Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1865-10-20
MISSISSIPPI.
Governor Sharkey on Negro Testimony.
He Orders il TO be Received in the
Civil Courts.

He Orders it TO be Received in the
Civil Courts.
| JACKSON, Miss, September 2S.-Quiet
reigns in this locality at present The poll
ticians are resting their claims before the
| dear people, who will decide on Mondaynext
the fate of each The villains who were re.
Gently engaged in shooting negroes for the
/ fun Of the thing, and stealing cotton be-
cause it was the 'eustom of the country. >
| have subsided, because both the fun and the
custom are played out.
Governor Sharkey's proclamation which
| appears in the papers this morning. is the
theme Of conversation, and has provoked a
great deal Of comment pro and con. There
has been much controversy, both in the pub
| lie prints and in the bar-rooms; where poli-
ticians and other loafers most do congre-
gate, regarding the admission of negro
testimony in courts of justice While they
| were heartily tired and anxious to get rid of
the freedman Bureau Court, before which
white man stood but slim chance, they
could not consent to the policy of allowing
the negro the right of testimony before their
civil tribunals even in cases where Sambo
should be the plaintiff or defendant in the
suit
A few days ago it became known here that
Colonel Thomas, Assistant Commissioner
for Freedman for the State had turned over
the business of his court to the Mayor Of
Vicksburg. There was great howl raised,
and the Neos of this city called upon Gov
ernor Sharkey to suspend from office the
aforesaid Mayor for receiving negro testimo-
ny. The proclamation of the Governor.
however, has put quietness to the matter,
and the malcontents can do nothing but grin
and bear it. AS the proclamation explains
the matter fully Iappend it,
PROCLAMATION.
EXECUTIVE OFFICE, JACKSON. Sentem-
Der %, lS65.--By an order bearing date the
10th inst, Colonel Samuel Thomas Assistant
Commissioner of the Freedman's Bureau In
this State, proposes to transfer to the civil
authorities of the State the right to try all
cases In which the rights of freedmen are in
volved, either for injuries done to their per-
sons or property. This proposition is made,
however, on condition that hejudicial off,
GERS and magistrates of the Provisional
Government of the State will take for their
mode of procedure the laws now in force in
this State, except so far as those laws make
distinction on account of color, and allow
negroes the same rights and privileges as
are accorded to white men before their
VUuIIS, ny WHlCii i utiucTStaHu UIlaC negroes
shall be allowed to testify in eases where
their interest is involved
And believing that the late constitutional
amendment which abolished slavery abolish
ed all laws which constituted a part of the
policy of the system of slavery, and in de-
claring that the negro shall be protected In
his person and property establishes princi-
pies which of themselves entitle the negro
to sue and be sued, and, as a necessary Incl
dent of such right, that he is made compe-
tent as witness according to the laws of
evidence Of the State: Now, therefore, /,
William L. Sharkey, Provisional Governor
of Mississippi with view of securing to
our citizens the rights of trial before their
own officers and under their own laws, rather
than bya military tribunal and by military
law, do hereby proclaim and make known
that in all cases, civil or criminal, in which
the nights of negroes are involved either
for injuries done to their persons or property
or IN matters of contract the testimony Of
negroes may be received, subject to the com
mon-law rules of evidence MS regards com
petency and credibility which prevail in re-
gara 70 white persons. Aid | do therefore