The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1853-04-28
he Peace or respectable citizen; or be engaged

the Peace or respectable citizen or be engaged
in driving a cart, wagon, or other carriage
and any free person of color found offending
against the provisions Of this section, shall, on
conviction thereof before Justice of the Peace
forfeit and pay sum not exceeding ten dol
lars aud all such offenders may be confined
in lookup house till the following morning
Provided, horeuer, That nothing herein con-
tanned shall be made to apply to any person Of
color passing peaceably through the streets to
or from any meeting house or place of worship
nor to any person of color sent on an errand
by the owner or employer"
The Judge assumed that the law of Congress
authorized the Corporation to pass such an
act, and he did not seem to regard it as OPP
pressive.
No valid reason can be offered in support
of the act. To colored people driving cabs,
wagons, or carriages going to or returning
from place of worship, or sent on errands by
their employers it does not apply. But If
colored man, visiting at neighbors, or de-
tanned on business or for his own pleasure, or
in search Of a physician for sick wife or
child is caught walking the streets after ten
o'clock at night, he is liable to arrest and fine.
Is this necessary for the safety or convenience
Of the community! Not at oil. No one ap-
prehends any more danger from colored man
in the streets after ten o'clock, than from u
white man besides, another part of the same
act makes provision for the suppression of any
"idle, disorderly, or tumultuous assemblage Of
negroes" at any time and the ordinary police
power is all sufficient for the arrest Of any one,
white or black, who may be detected in
unlawful or suspicious movements. To pro-
hibit, therefore, free colored person from
walking the streets after ten o'clock, peace
ably and in an orderly manner, is not neces-
sary to any purpose of good government and
is a wsnton exercise of power. As there Is
no valid reason for it, it is degrading and
oppressive-degrading, because it presumes
evil intent from an innocent act, simply be-
cause it is the act Of person of color; OPP
pressiye because it letters without reasonable
cause the liberty of whole class Of persons,
simply because they are not white. In some
cases, its operation is cruel. "No reputable or
orderly free colored man." the Judge presumes,
would be denied a pass from Justice of the
Peace or respectable white neighbor, on any
necessary occasion which called him from
home after ten O'clock" colored man has
a sick wife or child. Justice of the Peace is
nowhere in his neighborhood. Respectable
white people may live square or two off, and
at all events may not wish to be aroused from
their slumbers at midnight to hunt up pen,
ink, and paper, to sign pass; and the signers
might, after all be unknown to the watch. Be- |
fore he can procure a pass, he may be seized |
and carried to the lookup; and ere the morn
ing break, his poor wife or child may be be-
yond the reach of medical aid.
The act is wanton, degrading, oppres-
i've, inhuman Let it be repealed. The COM
nunity will suffer no dctriment. Few people
white or black walk the streets after ten
,'clock, except for some good reason. The
when you see a man walking
alter that hour, IS that he has some lawful
'bject in view If he has not his movements
will soon betray him, and vigilant police
dispose of him.