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

= ,:Under,a resolution of the late Convention,
Judge WARpLAY and Hon, ARMsrEAp BURT,
both of Abbeville, Were appointed BY GOV.
PERRY 10 fralne;e Code Of Laws for the reg
uIatiol Of labor, and the protection and gov
ernrneat of the coIored population; and for
the constructing Of a wise system of labor
upon tie ruins and with the fragments of
that which has been so,rudely and abruptly
Swept away Thc.two able andeminent gen
tlemen in question hayeaperformed their duty
very sf.ithfqlls;:a and theis report cannot but
ais5the 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 WAEpLAw and BURT
is long and elaborate, comprising four bills,
viz :aeAtBlt Preliminary TO the Legislation
:. Induced by; the; Emancipation sef Slaves !"
ga Bill to Establish s;and Regulate the Do
nestle Relations Of Persons of Color, and to
amend the Law in Relation to Paupers, Va
grants and Bastardy !" a Bill to Establish
District Courts ]" and {" A Bill to amend, the
Criminal Law" These bills embrace such
Regulation; concerning negroes, as the emer-
gency requires, and will snos doubt receive
the earnest consideration Of the Legislature.
.As tho Codeismuch too lengthy to publish
as whole, we will endeavoy to give such o
synopsis as win put our readers in possession
of some of the most prominent features of
the legislation recommended. When it be-
comes law, however, we;will certainly pub
list the Code in'full. M y ti-s i. {
i, Important. provisions of the first bill above
mentioned, are these: -. -, -
81 All free negroes, muIattoes and mesti-
zoes. all freedmen and freedwomen, and all
descendants, through either sex, of any of
these persons, .shan be known as persons Of
color, except that every such descendant who
NAV have Of Caucasian blood seyen-eighths. or
more, shall be deemed a white person. s,
4..The statutes and regulations concerning
slaves, arc 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 Jaw in. their persons and property.
SEA S. An rights and remedies, respecting per-
son or property, and all duties and liabilities
under laws, civil and criminal, which apply
to white persons, are extended to PERSONS of
color. subiec: to the notifications made in
this Act, and the other Acts herein before
mentioned. $g.4 80 ee.t5.s ~ $.
d The relations between husband and wife
. are amplygprozided for.a4-qdi - -s4s
- Il The relation ol husband and wife,
= .amSonesst persons. Of color, is established.
2. Cohabitatiop- and reputation or recosni.
ton Of the parties, shall be evideace of: its
existence, in=c cases criminat and ciFil. ~
: 49, Those. who nowlive as suehere declared
to. be husband and wife, q - ~
Il a. In cases of one man having two or more
reputed wives, or one woman two or more
reputed husbands, the man shall immediately
hereafter selectsone of his reputcd wives, aud
the woman one Of her reputed husbands, aud
the ceremony Of marriage between them re-
saecti7ely shall be performed. css~aSa
S. Mlchildren heretofore bornare declared
to be legitimate. 's'-sS -
. 80. Males under twenty zone and female,
under. eighteen years Of age shall not bt
= competent to marry, and. i Shall be . nisde
:, srie smrieeanor in any persol authorized. to solenn
:. ize marriage, to: perform the, ceremony O
marriage between them, if either of the par
y ties is ander.the age hereinprescribed.S
=. = The following arc the Recommendations Q
- the Code regarding the apprenticing of.th
scbildrentcf freedmen. ~ .-z5s,
l5:,Achild ofcoloEed parents, Or Of parent
Z ~ whom one'shaif be d person Of color, owe
s-ths assst Of ,ewo years; may be bound By tn
; .father, if he be living in the District or ]
case ,of his death or absence from the Dis
g. a., mother as an aDDreptice TN af,