The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1865-10-15
Negro Testimony in southern CoSrss,

2 ~ A+NAAAA-NAAN N NNNAAlEnM 10. -
The right 10 testify in the Csurts. usrtio-
ulsrly n eases where he or those q his
eoior are interested, is logical consequen
Of the condition Of Freedom 10 which the
freedman Of the southern States ind him
self. If he is TO De permitted % enjoy the
fruits OF his own labor, % acquise property.
10 barter. sell, aad exchange, TO make con
tracts, give notes. collect debts, mortgage
and beQueath estates or DO aud perform any
other acts Of which the civil Law takes cog
/ nizance, he must Be uada competcrt "a
| witness. The value Of these rights depends
| upon the security Of their enjoyment, and
the measure Of remedy granted ior viola
i ton OF them. Either che Legislatures Of
the southern States must deny % the freed
men the exercise Of these rights, and hv
enactment shut the door Of civil privilege
in their faces, or they must open TIE courts
to them and permit them to testify in saiis
% which they may be parties.
Ihs people Of these States profess their
readiness - carry cut 10 gocd iaiih the pol-
icy OF the Admnistrat1a. IL was. and S
yet, IN the power Of the Governments %
treat them with degree of risor that would
satisiy the demands ol The most radical
policy. The lava alsaady exnni. withouta
single additional enartnent hy Congress |
are suhcieut, ii severely enforced, b sub. /
Jet q eensiderable portion 81 The southarn ;
people - the loss Of their properly aud /
lives But here ) no disposition On ~ /
part Of the administrator 20 proceed ~
extremes. The beniRnant and generous /
policy Of the President imposes very few /
conditions upon the people of the southern /
statess and fairly complied With, they viii 4
come INTO possession and enjoyment o. ell i
their civil rights. A sense Of Gratitude.
theTei0re, il not sense of iustice toward /
less fortunate class Of citizens. should con
s'Fein them to adopt such a line q policy
IN tlle az ustineas " The relations between
themselves and the frcedmea - a;if f,rlv
realize the intentions of the Government.
and relieve it Of tho necessity Of esta blish-
ing within the territory of the States special
tribunals before which the freedman, " hon Il
Is bound % protect in his rights. nav have
justice impartally done him. When Tia
General Government is assured that the I
states viii deal with the freed citizens f,ir-
y, protect them in the ENJOYMENT of their
eivu rights, and impose no disabilities on
account Of color, other than those pertain
ing to suffrage, it viii leave the States uu-
q. disturbed 70 the regulation and control Of
the own affairs.
The Freedmen's Bureaus, Of which tbers
IS 80 much complaint, and the removal of
which is 90 ardently desired. we-e esfsb-
lished, not from any ambition 10 inte-fere
and take from the States the mauarefnent
Of their own affairs, but because there vas |
disposition amoug che Deuple 4,
,heat the freedman cut OF endowment oil ~. |
civil privileges which make a condition of
freedom desirable. Il must be remembered
nat x was not TIL this disposition was
clearly manifested, that these trib1tn-is
were established; and it is reasonable to
Conclude that they viii not be removed tim ]
that disposition disappears, or the State
legislatures, by proper aud efficient leeisla-
lonl secure the freeman m his rights. and !
protect him against the wrongs % which b.
night otherwise be subjected. ana sesiust
Which be would have no remedy. Tia
iirect road % the adjustment oil the Fraed- Z
mems Bureau is fun and exact Justice e
he freedmen for that is part and parcel of ,
he policy Of the President Mercy 10 the
srriug white and justice % the unfortunate
black citizen go hand in hand in the re-
construction policy Of his administration.
While he interposes mercy TO prevent tbe
niorcement OF radical measurers agniust the
me class, he does not hesitate 10 intsrpose
Justice 10 prevent the infection Of wrongs |
lpon the other.
The sympathy and respect Of the people |
II the North may have little value in She |
yes Of the people Of the southern states.
)ut they have the assurance Of the press.
he pulpit and the forum, that unless thew
Zeal justly with the freed blscks. and b.
liberal legislation provide for their future /
welfare and protection, neither that sympa-
ny nor respect viii be given. There il no
disposition among the masses % the North
I'm States TO insist upon the grant Of sul-
rage to the negro, or upon his political o. so-
,ial equality with TN whites. Whoever
makes such representations % the people |
south, is q knave or a fool. &c is not psr-
nittsd here, nor is il roquired there. Bat
here is a eisposition--a determination, In
act, that the freed blacks shall have The
o. rights essential 90 their new
relations % the State and the Government.
md that they shall not be the subject of on-
1ressive and exceptional laws, designed 10
letraud them Of civil rights aud immuui-
les. This determination will make itself
cit at ashingtou, and the President viii
be sustained IN any policy he may Adopt.
Go secure % the freedmen the
ruits Of emancipation, even though the
treedmen's Bureau, or some equally ef-
icacious quasi-civil tribunal, has 10 be
in every State Of the South, for
generation 10 come -Cin. C0m