The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-09-14

1Iixrp BLooD.--Three yery importantd
sAsss caas up before the Hastings Eo<rt yeserdsy i
III its dtclsion, the substance Of wl1n shI en-3
deaSor Il Ave The csscs alluded q were applicasf
lions for certificates under the following section
from the Revised Codes
1S sa ssss &c sa
grant amy fres person. of mixed beed reslacnf
therein that he Z not Which
ties and which free negroes are subject
as sueh. ~ 1911 & ksfs 8 ~ = 80 5Ass rs
In this co1nsnuaity, there are large number Of
fnixed bloodsp who have heretofore passed as free.
negroes, many them carrying about their PERSONS
continualy, registers Of their freedom, granted BY
county and other Courts- They have never afp1rsd
to higher sphere until recently, aud in al prehs
bility would never have attempted to seek the ex-
einpons given them by the section in the Code al
luded bnt for the viglant enforcement Of the law
against free negroes rho desire change of residences
from one county to another and the privilege Of go
ing from and returning the State at their conve-
pience But now that the door TO an elevation has
Fbeen opened them the Courts are continually an
nsyed bytheir applications, which, If granted, will
have other effect than to declare them free citi-
Gems entitled all the privileges and ifimunites Of
Ne pure white race. : st4s,, ss5Gs "a sss.,a3f
lp the case ofEdward S. Gentry, person who Aas
resided In this city for number of years past whose
associates have been negroes, and who has always
passed as free negro the evidence aaduced proved
that his mother about thirds white his grand
mother white woman, his grandfather brown skip
negro and his reputed father white man. His coan-
sell therefore, asked that he shond BE Furnished with
certificate relieving him from the penalties and disa-
bilities to which free negro is subjected In other
| words theapplcation to the Hastings Court was to
grant to the applicant certificate from under their
hands declaring Edward s. Gentry not to be negro
and by consequence, to declare that he was one of
class of persons which could be reached by no cr-
| ninal law of the Commonwealth-the Code recog-
nizing other than slaves free negroes and bite
| persons-or to pronounce him free white citizen.
| endowed with all the privileges and immunities of
the pures. person in the land Weare fully convinced
in mind that the Legislature, in passing the
act from which the section we have quoted was ta-
ken, never designed endowing such characters with
the right to become governors, judges jurors SOL
ders or lawyers; we believe that it was in
tended for them to exercise the right of suffrage Or
marry with white persons; but as they adopted no
fourth status upon which they stand we can con-
ceive ofno reason for granting them exemption from
the penalties and liabilities to which free negroes
| now subjected. salk aslS -st T-s2
But the method resorted to in the courts of tracing
| the pedigree of these people is, in opinion en-
trey erroneous and will bear the of scrutiny
Hearsay evidence, as the law books say, is good in
establishing pedigree; but those same books tell US
/ that 'bastard" have father, that if both
rules apply to the in point it would be Impossible
| to establish, with any degree of certainty, what
amount of blood flowed in the veins of the ap
plicant. Then let try the rule of reputation In
this case. and what result it viii lesa The sec
| ton have quoted requires the proof before the
TO be established upon the oath of white per-
Gentry was bora in the county of Hanover, and
his mother who fulatto, and who could testi
fly in behalf of her sons application if called upon
after the birth of her child puts forth that his
father is white gentleman of the neighborhood-or
of another county, in his csse-and that ruInor
circulated from neighbor shbor and from house
house, until it is generally believed the siandered
probably never hearing 1t, or If he did, never
taking the trouble to contradict it, although it may
have been false. In after years this child ap-
plies to court for certificate that she is not Negro"
and by way of proving his right to that certificate,
calls upon persons who heard the rSlnor, started by
the mulato mother, and that rumor is TO be received
as legal evidence in court of justice, notwthstand
ing the fact that the of the epated father has
been given the public by none other than free
negro. Now, if this is to become established rule
for this character OF evidence, certainly the courts
had better take more step, and let the colored
mother herself testify, for by doing, she would be
| submitted to cross-examination by the common-
wealth, that might change the entire complexion of
| the ---ss..-Ez -.Fsftsf-.t e. s.s. szat
| We have noticed this matter in our own way, be-
cause we desire arousng the attention of Legsla
| ture to the importance of an immediate repeal or
| amendment of this law.
| RAcEs.-Such of our readers as take in
terest in sports of the turf by referring edver
Using columns will find that the most ample arrange
rnents are making for grand display of speed
and bottonl' to commence on the Fairfield Course on
the 2jth nst and continue four days, before the
ular fall meeting which takes place the succeeding
week. As will be SEEM the first race is match at
three mile heats for purse of $1,000, between One
| Eve Joe and Tom Walker, two good race horses,
benest as the days are long, and game swapping
tnr.le., Each of them has scores of hackers, and
bus few can be found at this time, possessing the
bard;bood to venture the smallest odds upon the
suit of the contest. ~-s ~
| The next day comes off the great $4,000 match,
veen Red Eye and Nina, at two mile heats, and
we doubt very much whether the race between
aHenry and Eclipse" or Grey Eagle and Wagner"
or ..Fashion and Boston, created half the excite
nent that is already visible among that class OF et
ges who at the increasing prosperity of the
old Virginia sport of horse racing We VIII nor at
this time, venture public opinion as to the result
Both horses are looking fine and doing as wei as
their trainers and hackers could ask for Each seems
IN have reached the acme of perfection, and the
friends of each are sangune of winning OF course
some are to be disappointed, and we therefore eau
ton our readers against betting.
The other two for plate and purses, and
the entries will probably be mum erous And then on
the following week, the regular fall meeting COM
rnences, during the progress of which The Jockey
olub nurse at four mile heats viii be run for BY seye
,al fine and well tried horses.
II will also be seen that pavilion, for the accom-
mediation of ladies' has just been erected, and that al
steps have been taken to ensure the most
order and give them the anplest opportu
n;tv for witnessing the races, free from all annoyan
ces How this new feature will work here, remains
70 he seen but we understand thatin South Carolina
where the Club is composed of the elite Of the State
ladies attend the races in large numbers and seem to
eniov the sport as much the gentlemen Such OF
them as attend .Fairfeldn feel fully satisfied viii
have attention paid that add to their plea
sures. k.,, - ss,ss &
Row AMONG SERvANTs.-A negro man, IN
j, Of Messrs Mills Dibrell, named Lee,