The New York herald., 1865-06-11
The Negro In Tennessee.


The lower branch Of the Tennessee Legislature has
passed bill fixing and regulating the condition Of freed
men and free persons of color 1t consists Of sixteen
sections, which embrace the following PROVISIONS:
The first establishes the relation of matrimony among
persons Of color legal basis, but orbids marriage
OF mixed blood The second extends the law OF divorce
TO coored persons The third declares that laws In
force for the benefit Of married women and children
shall apply to people of color, provided that coored
children shall not be admitted into the same public
schools with white children. The fourth section ap
and and ward to ooiOred people; The arih and
sixth sections provide that the county courts
of color whether they be orphans or otherwise;
they may be bound TO white at the option Of
the court The seventh section provides that no con-
ing unless Il made in writing and witnessed by white
person The eighth section, sides making crimes com.
mttod by persons Of color capital in cases where
they would be capital IL committed by white persons
adds that rape on white woman, or an attempt at
rape white female under twelve years Of age, will
be punished with death by hanging Tho ninth section
declares that for all other crimes and msdemeanors
free persons Of color shall be tried IN the same way anu
state state cases against each other. section tenth
Imprisonment after conviction before Justice Of the
Peace and failure to pay the jail fees the cuiprt
may hired the highest bidder after due notice
Section seven Furnishes with fine any housekeeper who
shall harbor any vagrant negro The twelfth section ap-
plies the Poor laws affecting white people 70 the free peo
counties and States OF the poor and INDECENT Tree per-
sons Of color The thenth section applies the laws Of
basard 70 free o. oo9 10 car % @
medatey after the passage Of tho act have their names
registered In the once Of the County Court Clerk, and
receive certificate OF the fact The hIteenth section
requires free Of color living together as man and
wife forward at once and be married according
TO law The sixteenth and last section declares that all
inconsistent with the provisions OF this ACT are
hereby repealed.
PETITION FROM THE coLoRED CITIZENS OF TESNrs.
SEE TO THR GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
To the GENERAL ASSEMBLY TIE STATE or TENsnsEE-
We tho undersigned pettoners-Amcrican citizens OF
African descent and residents Of Tennessee-do most
respectfully ask a patient hearing Of your honorable
body In regard matters deeply affecting the future
condition Of our unfortunate and long suffering race
First Of ALL however we would say that wsrds are too
weak TO tell how profoundly grateful we are 10 the good
people OF Tennessee for their almost unanimous
OF the amended constitution by which act All the slaves
In our State are declared forever free. seems that
returning sense of justice has a length awakened the
great body OF the American people TO make amends Tor
the uDprovoked wrongs committed against US Tor over
two hundred years. In relation our RESPONSE
bity and requirements are already very different
10 what they have heretofore been; but Of this
we do not complain. We are proud Of the
opportunity ss all times and under all circumstances 70
do our utermost in support Of the government both
State and national We know burdens of citizen
ship and are ready 10 beor them. We know the duties
of the good citizen and are ready perform them cheer.
fully. Therefore We hume,y % and respectfully petition
we can discharge those duties more enectualy namely
We ask the legal right to the elective franchise and
70 testify oath 70 he p bs IN e courts Of
shun the obligations imposed upon us by them. More
than two hundred thousand of our brethren TO day
performing military duty the ranks OF the Union army
Thousands of them have already died In battle per-
shed by cruel martyrdom for the sake OF the Union,
and we ready and willing 10 sacrifice more But
what higher order Of citizen Is there than the soder
call 70 do military duty against the rebel ar
mics In the ned why should be denied the privilege
r. Iatps egsn.f rebel citizens y Ne ballot pox' Inc