Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1865-10-13
Gov. Marin of Florida.

lt is refreshing. once in while. t. hea
straightforward words in favor OF freedom
to all men and justice for all men. addresse,
toa Southern assemhlage, by one who is il
a position to bc listened to. Governor Mar
win, the provisional governor of Florida
made q speech of this sort on the 5,h o
September. Alter sta;irg that 1t was not il
the POKER of a State to scccdr IRON the Union
he says
"Floriia has been Silte in rebellion, and
/ by her acts, has destroyed her State Government
and particularly the institution of slavery which
was bursed ia its bosom and defended by it She
is now held by martial law in a state oftuteiage.
with her poliucal rights in allegiance. and will he
kept there until she organizes for herself, on n
new bass, new government"
Hits the nail ON the head Governor Mar
vim also reloices that slavery can no longer
exist. The iuture OF Florida,'' he says
in this respect, lis that of every other State
in the Union, except Kentucky and Della
ware, ana shortly ;h,sc States must he free.
As citizens before The iop. the Freedmen must
be IN all respects our equais.'
Though be does not advocate or oppose the
giving to the colorod population the right
OF suffrage. he insists upon their right to
obtain Justice for themselves. and tu be the
means. with Others, of maintaining justice,
as follows
"Fur,hermore, the Constitution must declare
that persons of color shall be admitted a. wit
nesses in all our courts Of civil j. rispruience-
The law. IN this respect, must know no distinc-
tion Of color.
am aware that this is hard doctrine TO
many but il is not, and never wa. such TO me.
Some think the negro constitutionally a lar
that falsebood is marrow in his bones, ard that
il crculaies in his blood Now that is not true,
in whole or in part, ani the statement is SIAN
der u BON both God and man.
An experience Of thirty years in the South.
has convinced that The slave has ften toll the
truth, while the master has lied. For some
year, | occupied the bench, aud many are the
instances in which have known guilty parties
to 90 uUwhipped Of Justice because color.d peo-
pie could not come into court and tesfify
The admission of such witnesses would have
gwen the State Prison OF the -allows its due.
and relieved society Of had and dangerous char
acter-. have much feeling upon this subject
because the impressive aud p' inful lessons OF
years crowd in upon my memory. You know
that the menial classes of all nations are per-
mtiei to appear in court and testify, and that,
in some instances, lords ami mobiles have been
sent 10 the gallows on the evidence of house ser
wants. Our colorel POPULATION are as well quail
flied 10 testify they.
You keep the uegro cut of court. and what
chance has he for justice Just noue at all
The Government and the world are aware OF this. |
and | do not think Congress will regard the
Constitution you may frame republican ia |
form or calculated 10 secure the ends Of Justice
TO all citizens. unless the negro Is permitted to
come into court witness | may be mista- |
ken, but should that wrong be perpetratei, and |
YOUR Constitution lie rejected gu that account for
one snail acquesc. in the justice of the lei I
sion The fac, l.. Ne have n oiher course lett /
us hut 10 MAKE a clean breast % his whole hus /
ness. ITO full justice To- the negro. though he Is Of
an in.eror race. AMI remove the whole subject
growing ont # his slavery emancipation, and
Status from the theatre Of p ltics.