Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-02-14
rage, in the absence of reason and restraint,
until appeased by the violence Of its. ex-
ceSSeS.
From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Rlaek Law ReDeal. e@

From the Cincinnati Enquirer.
Black Law Repeal.
We have copy oil the Bill upon this
subject, as it passed the House. And the
suggestion which we made yesterday res
pecling the telegraph report, is correct
1t is not can unconditional repeal of the
Black Laws" The greater portion OF It
provides for the establishment of school dis
iricts and schools for colored children, TO be
supported among the colored persons them
selves. 1t repeals the former act on that
subject-repeals also the act OF 1904, the
act of 1907, and that of 1884, which re.
quire bond and security to be given ana
prohibit blacks and mulattoes from giving
testimony where either party 10 the suit is
n white person; and repeals also call parts
of other acts, SO far as they enforce any
special disabilities or confer any special
privileges on account of color"-a clause
which amounts to very little in effect.
AS first introduced, and as published by
us, the bill repealed also the 2nd section OF
the &C. for the relief of tho poor passed
March IA, 1881, which prohibits blacks ana
mulattoes from gaining legal settlement
under our poor laws. fhis was stricken
out on the motion of Long, SO that, Us
the bill passed, blacks s6hS mulotsoes can
not gain settlement so as to become
permanent township charge.
The bill was altered in another respect
1t contained proviso that any person
bringing or causing 10 be brought, any
nerson ss,oith intent that such persons
should become chargable as paupers in any
township in this State,' the person SO
bringing or causing'S &c, should be fined IN
sum not exceeding five hundred dollars.
1t wrs plain this intent could never be
proved, and so the provlso would be incl
fectual. To remedy this, On motion ol
MIR. Long. the bill was amended to read
"any person or persons who is or are like
ly to become chargeable as paupers in any
township IN this State, or vagrants,' the
person bringing or causing them to be
brought, &C., should be fined. The clause
is thus made susceptible Of enforcement.
These, therefore, are the provisions oI
the bill, as passed:
/. Separate school districts and seper
ale schools for colored children.
D, Repeal OF the bond and security law
3. Repeal of the section prohibiting
the testimony of black or mulattoes, where
white person is party to the sait.
4. Imposing fine upon the bringing
or causing them to be brought Into the
State, if they are likely to become town.
ship charge. :,
And the retaining the provisions which
sreyents their gaining legal settlement
SO as to become permanent charge TO any
township.
We are thus particular in stating the
features ofthe bill, because of the incorrect
ness Of the telegraph report, and because
we apprehend they are not generally un-
derstood.
The essential thing IN the whole matter
is that the State shall not be overrun with
. colored persons from abroad. This the
bill aims to prevent, and by means which
promise to be effectual; which the bond
and security law never was. Moreover
there is the same safeguard as formerly a
gainst their being saddled as a permanent
charge uopn the tax payers, under the poor
laws. 1t may not strike the minds of some
favorably, that the prohibition against then
testimony is taken away; and we confess
to an old prejudice on that subject ourself
But the competency Of a witness to testify
is one thing, and his crsdibility another
We hnve no fears but that Courts and Ju
ries will be able to give TO their testimony
lust such weight as it is entitled to, and ne
more And surly much occasional injury
and injustice to them may be prevented.