Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-06-20
The Remains of Slavery in Tennessee.

The Remains OF Slavery IN tennessee
The l. glsature Of Tennessee has just passed
a bill respecting colored persons in that State,
Of which tie following is an analysis
The first section establishes the relation Of
matrim0ny among persons of c1lor On lega
basis, but lolbids marriage between white
person and a negro, mulattO or person OF mixed
blood. TIE second extends the law OF divorce
to cJlored persons. Tne third declares that tht
laws IN force Tor the benet Of married women
and children shall apply to ?. rslna OF color
provided that culored children shall not be al
mtted into the same public schools with whltt
children. The fourth section applies the laws
af.1ung the relations Of guardian and war to
colored people. Ine nitn and sixth sections
provide that the county couIts NAV bind out the
children OF " tree persons OF color, whether
they be orphans or Otherwise and they may be
bound to white persons at the option OF th'
court. The seventh section provides that no
contract between a white and colored person
shall be bddng unless " Is made IN writing
and witnessed by white pers n. Toe eighth
section. besides making all crimes committed By
tree persons OF color capital IN cases where they
would be capital # committed by Whne per
sOne, adds that a rape on white woman, Or
an attempt az rape on white female unJe
twelve years Of age, will be PUNISHED with death
by hanging The ninth section declares that
for all other crimes and IN sdemednors " Tree
persons Of color shall be tred in the same way
and punished to the same extent as white per
sons provided that they may be witnesses Ia
all Sate cases against each other, Section
tenth Furnishes yagrancy IN - tree persons oil
color with mprisoument alter conviction BE-
fore justice Ol the peace aud on failure to
pay t1e Ill fees the culprlt may be hired out
TO the highest bidder alter due notice. Section
eleventh Furnishes with foe aoy housekeeper
who shall harbor any vagfant negro The
twelfth section applies the poor laws affecting
white people to the " free people Of color, y and
adds pruglsO Tor the rendition ~ other per
sous OF color. The thirteenth section applies
lhe laws OF b4stardy " - lrre rsoas Of color
he fourteenth SECTION requires that all Tree
persons OF color, OF aye, sIall immediately att'r
th e passage Of the act have their names regis
tered IN the Office OF the County Court Ce
and receive a certificate OF the fact. The hf
teenth section req lres tree persons OF color
living together man and wlie 10 come ter-
wal at once and Re married according TO law
the sixteenth and last section declares that all
laws inconsistent with the provisions Of this
act are hereby repealed.
Emancipation 10 Tennessee does not seem
from a consideration Of this bill, to be yet ojn
plete Some provisions Of the bill are glazing
ly unjust E,pCchlly is tins true Of the sec
uon which provides that no contract between a
white and cjlorel person shall be binding unless
in writing an witnessed " a white person. It
requires no slgacIiy to see that such law puts
the blacks entirely at the mercy Of the whites.
But all the injustice OF the bill springs from
the wicked spirit Of slTery yet IN VIGOROUS
life 10 that State C,j is still declared to be
the badge Of setvtuil and inriority, to be
Disseminated against whenever It 50 peases
the master race How long it will be be-
fore This spirit sill give way to an adVar cling
civilization, must b. loft for the future to de-
dermine but that time will MOI come until the
blacks become intelligent and powerful enough,
or sufficiently restless IN their behavior, to
compel the /" master race to give them equal
rights Liberty has never been advanced by
the voluntary concessions Of oppr ss)rs it has
only gained ground when the oppressed have
been in condition to demand their rights
And already the coored people Of rensessee
have Commenced agitation by ealing conven-
ton Of their race, Ia N.s1vl.e, o. the FRS
Monday in August The call is as yliJws
Let every county, town, hamiot an village
be represented az tins important meeting. East
Tenn, ssee, West tennessee Mldile r,nnessee
respond to the call. GREAT anu important ques
tons and measures are to BE- laken toto CON
sheraton, and measures are - be adopted to
secure our political liberty and equal rights in
reunessee. A hearty response is III 81 earnestly
requested and brlog means to facilitate this
great end. Let Us rally to the true standard
for that which our soldiers IN the field have
noby responded" Liberty or Death. 1t
US who are at home never latter, but show our
appreciation OF and determin .tion in the cause
OF truth and Justice.
Great eiFlrts are being made to Cypress and
IN our judgment IN relation 10 House bill No
a. and re.enslaye US. Lat US lay our agrley
ances before the General Government Under
the government OF the mobiles patriot OF the
cOuntry--A' drew JOhnsln-- he triend OF hui
manly and liberty w. feel assured that our
eAus, shall succa-i We enter anew upon our
duties az mon, trusting in God Com, one
como all. Rlly to the cause Of liberty, and to
the res Nc
The auction block AMI the whipping post
c ,nnot now stop such proceeding as this call
ooutemplates The blacks Of Tennessee are
now men, free men There are among them
persons Of intelligence enough to know their
rights, and with courage enough to boldly de-
iend them; and the governing race" will
soon ind that free speech, a free press, and the
privilege of assembling g'ther to discuss their
grievances, must, with other privileges. be de-
MED to thos persons ct color, or through these
agencies they may soon be- made not only to
understand their rights, bot ieGl,ssly, il not
derccy demand them, A STATE convention OF
colorei men, taking tor its motto " Liberty or
Death" will undoubtedly star'le the aris,o-
VIa"u eiaNe"uiue'e VI wat . ave- uut tuey VIII
be compelled to meet agitation at their very
doors and If they are wise they will yield in
time to this movement for cqli rights, and
strike from their stature book every evidence OF
discrimination among their people because OF
the difference OF their color.
Democracy in Search of Leader.