
too much addicted to mendacity, and too art
ful in concealing their falsehoods from the
e penetration of Judges and Jurors 10 be trusted
l. to give evidence in a court of law =! Ii that
y opinion was entertained why were they per-
Or United to give testimony in any case Or was
rs it deemed less desirable that The truth should
e. appear when colored persons only were con-
n cerned; that where one or both parties hap
o. pened 10 be white 7 or may we not fear thai
;! the object was to prevent people Of color from
e. obtaining redress for ou,rages committed OF
IS their persons, or property by unprinclpleC
as whites Whatever the motive of The legls
nd lature may have been; whether the act wa
DIS designed to secure the people Of our owl
ar color against the demands of the negro race
on or whether it was dictated by that cruel AM
inefTable contempt with which the descend
1s- ants of Africa have long been regarded; tn
les effect Of it can scarcely be mistaken. While
he this provision stands unrepea'ed, the coloret
inhabitants Of the State have little to expec
Ter from the protection of law, even in cases o.
to tho grossest outrage. And now let us sober
'ct " ask what ossible injury could be appTe
Ter hended from permitting persons of every
Int complexion 10 state " hal they know in courts
Ie- of law, and subjecting their testimony 10 the
OF rigid scrutiny OF the bar, to the explanations
)" of the bench, and the reductions Of the Jury
nd box! Is it reasonable to believe that more
he falsehoods could be palmed upon the com.
a munity and left undetected than now are
"A As these people are declared by the term,
" of the Constitution from participating in III,
On choice Of our Legislators, and of course car
an exercise no control over the laws by which
n they are governed, a situation which WI
,e' should hardly think equal and just, if placed
be in it ourselves, this circumstance furnishes /,
d. forcible appeal to our sympathy, and increat
u es the responsibility Of those entrusted with
rp- Il I.-;-I.,:a. ~ ~ C,a,o T.. ho a., -.