Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1861-11-01

NEGRO AND MULATro LEGISLATION.


NEGRO AND MULATrO LEGISLATION.
IT has hitherto seen the boast Of Vennontcrs
that nothing has appeared in the Constitution OF
laws of the State which created or recognized
any distinction IN the rights privileges or labill-
ties OF men, on account OF race, color OF the
skin, Other States have had their black laws
special codes for the government or the opprcs-
sion of the black races but TO our credit be IL
said down 30 this hour. the words Htgru and null
alto have not darkened nor the words lrditc per-
som, h' way OF contrast. illuminated Off it Dee an
iilumnatiou,) anv page OF our statute book
But IL is proposed to change all this through the
recommendation OF a board of learned gentlemen,
speaking asrouAl (rleir Chairman, Judge Bennett.
IL is true that II was not within the letter OF the
commission to " the Committee appointed to
wise the Statutes of this State to draft bills for
the prevention of kidnapping of either white men
or coOrcd men but only to examine and report
to the Legislature whether certain acts and re-
solutions, bearing upon the rendition OF iugi-
tive slaves" 50 are in conflict with the COnsti-
tuition of the United States" Possibly the Leg
islature of 1860 did not intend that the Commit
tee should 90 lcyond or outside the tenor of
their commission trusting rather TO the judicial
than % the legislative learning and experience of
the Committee However this may be, the Com
mittoe have favored the Legislature with the draft
of a bill the object OF which is expressed in the
report to be q" the prevention of kidnapping, and
the protection and preservation OF personal liber-
ty 10Th 10 the white and the eolored man If
+; he allowable. lei us look this riff horse in the
mouth
The dissection OF this proposed bin prohibits,
under penalties, the kidnapping or iorcibly or
fraudulentll carrying of decoying out OF this
state any ,obt, Derso,, or arrestin,g or nprison-
~: ,, ,,I ,,e,,sSso. ,g;th an infention NJ bavint,
such ,,r.o, carried ont of the State unless II be
IN n,,rsu,tre Of he ia,ey thereof
The "a section prohibits, under precisely the
same penalties. the seizing upon any free Llack or
uiplatfo person within this State and keeping
spcb free black or u,,Rafto rerson in restraint or
confinement with an intent that such black or
,,,,Jotto ,c,sop shall he TRANSPORTED out of the
/ Stote aoanst his will "a
/ Tbess Two sections suggest sundry noteworthy
considerations and queries.
l. Tho novelty in this State Of making one law
f,. tl ,cIits ,4,s,, and another fof the black or
n,,,tatto p,rgan
- Iffit he said. that the two sections are Of
.,,,ai s,,,o and lito meaning. then why not bayo
.,tn,hi,cd tb, tvo2 And why use these nasty
disrinctions Of ,rhite person and black person or
,g,,Jg,j1 ,ersoa3 W6v. in these times abuse the
d,r of trucc bv crossing within the rebel lines to
;,,5,ort nom our southern Dabomv these contra
hand nbrasesY
a But these two sections are not of equal
soono Tins b, tho At section il is made an Of
fns, IN :, daco, ont of the State any ,nhite per-
son - lint the IN ha, no penalty for like decoy-
inc Of the black or laDlqifo person though free.
Afos Tor the bIock or D,,,I1tfo person.
Ao,ir tbe carrying off or decoying out of the
STATE the min nerson Is saved from the penalty
4 dome .. 10 ,.,rassls,e ,f the laws thereofu-as
in case If PERSON captured and taken out of the
state nv his hail or fugitive from Justice from
anotbor STATE. arrested under our State Statute
and removed 10 the state line to be there surren-
dered 10 the autboritie, of that other State. But
IN he case Of the Blaek or nlulatto person, he
sbaIl not he Transported out of the State against
his will far ami pupose.n Good luck for the
Iock ar muyatto nerso5 this time.
Not NOTICING other discrepancies in the phrase