The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-11-12

of the State, who, as Provisional Cover
nor, having The entire confidence OF the
President, and certainly as competent as
any other man to decide on The legal ct
feet OF this amendment, in his late proc
lamation announcing an agreement with
the Freedmen's Bur-au to transfer to the
civil au horities OF the State the riglt 70
try all c,ses il which she rights OF freed
men are involved. on condition that they
be allowed the right to testify, declares
| that, "the late constitutional amendment
which abolishPs slavery, abolishPs also II
laws which constituted a part of the pol
ic, of the system of slavery. and 10 de
claring that the negro shall be protected
in his person and property. establishes
principles which, of themselves, entltlr
the negro to sue and be sued, and as a
necessary incident to such right, that he
is made competent as witness, accord
ing to the laws of evidence of this State"
The United States Government has, and
does, through all the Southern States.
require the freedmen to be admitted to
the witness stand 1t does not constrain
the States to admit them to social or po-
litical equality, or to Uote, which is civil
franchise, but the privilege OF testilyipg
| in their new relation, is regarded as essen.
f tial 10 life and property, and as right
, inseparable from the freedom it has
5 granted.
2 OF late years the tendency of jurispru-
dence has been every where to admit
testimony and let the otj -ction 60 to cred
ibiliry and not competency. Parties are
! allowed to testify, and no amount of in
$ terest exc'ud-s. No false testimony can
stand the ordeal of an intelligent white
ljury, and intelligent court, and an in
telIgent lawyer to cross-examine the wit
ness. The ignorant negro would be less
: able than eny body to shield his perjury
from exposure.
| We think it no compliment to oul
juries lawyers and judges, to suppose tina
I we need prohibitory statutes to save then
I from the imposition of black Witnesses
We have too much respect for their in
telligence to entertain such an idea. /
! seems TO us it would be peculiarly unfor
I tunate for the Legislature, by its laws, t.
oppose the action of The couv- -ntion. Un
usual Importance is attached to the act
Of this Legislature. 1t is the first bod.
of the kind that has assembled In tn
ceded States. Secure the negro III al
y the rights granted by the new constitu
). ton. stringent vagrant law can compe
n him to labor, if he fails 10 make support
!. We do not believe that unusual and rigoI
\. Gus legislation with reference to this clas
- of population will promote our true inter
ests. 1t is evidently The better policy t
II stimulate their industry, show that VI
p desire their improvement, and satisfy IL
: most Akepical that our laws afford ther
d prote ction and security. AS the superlo
n governing race we can do this withou
l, loss OF self respect, or danger OF negr
.e equality.
oi Such course would do much to hel
us out OF the troubles that surround III
~ and vindicate the restoration policy OF tn
D President from the attacks oil the Jacc
q bins Of the North. We look to the patr
e otism and wisdom of the Legislature t
p, consider these things, and aid in II
y great work of restoring the supremacy c
j the civil government.