, 1865-02-08
ATTORNEY GESERALs OFFICE,
ncfAmffr O. 1874.
/ WEST TIBGISIA.
Els E1cellency, o. F. Morton, Governor OF Iudt-

WEST vIBGEA.
| Els E1cellency, o. P. Morton, Governor Of 1udi-
3E4n sln:-1a reply to yosrs Of the 4th Inst.
| In the absence Of Governor Boreman, would saJ
curry to which an able at this moment 10 refer,
Is the following; Section 20, code Of Virginia.
which seetfon is Jet unrepealed. md in force -
law OF this State -cnnct8 TINT n negro OF Indian
eball be competent witness In case Of the Com
mo1Wea1th for or against n3gro or Indian, or in
civil case 70 which only negroes or Indians are
| ef no exceptions, and beiieye nono srs allowed.
Our Legislature has repealed many Of the oaious
Virginia laws in reference to negroes, and this I
! It had rot been overlooked. The probability is
It Will 50 overheard next session. Section l,
chapter 10, Acts first Legislature Of Virginia, en-.
aSa BE- and sd IN 10 an
| andtf convicted be subject to the same punish
| neut az white person: but negro shall bo
s @ s u oa
Law now existing here on the subject That Is,
this act and the eection Of the code previously
cited.
Trusting this may be satisfactory reply to your
inquiries.
lam, very respectfully, your ob:dien: ser7ant,
@. D. HALL, Private Secretary.
ILLINOIS.
TO His Ezcellency, o.P.: Morton, Governor ot
DEAR S1n-Replying to yours Of the 5th, I hive
the honor to state that the only provision IN Re.
gard to the a1mi.sibility Of the testimony Of ne;
Div III Of the Crimipal Code, scatcs' Statutes,
page 81, which Ia rs follows:
No black or mn1atto person, Of Indian, shall
against any white person whatsocyes. Every per-
son who shn]l hayo one-fourth part or more of ne
gro blood shall be deemed 1nulatto; and every
be deemed in Indian:
Respectfully. your ob't servant
R1GuARo TA1ss, Governor Of Illinois.
To His Excel1ency, Q. P. Morton, Governor Of In
SM-In the absence Of Governor Carney, have
the honor to acknowledge the receipt Of yonrs Of
the 9Th irst In recard TO the admission Of the tes
timony OF negroes in controversies between both
onr @ laws, 81 such testimony Is received, and wit6oat
Respectfully, your ob't servant
WAHD BuR1MGAMR, Private Secretary.
NEW TORE.
Tq nis iEzcelleney 0. ?. Mortsn' Governor oi
DEAR s1n-I bavo received your letter Of the 9th
instant IN regard TO he q she tssn
are parties, under tho laws Of the 6taie
Our laws DO not make any distiaetfoa 6etween
he 1sgaFd' tas Of
HoAAT1o SEYNouR.
EONAEQI1EITs
70 His E1ce1lenry o. P. Morton Governor Of
Indiana:
pEAn s1n-1n reply To- your inquiry Of the 4tk
inst, have the honor to state that the laws OF
Connecticut, relating to the admtssibilIty or tesd.
mony, makes no distinction betWeen hlaeE and
white pEfsons. ...
] IN, with high regard, your obedieAt servant,
WA. a. BucKINu8A4, Cor. Of Conn.
nuopA IszAND.
To Els Excellency, o. P. Morton Governor OF
GoyEnxo1-I am inrructed by Els Excellency,
Governor Smith, to acknowledge the receipt OF
your communicating Of the IN tn Inst, ana @ IN reply
con.titaaa oad I'd ' of Rhode iaand which vii show
that colored peraons arc In this Stats, entitled to
oll The privileges Of clt1zenehip; ana tnat their
hnSe lie honor to be, sir, with great Ecsaect,
your E1ceilenes's obedient seIgsni, n,n~
Col and A. D. C.. Private sec'y,
MISSOURI.
To Ills Exeellency, Q. P. Morton' Governor OF In
diana:
the ~ int IN re1a9ion to the admission Of negro
testfmony III the Courts Of this State, and In re-
ply ther:io, / hayo 10 gay, that aceoTdf1g to the
o en{ 5ess Ste e aeans pope
OF mu1ato, bond or fee or In civil cases ln which
! negroes or mulattoes alone are parties. Is abso
lntely incompetent to testify as witness IN my
| Of our Courts
=. Very truly, your obedient servant,
l. - WILLARD T. HALL.
1 =. Governor OF Missouri
The Indianapolis Journal says:
| "The object Of these inquiries Was to direct, hJ
the aciio1 and experience Of sister States, tn
| policy Of our OWL. That It has been aponqant!l
| accomplished Will appear upon reading The &c