Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1865-07-26

Shall the Colored Man Have Justicei :
1t seems that the fossiliferous magistrates
of the late realm Of the slave power cling TO
the barbarism of their old code with great
tenacity. And while they allow colored men
to be held and put on trial in civil courts,
they are not to be allowed to testify for each
other or anybody else, where a white man
has any interest in the case. We copy the
following from the Alexandria Jonrnai:
For several months past there have been
continual complaints among the colored peo-
pie in this city Of the injustice done them in
trials before our local courts. The state of
affairs was specially represented to the off.
GERS of the Bureau Of Refugees, Freedmen,
and Abandoned Lands stationed in this city,
and the Superintendent of the Fifth District
Of Virginia, Of which Alexandria forms n
part, has been for some days on the lookout
for case which would form good example
by which to bring the matter before the pub
lie. Last week such case occurred.
white man, who is the keeper of n dis
reputable establishment in the city, sued n
well-known and respectable colored man for
the recovery of money paid the latter for q
n horse which the plaintiff alleged was taken
from him by detective as being government
property. The colored man was notified to
appear at the magistrates Office for trial He
had several witnesses to prove that the plain
tiff had stated that the horse died shortly
after he purchased II; also, that 1t was well
understood at the time of sale that the de-
fendant did net guarantee his title to the
horse. The colored man consulted an able
lawyer in the city, who told him it was use
less to attempt a defence as all the witnesses
| nn1Oro1 and THAR To- tUnulI
be received. On the advice of the Superin-
tendcnt of Freedmen, &C., the defendant did
not attend the trial, and the former present.
ed himself at court, answered for tho de-
fence, represented that he was stationed in
the city in charge Of freedmens affairs by
proper authority under an act of Congress,
and read the following officially to the court:
WAR DEP'T, Bureau OF RBPrGREs,
FREEDMEN; AND ABASDosED LAME;
WASHINGTON, May 80, 1865. }
Circular Nos.
[Ertrdct.l
VII. In all places where there is an Interrupt
tion OF civil law, or in which local courts by
| reason Of old codes, In violation Of the freedom
guaranteed by the proclamation Of the President
and the laws OF Congress, disregard the negro's
| right to Justice before the laws in not allowing
him to give testimony, the control OF all subjects
relating to refugees and freedmen, being COM
mitted to this Bureau, the Assistant Commission
ers Will adludlcate, elther themselves OF through
officers Of their appointment, all difficulties aris
ing between negroes themselves or between ne
groes and whites or Indians, Except those in
military service, so far as recognizable by mill
tary authOrity,) not taken cogniEance Of by the
other tribunals civil, or military, Of the United
States.
tSigncdl 30. HOWARD,
Major General, Commissioner.
Approved June ., 1855.
[Signedl ANDREW JOHNSON,
President Of the United States.
He then in behalf of the defendant moved
discontinuance of the trial on the ground
that under the provisions of the above order
f the local court had no jurisdiction in the
. case. The Court would not admit the point,
and ordered the trial to proceed. Tho officer
then stated that the Chief of his Bureau in
the War Department, under whom he acted
did not acknowledge the right of the Court
+ to try the case, and that therefore the de
fendant would not answer the summons of the
u Court.
l. Proceeding with the trial the statement ot
/. the plaintiff was the only testimony taken
:, and on that, in default of the appearance o.
" defendant judgment was given against the
n latter to the full amount alleged, with cost
s and an execution issued for the seizure of the
property of the colored man to cover the
amount. The civil officer having this il
charge was promptly notified by the Super
intendent of Freedmen that n military guar(
T. would be called for to prevent the execution
lie of the judgment, and the case was reported
h to Maj. Gen. Howard Commissioner. Wha
further action will be taken remains to b
seen.
II We have in our city n colored population
Of of over eight thousand. They are industri
Ia Gus and orderly, and there are few dificultie
= arising between themselves requiring adjud
'i cation. But cases which originate from tn
complaints and accusations of white person
against the colored are of frequent occur
IN renee, and have become more so of late fror
n, the fact being so well known that in ou
es local courts the white person was sare t.
come out the victor
u In those courts the negroes have not ha'
t. the lenst chance for justice. While tn
ce courts respect the old slave laws of the Stat
. the freedmen must have court of their owl
:" a tribunal which shall recognize their righ
to justice, or they will be continually impose
uDon.