Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, IA [i.e. Ind.]) 1839-1854, 1849-01-31

OOv. ce0UOry OTO, IN DIS lnauReIaI
address refers TO the repeal Of the ''black
laws in the following manner:
From consideration Of the laws them
selves, as we'll as from the agitation of the
subject in all parts Of the State, invite the
attention Of the General Assembly TO the
acts Of January 9Th. 1904. entitled ian
act TO regulate black and mulat.o PERSONS"
and the act nmendatory thereto, passed
January 25th, 1907. These acts which
are in common parlance. dcnominatcd the
"black laws are OF long standing; the
first having been enacted soon after the
organization of,he State government. From
the first, they have met with decided OPP
position from portion Of the people Of
the State. Of late years, and on a more
full investigation. this opposition has be-
come more determined and more extended.
There has been sometimes manifested
disposition to impute improper motives to
those who enacted these laws. In this at
tack upon the memory Of those who have
gone before US, | am not disposed to parii-
cipate. These acts were undoubtedly in
tended BY those who passed them for good
they were legislating for State which
had but Just been organized. On its
southern boundary, and separated from it
only by the Ohio river, were States in
which the colored man was cnslavcd. But
in their own State, both by its constitution
and the ordinance of 1907, happily slave
ry could never be tolerated.; its people and
every portion Of them must forever remain
free.
Under these circumstances they appre-
hended danger that their southern neigh
4 :<.t,s nf fhoir
slave population as were worthless, either
from age or vicious habits. Entertaining
these views. and believing that the best
interests of their own State, required that
its population should be composed of the
white race, they passed these acts. to OBJ
tain as far as possible that object. But the
object in view has not been effected. Our
colored population has increased and is
still increasing, these laws to the contrary
Notwithstanding In fact, they never have.
except one section, hereafter mentioned.
and are now, as it were, a dead-letter upon
our Statute Book. Since they are thus
obsolete, and to many of our citizens odious.
and believing that it would comport with
Justice and add to the peace and harmony
OF the community, | recommend the re-
peal Of both these acts. But it. upon due
consider alton, you shall. be Of the opinion
that the interest of the State forbid such
full repeal, / must then more especially
press upon your consideration the repeal
of the fourth section of the act of 1907,
and this, from a full conviction that the
only operation Of that section is, to pre-
vent both public and private justice. This
is tho section which prohibits the testi-
cause, either civil or criminal, where ei
Their party is a white person.
In State where slavery exists. there
NAV be some pretcnce Of reason why the
enslaved race should be prohibited from
,es,ifyinp in controversies between those
who cnslave them. But in State whose
declares all equally free. and
where all are entitled to the same profec-
ton Of life, liberty and property, and ,
where all have the same personal. though
not the same political rights, its seems
absurd that the competency Of witness I
should be tested, or the truth excluded !
from our courts Of justice, by the color Of
The skin. The oppression and injustice
10 the colored people are not the only rea-
ion but il may be urged as a measure of I
Justice to the white population as well as
10 the State itself. Instances are not I'M
frequent where white men have been de-
prived Of their rights by its operation; and
examples are not wanting where the muir. ,
lcrer has escaped punishment because the $
Of the crime could be proved
by the testimony Of colored persons only.
His Excellency says in Slave States ''there ,
nay be some pretence Of reason why the
.nslaved should be prohibited from testify
ng in controversies between those who =,
,nslavc them If we are not mistaken,
wen in South Carolina, the hot-bed of )
lavery. negroes are permitted to give evil |
lcnce in courts Of justice where white men
ire the parties This is said to be tolerat-
ID to protect the owners Of slaves against
heir oversecrs Should an overseer kill
slave, i'm nine cases out Of ten, there
would be no witnesses of the fact. except ,
blacks, hence they are said TO be permitted !
o give evidence, which is taken and has r
IS influence according to the character Of {
uch slaves for veracity and credibility. ;
We commend, however. this portion OF the
Governors inaugural TO the earnest con- 6
,ideration Of our people. I
Supreme Couri-Hogs running at
arse.-We meant no disrespect by the Il
above association-either to the honor c
able court-or - but simply to record b
he following decision made a few days v
since in which some Of our citizens feel q
IN interest. It affims the right to the city
o restrain hogs from running at large in
he streets Of the city. =
Horney rs. Sloan. Error Wayne c. c.
Per C~riam.-Replevin for taking and
two hogs alleged to be the pro- .
perry Of the plaintiff. +,
The defendant pleaded specially pur- !.