The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-11-23
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The Great State Of South Carolina
Legislating to Keep the Negro
the Inferior Of the Whites.
>o~~~~>~~~~~>~~~~~~>~
Curious Debate in the South
Carolina Legislature.
Bill to Punish the Whites for Mar
rying Negroes.
The White Mechanics of the State Fear,
full of Competition on the Part
of Negro Mechanics.
State Policy Declared to be Opposed to the
Opening of New Avenues Of Employ.
ment TO the Freedmen.
sc. SC. sc.

SC. SC. sc.
Our Columbia Correspondence.
COLUMBIA, s. c., NOV. 8, 1855.
EFFORT LEGISLATURE pRoHBTr CHivALRy
FROM MARRYING NEGROES
The negro cole taken up in earnest this morning
for a second reaing
An amendment TO the eight section declares that smar
nages between white person and person Of color
shall BIO illegal and void"
Mr. Green wanted to know what would be the conse-
quence they should cohab together that would be
evidence of marriage according to the law of South
Carolina He thought there should be some punishment
affixed where a white man marries a black woman
MI. Warcy said it needed other punishment than
for them to know that their children would be egit
mate. The amendment carried by an overwhelming
vote
Considerable discussion caused by an effort to
introduce the word coored before the words father
mother, man woman, in the several clauses Of the
BILL to make clear and definite to whom and what
class the law exclusively extended The effort failed
it being considered that the title of the b-namey, "a
bill to amend and regulate the domestic relations Of per
sons Of color, " &c-was sufficient.
MECHANICS.
The most exciting discussion OF the session sprang up
to-day the motion Of Mr.. Mulvaney of Charleston,
representative Of the mechanics OF that city, strike
out in the twenty second clause Of the bill the provision
requiring the master mistress OF colored apprentice
TO teach him some useful trade business
Mr. Mulvaney proposed 10 strike out tho above provi
sion leaving 1t entirely optional with the parties taking
apprentices. Az he understood the intentions Of the
CODE the object to perfect asystem Of regulated negro
labor, TO prevent ideness vagrancy and crme and to
subserve the agricultural interests Of the State So far
that great interest Of the State concerned and the
provisions made to make up any deficiency of labor in
the held or the plantation he gave his hearty sup
port. But there such deficiency Of artisans
mechanics and he considered 1t exceedingly mpotic
the part Of the State to attempt now any sys-
tenn of fostering encouraging the increase
this would leave the fields abandoned by tho
negroes, who would rush in crowds 70 the cities and
towns He knew hundreds OF negroes who had lived all
opportunity to get labor with white mechanics. The
mechanics required no interference or legislation for
avenues Of employment to the negro
Mr. J. 8. Richardson, of SUMTER moved to amend by
recurring the master or mistress to teach their apprcn
occupation He thought the necessities Of the country
the present time required that all negroes artisans
and mechanics, should assist In rebuilding waste
places and would be TO deprive them of the right
TO pursue the trades which they had already learned But
vent future artisans and mechanics beng made out OF
negro population. bold that IL Is tho business OF
the State 70 encourage and foster white mechanics
Mr. Dogier said, in considering this code thcy should
dvest themselves far possible OF prejudice and
feeling The proposed object OF the gentleman from
Charleston In simply class legislation Is to iegslnte
against the black man. To that am opposed. Besides
think that argument employed does injustice To the
is IT, when tho white and black man are brought into
competition that the white docs not completely distance
the blackf II seems to that all white should
ask for is fair and equal chance II he Is then out
stripped no deserves to fail.
Mr.. Mulvaney-The member from Sumter (Mr. J. s.
Richardson In speaking Of the different interests as
q
your fostering 10 encourage tho youth Of tho State
who have returned from the battle field without employ
mcnt, without any avocaon to cnter into mechanical
occupations. Ho would remind those who speak Of class
legislation that the mechanic has asked for it,
But heretofore the class legislation has always been
for the professions The white mechanic does
not arogate to himself any particular superiority but
as citizen he has the modcsy to believe himself quite
equal 10 any gentleman lawyer or planter In this house
Formerly 1t not considered degrading 10 work along
side OF the black man, for then the law itself provided
the distinction, broad and well marked there could DO
no colsons-no mistake Now the black IL Free with
the same opportunity to work as the whites. IL will
often happen that the coored will claim TO BE- the
superior Of the white, and you come to the blacks
stance by compelling the white To teach his apprentices
useful trade. This is class legislation II the code Is
for the purpose OF compelling the freedmen 10 work
there should be good shown why II is necessary to
compulsion. You say fields will otherwise be
desoate the State will be thrown into condition OF
barbarism and you Justify your legislation upon the broad
interests Of humanity. But submit there Is no ncces
sity in the case OF mechanics for legislation In the
city Of Charleston there more blacks asking TO
be received into mechanical occupations who would be
one hundred fold more useful in the field BY this
code prompt the TO crowd into the CITY, where
there In already abundance Of white mechanics IT
you any labor OF that kind they can furnish 1t to
those who can pay them Again, II Is said We should
encourage immigration to State from abroad But
If you incorporate this feature you crowd out white me-
chanics aud drive those already here as well a. your
young men away from the State You drive out your
industrious and honest class OF citizens and subs
tute those who for nothing else but how they
live from day To day with a. little labor as possible One
member says that the white man who Is afraid TO com
pete with the negro Is dshonoring himself; that he
drops the standard OF the mechanic Az have said we
don't legislation But why does not the gentleman
make provision for the negro TO be apprentced TO your
prossonss Is there good reason why he should not
also be taught 10 DO a doctor, or lawyer or a
judge9 The mechanic claims equal right with any
Of you But do not wish you TO legislae on their in
forest All they ask IL TO be let alone we have no OBJ
lection your compelling the negro apprentice to learn
husbandry BY this clause you send the negroes where
they wanted doing precisely what conceive the
code intends 10 guard ayanst-he Abandonment OF the
plantations As a representative Of the mechanics OF
Charleston and with the interest Of the whole state at
heart protest against the action here taken ana tell
will have listen 10 them from day TO day from year to
year. and from to season. until you give them
that consideration which every element OF prosperity for
WHERE THE sHoE rIscugs.
Mr. De Pass of Kershaw, sad-I concur heartily with
nv friend from charleston I ask gentlemen in this
House the plain, simple question: Are they willing 70 lot
their sit at the workbench alongside OF big
contemplation as much they please What
has kept many Of youths from learning me.
chanical tradesy Simply because " was considered De.
grading The House has just stricken out regulation
requiring the TO give his apprentice six weeks
schooling In every year but yet they propose TO place
the negro alongside the mechanic thereby eevatng him
TO position capable Of taking employment from our
youth by undertaking HIM Can gentlemen say they ever
nicely finished piece Of mechanical work executed
by a negro Look at the buildings they erecting in
Columbia When you get TO do anything has IL
not always been mIseraby nnshedS have great re-.
spect for the negro his placethat s the cotton field
Are our young men who are disposed 10 work ut the
trades 70 DO prevented by class who are acknowledged
70 be their infcro' DO we allow negroes to come on
the Hoor OF this Housed DO permit them TO into
the professonsY Do give them positions Of honor and
trusS Il not the mechanic who puts up your house
much entitled 10 consideration the man who makes
your lawss speak In behalf Of the young men Of the
country would give unto chose gallant youths who
thrown upon their own resources some useful