The Lancaster gazette. (Lancaster, Ohio) 1846-1852, 1849-01-26

braced in a single statute.
Within the last twenty-five years sys-
tenn of internal improvements has been
commenced and completed at the public
expense. That these works have added
much to individual and general wealth,
there can be no doubt; since by their con-
struclion every portion Of the community
is brought within reasonable distance
of market for all its surplus productions
thus having developed the resources Of
the State and given an impetus to every
variety Ofbusiness transactions. To pro-
cure the means of constructing these
works, state debt of considerable mag
nitude has been contracted, which at one
time seemed to threaten our prosperity
and our credit. But by the energy of our
officers and the fidelity of our people, both
have been preserved, and our obligations
will be faithfully adhered to until that
debt shall be paid to the last farihing.
BY the operation ofour present system
of revenue, a system believed TO be as e.
qual as any that could be devised, the in.
terest Of our state debt is punctually paid
and already since its adoption large a.
mount of the principal Of tina, debt has
been discharged. The new banking sys-
TEN has restored confidence in our cur.
rency by the facilities afforded TO business
and its security To bill holders; and is yet
all that was expected of it. These two
systems, doubt not, will be sustained
while their beneficial effects remain so
clearly manifest.
From consideration Of The laws them.
selves, as we'll as from the agitation ofthe
subject in all parts ofthe State, invite the
attention ofthe General Assembly to the
act of Jan. 9Th, 1604,entitled "an act to
, regulate black and mula,to persons" and
the act amendatory thereto, passed Jan.
25th. 1907. TheseOcts, which are in com.
mon parlance, denominated the" black
laws, "are of long standng;the fret having
been enacted soon after the organization
of the State government. From the first
they have met with decided opposition
from a portion of the people Of the State.
Of late years. and on more full investiga-
lion, this opposition has become more
determined and more extended.
There has sometimes been manifested
adisposition to impute improper motives
to those who enacted those laws. In
this attack upon the memory of those who
have gone before us, am not disposed
to participate. These acts we're undoubt.
, edly intended by those who passed them,
| for good-they were legislatiDg for a
State which had but just been organized
On its southern bound cry, and separated
: from it only by the Ohio river, were States
, in which the colored man was enslaved
But in their own State, both it's consii
tuition and the ordinanc Of 1857. happily
slavery could never be tolerated; it's peo
, Pile and every portion Of them must for.
5 ever remain free. "
! Under these circumstances they appre
3 hendctl danger that their southern neigh
] bors might cast upon them such Of theil
| slave population as were worthless, eithel
' from age or vicious habits Entertaining
!. these views, and believing that tho bes
i interests of their own State, required thai
its population should be composed Of the
| white race, they pissed these acts to OBJ
: tain as for as possible that object. On
i colored population has increased and il
!. still increasing, those laws to the contrary
:. Notwithstanding. In fact, they never
! havo. to any considerable extent been en-
0 forced, except one section, hereafter
a mentioned, and are now. as it were, q
q dead letter upon our Statute Book. Since
I they are thus obsolete, and to many o.
: our citizens odious, aud beieveing that i
y would comport with justice and add tc
!. the ponce and harmony of the community
is I Recommend the repeal Of both these acts
!. But if, upon due consideration, you sh al
o DO Of the opinion that the interest of tn,
!. State forbid such full repeal, I must the
the more especially press upon your con
= sidration the repeal ofthe fourth section
J, Of the act of 1907, and this from full con
i. viclion that the only operation ofthat sec
n tion is, to prevent both public aud private
= Justice. This is the section which prohibil
0 the testimony Of black or mulatto perscn
;, IN any cause, either civlor criminal, ,wher,
s either party is a white person.
;. In q State where slavery exists. ,her,
!. may he some pretence of reason why III,
,f enslaved race should be prohibited from
0 teslifying in controversies between lhos,
o who enslnve them. But 10 State who's,
!. constitution declares all equally free, ant
}. where oil are entitled to the same protec
r. tion of life. liberty and property. on,
Il where all have the same personal, thougl
!. not the same political rights, it seems ab
I. surd Tint the competency of a witnes
10 should bo tested, OF the truth exclude,
N from our courts Of justice, by the color o
the skin. The oppression aud injustice
IF to the colored people are not the only reu
10 sons which call for the repeal efthis sec
i. ,ion but it may be urged as measure G
u. justice To the white population as we'll a
At to tho State itself Instances are not ur
is frequent whore white men have been de
10 privod Of their rights by its operation
III aud examples are not wanting where tn
o. murderer has escaped punishment b,
IS cause the commission Of the crime coul
ar be proved by tho testimony of colore
at persons only.
in Averse as am in the administration
un State affairs, to any interference in thos
matters which seem more appropriated
re-. to belong to the general government, "
IL there arc ocCasiOns when from the il