New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-01-12
FROM flashing TON.

From Oar Own Correspondent
WAsIHNGToN, Monday, Jan. II, 1853.
The Revised Code of the District of Columbia,
prepared under the authority of an act of Congress
has been printed and distributed among the people,
preparatory to the vote on the 18th OF February,
which is to decide upon its ratification or rejection
1t fills badly printed volume Of 700 pages, abound
ing in errors of the press gross as to show that
whatever pains the Commissioners may have taken
with the substance of the work. they have taken
none with the prOOf.reading.
The Code differs little from those Of the States
which have codifed their laws. Its provisions are
liberal on the few points which are most disputed
in the Jurisprudence of the country such as divorce
usnry. and the testimony Of atheists. The-only ar
ticles Of national interest are those relating s~
Slavery. of which it may be well 10 give Synopsis
80 that the people of the United States may under
stand what kind Of legislation on that subject they
are responsible for through their Representatives. I'D
Congress.
Chapter AZ consists Of general provisions respect
ing slaves and negroes.
S.cr1os / All slaves now within this District. or
hereafter brought therein in accordance win he pro-
visions of law ana the future descendants OF female
slaves shall be slaves during their natural 'es, u
less manumitted and set free according 10 Jaw
SEC. prov ldes that no Save shau curry suA' VI "
eIslye weapons. -,
SIC g. That no slave shall sell intoxicating liquor
SIC. T. The value of a slave condemned anu eHscu-
ted or retrieved for sale and transportation shal oe
paid TO the owner out the treasury such valae sa
be the cash price for which he would sell AT puDhc
sas with knowledge of the crime for when ne YVES
condemned. II shall be fixed by the Criminal CouIt
and entered of record and paid by the Masha 70 tn
owner. Ii such slave be slave only i3I LII ba
wears or for the life Of another person. ne sna NC
valued accordingly -, n;.;,. contrary N
law &C. shall not be paid for out OF the treasury 10
by preceding section. a,o,. ,,;,ro0a sor nv
SIC 6 negro shall be competent "llnesS 'oi y,
a,o;,s. ,agr0 in any criminal proceeding, ana sha
he comnetept witness in any civil case 10 "nich only
perroes are parties, but not ID any OtheI Gaze:
SCI No negro shall be emitted 70 the privilege Oh
voting at elections, or OF De1s eo'eD VI 'PP""u "
'uSs Siaves shall be deemed personal estate.
So o Every person who has any negro blood shall
- Jo,nad IN be negro within the meaning of any
49,; ~ this Code. unless otherwise specially pro-
Reside these general provisions, incidental clauses
rst;ng 10 slaves are scattered through the Code.
None OF these are remarkable except that the OF.
fense of rape by white man on white woman Is
nunished with Imprisonment for from FIVE to twenty
Gears: while the same crime committed BY negro
upon white woman is punished with death. II
committed by negro upon woman OF his own
color the punishment il from two to twenty years
IMPRISONMENT These unreasonable distinctions re.
mind us OF the barbarous laws Of the early feudal
ages, ard certainly ought not TO BE- made with the
ssDetion of the American Congress
TIE Code, 80 fer 90 sla7es are concerned, Is iir