The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1849-03-03
For The Spirit of Democracy.
The Black Laws.

Mr.. EDIToR :--Since the repeal of the Black
Laws of this State some men have come to the
grave conclusion that great injury is likely to be.
fall the good people of the State of Ohio. Now,
to understand the effect Of the repeal Of these laws
il will be necessary to know what the law was that
is repe aled, and the effect of the law substituted
First, then, the only law repealed, that had any
force whatever, was the statute preventing negroes
and mulattoes from giving testimony in courts Of
justice; the other laws, and parts Of laws REPEALED
had no force. and long since were virtually repeal
ed by the courts declaring them unconstitutional.
Now. we invite these iaultsfnding men to give US
one sensible reason for the Old law disqualifying
negroes and mulattoes from bee ming witnesses IN
courts.of justice. Call to your aid the experience
of those States where this disability never existed,
and show US the evil; but farther still, take the
experience of the Judges of the Supreme Court Of
our own State, and we find that they say, and in
form have decided, that In nine cases out OF ten,
where the negro and mullatto are excluded from
testifying, the injury falls upon the white man and
not the colorsd.
Every man k9Aa might unoe'
the repealed Iais,
ed man, and 50 unppnishes., 40 ~"''e maA !" :
present to give testimonys Now the "iehas y
this Black Law must desire the law to protec
them in beating and ubusig the colorea race
Or, perhaps, some of the yung men who are SO
terribly shocked at the repeao of this law, desire to
be protected in midnight assault upon some CO.
lored female, and if this law yas>Sn force no hu
man tribunal could punish their criminal conduct
If such are not the reasonsfor uphoiding these
Black Laws, some one who has good reason
will oblige the friends Of justice by making II
known. I hope you will hot withhold IRON them
the privilege of doing so through We Columns u
the esprit" -,
True, the law enacted the presen'Sessioh Oh '"e
Legislature, permits III colored population to avail
e tho ee,I bus privilege of being taxed
>, od,o,,. ,boir cbildI In Its to be hoped no man
j.; mi. county is me 4 enough to envy the chill.
dren of coored rarep.s 'ne p''V"ese vi eou.''''''
If SO, let him hide he head-iet MIN pray 'o' '"e
mo o.ntaips to full cdpQn him
But one small class Of objectors deserve partlcu'
lar attentioo. That class is scomposed of the can
dida,es ,shf are anxious to make capital OF some'
thing tf-ppose our present Representative at the
,ext election; and to effect this, you can hear
III, upon the corners Of the streets and in the bar
rns in this town, telling tales cf bargain and sale
about which they knoH nothing, and for which
they care not ono cent-their only desire being to
create an unfavorable impression against our Rep
resentatiye.
Such men should know, if they do not, that SEN
sibls men know how this matter was brought about
that there is no such terrible calamity attached to
il as these faut.fnding few have represented
What honest men is there that does not desplse
those who wilfully retail out their shameful SIAN
ders upon this subject. Some OF them, to my GER
tain knowledge, know better, but to worm them
selves into office will SANDER themselves, thell
10y, and every good thing upon the face OF the
earth. These men must hereafter keep little
nearer the truth, if they wish to escape public al
,er,;on. VERITAS