The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-03
COLUMBIA.
Friday. Morning, Noyember3, 1865.
Our New Laws.


The preliminary bill, induced by the
emancipation OF slaves, requires no COM
ment. One Of it's provisions is as follows:
Anfrec negroes, mu1attoes and mestizoes,
al freedmen and free women, and all de-
scendants, through either sex, of any Of
these persons, shall he known as persons Of
color, except that every such descendant
who may have Of Caucasian blood seven
eigi,ts or more, shall be deemed a white
person.
Another section provides, as follows:
The statutes and regulations concerning
slaves, are now inappGcable to persons Of
color; and although such persons are not
entitled to social or political equality with
white persons, they shall have the right
to acquire, cwn and dispose Of property;
to make contracts; to enjoy the fruits Of
sheir labor; to sue and be sued; and to re-
ceive protection under the law in their
persons and property.
The relations between husband and wife
sre amply provided for, making recognition
Of the parties sufficient evidence.
With regard to the apprenticinS Of the
children of freedmen, the :o!.c~,ss sections
are recommended:
A child Of colored parents, Or OF parents
of whom one shall be person Of color,
over the age of two years, may be bound
by the father, il he be living in the District,
or in case of his death or absence from the
District, by the mother, as an apprentice
to any respectable white or colorcd person,
who is competent to make a contract-a
male, until he shall attain the age of
twenty-one years, and female until she
shall attain the age of eighteen years.
IIegitimate children, within the ages
above specified, may be bound by the
mother.
CoLbred children between the ages men
toned, who have neither father nor mother,
living in the District in which they are
found, or whose parents are pa1pers, or
unable to afford to them comfortable
maintenance, or whose parents are not
teaching them habits Of industry and
honesty, or are persons OF notoric:sIy bad
character, or are vagrants, or have been
convicted of infamous offences, and colored
children in all cases where they are in
danger of moral contamination, may be
bound as apprentices by the District Judge.
or one of the Magistrates, for the aforesaid
serm.
Males Of the age Of twelve years and fe-
males of the age of ten years shall sign
the indenture of apprenticeship, and be
bound thereby
When the apprentice is under these ages,
and in all cases of compulsory apprentice
ship where the infant refuses assent, his
signature shall not be necessary to the Va
ndity Of the apprenticeship, and the mas
.ti > dtiOIi VI Stldl1 NC
executed in the presence OF the District
Judge, III one of the magistrates, certified
by him, and fled in the Office os the Clerk
II the District Court.
The indenture OF voluntary apprentice
ship shall be under seal, and signed by the
master, the parent and the apprentice, and
lttestcd by two credible witnesses, and
approved by the District Judge or one of
the Magistrates.
And now comes the most important pro-
visions TO the great majority OF our
readers, viz: the contracts for service. We
annex the most important provisions
All persons OF color, who make contracts
for service, or labor i'll husbandry, shall be
known as servants, and those with whom
they contract, shall be known as masters.
Contracts between master and servants
for more than one week, shall be in writing,
aud attestcd by one white witness, and
shall be approved b: the Judge Of the
District Court, or by one OF the MaSis-
irateS.
The period OF service shall bo expressed
III the contract but if it be not expressed,
it shall be until the twenty-ffth day Of
December OF The year in which it is made
If the rate OF wages be not stipulated by
the parties to the contract, it shall be fixed
by the District Judge, or a Magistrate, on
application by one OF the parties, on notice
10 the other.
person OF Color VINO mas no parent nv
Sng in the District, and is ten wears Of age,
and Is not an apprentice, -.:ay make q valid
contract tor one years labor or service:
Contracts bctwesn masters and servants
may be set aside for fraud or unfairness,
notwithstanding they have been approved.
Contracts between masters and servants
shall be presented for approval within
twenty days after their execution.
Contracts shall not be binding on the
--rvant, unless they are III writing, and
have been presented for approval within
tic time aforesaid.
For any neglect Of the duty - make a
contract as herein directed, or the evasion
Of that duty by the employment OF persons
of color, from day to day, on his premises,
she party offending shall be guilty of mis-
demeanor, and be liable, on conviction, to
pay sum not exceeding fifty dollars, and
not less than five dollars, for each persons
80 employed.
For the approya! Of y contract, the fol-