The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-01-08

week. ssSlT" ON NOnpafeil and
BREWER,
ssRUNG BE THE HEAVENS IN
BLACK"
Great is the tribulstion of the Democracy
over the Act making Negroes, Mulattoes and
Indians, competent to testify in Courts of
Justice. Profound are the reasonings IN
which they indulge, and far-seting the vision
BY which they feretell the evils aud unpal al
leled cslamities which are to follow. One
would think from reading their Journals, that
the foundations Of the Earth had broke loose,
that the laws Of society had been dissolved,
that universal anarchy and confusion were
about to ensue. To be serious about the mat
ter, they pretend 10 be much troubled by the
act to which we have referred above. They
pretend to see the State put by it into direct
road to abolitionis m, and in loud and long vo-
alterations, they point to the time, as not far
distant, when all distinctions between the
white and blatkraces will be destroyed, and
amalgamation will be an approved custom Of
the land.
Now all these croakings about tae aboli-
ton tendencies Of the actrsferred to, are gam
mon, no more nor less, as moments reflection
ought TO convince any man of sense. In the
6rst place, 1t becomes pertinent TO inquire
what are the uses OF testimony, and why are
witnesses called into courts of Justice to testi-
~. We have always understood that it was to
fnd out the truth, and that in the attainment Of
that object, It mattered not by what agencies
It was brought about, so that the results were
reliable. And, consequently, if negro is wit
ness to fact which il essential to the admin-
istration of any case, and necessary to the cs-
Enlistment Of justice, we cannot see that any,
body 10 the loser by allowing said negro to
come into court and tell what he knows about
Il. On the other hand, we think that it would
be 10 the interest Of all parties 10 have him do
20. Suppose foul murder is committed in
the presence only of negroes and Indians, and
they are disabled by law from testifying to the
facts Of the case. The consequence is the
murderer goes free, and the State is defrauded
Of justice. Or, suppose that any one of those
who shed tears SO copiously over the desecra-
ton otthe Statute Book, had thousand dol
lars or q section of land, depending upon a
suitat law, and the testimony of black man
would very essentially advance his cause, and
secure the maintenance Of his rights. We
opine that his objections to allowing the said
black manto testify would lose somewhat Of
their strength, that his heart would no more
Be rent by the contemplation thereof, that he
would be disturbed no more by visions
OF abolitionism, Of universslicopfusion, and of
the downfall Of all social laws and distinc-
TONS When the subject should come home
TO him and effect his individual interests, he
would use little common sense, and adopt
reas< nable view Of the case. If it were at
any other period, not word would be said.
Butas it 10, an inaamed party spirit distorts
mems reason, and destroys their capacity of
viewing things in the light Of common sense.
The thorough bred Democrat Of the modern
school, has profound aversion 10 thiags of
color, 20 profound thar he sees ssnigger'' in
every bush. He has 90 habitupted himself to
the horrors Of that state Of things designated
BY the term abolition, that he has acquired a
morbid sense Of the subject, 30 that when he
but hears the word "negro,' his hrir stands
on end, his mouth opens and he instinctively
utters the cry 0abolition.o
Some of .hem, however, are not 70 green as
their words and actions would seem 10 indi-
cate. Election day will come around again,
men will be in search OF Offices, aod then
what subject it will be for the stump speak
or, what eloquence it will call forth, what in
dignatiOn will be aroused. what copious show
err Of tears will fall form the re-opened foun-
tains Of the great Democratic heart We
expect to hear some Of the more skillfui of
the Prophets solving, by means Of the rule of
three, something like the following problem,
"f it takes one year for the Republicans to al
low negroes to testify in Courts of Justice,
how long will It take them to abolish slavery
and compel every white man to marry black
woman and virs versa"
I. We will close by proposing an inquiry,
which We hope our readers win conside. in
the mean time, and duly prepare themselves
N answer. When the act becomes law, and
any one Of the men who are now raising such
. cry, shall have suit to be adjudicated.
which the testimony Of some black man will
materially tend to advance, will be act in the
same spirit OF sbhorence which he now pro-
fesses. to the principle OF the Law, and refuse
to avail himself Of the advantage afforded hlm9
We shall see what we shall see.