The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-02-21
VOL. Nv.

FREE CoLoRED PEorLE OF LoUIslANA.-The
laws of Louisiana respecting the free people Of
color are more liberal than in any other slave.
holding State, or some free States. They con.
stitute class of citizens whom the law recognises
and protects, and whose social position is better
than that Of free people of color in other sec.
tions.
The Mem Orleans Picayame of the 18th ultimo
contains the report of a case decided by the Su.
preme Court Of the State, which held that thew
were competent witnesses in trials of white ner-
sons, and also assigned the reason therefor. ne
follows-Judge King delivering the opinion:
"Our legislation and Jurisprudence upon This
subject differs materially from those of the slave
States generally, in which the rule contended for
prevails. This difference Of public polio yhas no
doubt arisen from the different condition of that
class of persons in this State. At the date of our
earliest legislation as Territory, as we'll as Al
the present day. free persons of color constituted
a numerous class. In some districts they are no.
spectacle from their intelligence industry. and
habits of good order. Many of them are highly
educated, and the instances are by no means rare
in which they are large property holders So far
from being in that degraded state which renders
them unworthy Of belief they are such persons
as courts and juries would not hesitate to believe
under oath. Moreover this numerous class ia
entitled to the protection of our laws, but that
protection would in many cases be illusory, and
the greatest offences against their persons and
property might be committed with impunity by
white persons, if the rule of exclusion contended
for were recognised. They are also included in
article 2 200 of our Civil Code as competent per-
sons TO testify in civil mattersD
"A GENEROUS SENTIMENTAL the late annual
meeting in this city of the American Colonization
Society Robert Scott, of Virginia, made speech,
which is reported in the African Repository for
February, and from which we extract the follow
ing generous sentiment MIR. Scott is referring
to the Government of Liberia:
II am very particular to announce that there
is a feature in that Government that marks it as
one of the highest degree of wisdom. IL forbds
a white man single foot of soil in Liberia, as
mould forbid the black man single foot Of soil IN the
United States Their haze taken care 10 follow the
command of Him who commands all thmgs.n
That must be new commandment communi-
Gated by special revelation 10 MIR. Scott We
think the old revelation is on this wise: that
"God has made of one blood all men to dwell
upon all the face Of the earthD The Supreme
Court of Louisiana, quoted above, holds very
different language from that of this peculiarly
benevolent gentleman
Whea we denied that Mr.. Chase was elec-
pioneering for Mr.. Brown. for the Speakersbip.
we said that the support of that candidate by the
Goi oha-o MA
renee. Aletter from MIR. Durkee, in the Wiseon-
SIN Fireman. reminds us that we were partially
mistaken, as he did think it proper that the DEM
oeratic Fre.-Soilers should vote for him. That
he electioneered for him, however, is gross
falsehood
The HAMILTON COUNTY CONFERENCE.-THE
Hamilton county controversy, which has driven
that most enlightened, sober-minded State Of the
West to the verge of anarchy, was terminated on
the LIST instant, by the adoption by the Legisla-
ture of proviso to the apportionment law, as
follows:
"Prouded, That nothing therein contained
shall be construed to impair any right, privi
leges, or franchises, supposed to be acquired I'M
der said provisions above repealed"
CoRREcTIoN-It seems that the True Democrat
of Cleveland, from which we copied the address
the Columbus (O) Convention, made mistakeia
printing it. The error was transferred to oar
paper, and we are now asked by one Of our Ohio
exchanges to correct il.
The error consisted in stating that the follow
ing two resolutions offered in tho s5unvrurson
were stricken out:
&C RESOLVED, That the services of William Allen,
in the councils of the nation, entitle him to the
confidence of the American Democracy; and
Resolped, That the Democracy of Ohio de-
plore his absence from the Senate Of the United
Statesn
They were not stricken out, but substituted and
adopted in place of the following resolution, offer
ed by Mr.. Bierce of Summit, which was stricken
out BY vote of lar to 100:
"Resolred, That we approve of the vote given
in the United States Senate, by our late Senator,
William Allen, on the application Of the Wilmot
Proviso to the Territories and we recommend
to our Senators and Representatives in Congress
to engraft the same principles upon all bills for
the organization of Territorial Governments"
THE BosroN CHRoNoTYPE has ceased to exist.
Its talent, wit, and courage, made it a favorite
with large circle of readers. We hope its wor-
thy and Independent editor may find still wider
sphere for the exercise of talents that have been
devoted to what he believed the best interests of
his race.
The DEMOCRATS have called Convention of
the counties of Portage, Summit and Medins,
Ohio, on the 22d of this month, to consult on
measures proper to be taken in view Of the
State Democratic Convention at Columbus.
HON. ALFRED GILMORE.
WASHINGTON, Pa, february 10, 1850
To the Editor of tie National Era:
see that you speak of the district in this State
by Mr.. Alfred Gilmore, as "pro-
slavery district Allow me to correct you ON
that point His district is composed of the coun-
ties Of Butler, Armstrong, Indiana, and Clear
II eld-counties which embrace not only a large