Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-11-22
The. Negro Code:

.Under a resolution of the late Convention,
Judge WARDLAw and Hon, ARMsrEaD BURT,
both of Abbeyilte, were appointed by Gov.
PERRY to, ,fralnea Code of Laws for the reg
ulation Of labor, and the protection and gov
crnnent of the colorcd population; and for
the constructing Of wise system Of labor
upon the ruins and with the fragments of
that which has been SO rudely and abruptly
swept away Thctwo able and eminent gen
tlemcn in question havesp performed their duty
very faithfully; and their report cannot but
aid the Legislature very much in the framing
Of. tho laws, which, under the new order Of
things in this State, it has become necessary
to enact.
This code of Messrs WARDLAw and BURT
is long and elaborate, comprising four bills,
viz ga Bill Preliminary to the Legislation
: Induced by. the: Emancipation of Slaves 5"
ga Bill to Establish and Regulate the Do
mestic Relations of Persons of Color, and to
amend the Law in Relation TO Paupers, Va
grants and Bastardy;' p ga Bill to Establish
District Courts )" and "a Bill to amend the
Criminal Law.'' These bills embrace such
legislation, concerning negroes, as the emer-
gency requires, and will no. doubt receive
the earnest consideration Of the Legislature.
As tho Code.ismuch. too lengthy to publish
as whole, we will endeavor to give such q
synopsis as win put our readers in possession
of some of the most prominent features of
the legislation recommended. When it be-
comes a law, however, we will certainly pub
lish the Code in full. ssv :. .
Important provisions of the irst bill above
mentioned. are these:
g. All free negroes, mulattoss and mesti-
zoes. all freedmen and freedwomen, and all
descendants, through either sex, of any OF
these persons shall be known as persons Of
color, except that every such descendant who
NAV lave of Caucasian blood seyen-eighths or
more, shall be deemed q white person.
4. The statntes and regulations concerning
slaves, are now inapplicable to persons Of
color and although such persons are not en-
titled to social or political equality with white
persons, they shall have The right to acquire,
own and dispose Of property; to make con
tracts: to enjoy the fruits of their labor; to
sue and be sued and to receive protection
under the law in their persons and property.
q 5.S III rights and remedies, respecting per
son or property, aud all duties and liabilities
under laws, civil and criminal, which apply
tn white persons, are extended to persons OF
color. subject to the notifications made in
this Act, and the other Acts herein before
mentioned. ,.a4
., The relations between husband and wife
are amply, provided for. -.
- Il y The relation OF husband and wife
amongst persons of color, is established.
- 2. Cohabitatiou and reputation or recogni
tion of the parties, shall be evidence OF it;
existence, in cases criminal and civil. -
g.. Those who now live as sucheEe declared
to be hus' aud and wife. -
r d. Tn cases of one man having two or moro
reputed wives. or one woman two or moro
reputed husbands the man shall Immediately
hereafter select one of his reputcd wives, auc
the woman one Of her reputed husbands, aue
the ceremony of. marriage. between them re-
spectiyely shall be performed. =. -
5. All children heretofore bornare declared
to be legitimate. w. -
- 6. Males under twenty-one and female
under. eighteen years of age, shall not b.
competent to marry, and it shall be q misde
mesnor, IN any person authorized, to solemn
ize marriage, to perform The, ceremony Q
marriage between them, if either Of the par
ties is under the age hereinprescribed.
= The following arc. the recommendations G
the Code regarding the apprenticing of.th
children cf freedmen. ~ 4
Is: child of colored parents, or of parent
4. of whom one shall be a person of color, owe
- tbe age Of two years, may be bonnd by th
father, if he be living in the District, or j
case oil his death or absence from the Dis
.rict. BY the mother, as an apprentice to an