Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1865-12-26
A Southern View of Negro Testimony and
Negro Suffrage.


Brown was opposed to the bill for several re
sons Before entering upon these reasons, ho'
ever, he took occasion to say, that he " had !
prejudice against this most unfortunate race
and that the negro was " in no way rssponsb
for the distracted condition Of tie country
Mr. Brown then proceeds
am required by the Constitution to prote,
him in his rights of person and property, but
insist that this injunction does not apply to tie
timony more than it does TO suffrage The a
goment tor one 10 the arg ument for both If
person should be permitted to testify =" becau
be becomes party to the record, than, by Ii
same precept OF reason, will that person no
have the right to vote because be becomes
party to the poll-taX and the musterroll.
That is tolerably sound logic. 1t isn't cas-
to see why negro has any more need of scces
to the witness stand to protect his property
than to the ballot-box to protect his civil rights
W are pleased to agree with Mr.. Brown thu
far, especially, as he says the State OF Mssissip
pi never required "a person to pay a pol-taI
and bear arms in defense Of the Commonwealth
that it did not extend to the person the right Of
suffrage d" testimony is but the skrmish line
that guards the suffrage" And MIR. Brown
argues conyincngly further when he says:
The black population Of Mississippi exceeds
the white y eighty thousand majority. Is it
no argument that this majority shall not be used
by minority as pack. horse to bear taxes and
other burdeos 1t may see iit to impose, and al
lowed to lift its voice and say how light nor
how heavy 1t shall be? Is it 20 argument that
this question OF taxation without representation
at once lnaugursted a war which defeated the
principle and established precedent Can
we meet aud resist the Arguments unless we
husband our every resource and welc1m no al.
vance II the negro can risk the white man
Tor justice and Protection IN one instance, Gun he
not IN the other Tor # the white man concede
the irSt position, Tor Ike reason, will no not
be constrained ~ abandon The other
Mr.. Brown evidently appreciates the situa-
tion, aud understands that freedom il nothing
or is everything that freedman must have
no civil rights, or no must have all the rights
that free white nen claim for themselves that
the logic which would admit him to the ia. list
and the witness stand will not stop there but
will sooner OF later demand the ballot and
that there Is no intermediate state, which can
be defended by reason or precedent, between
giving any civil rights to freedmen, and giving
them all civil and political rights.
Alter Mr. Brown had thus prophesied the
danger OF allowing the negro any civil rights be
takes another view Of the question. lie opposed
the passage Of the bill us u concession to the de.
mands Of the federal government lie said
think Il unwise and unbecoming the people
OF Mississippi to make another concession until
The Federal Government complies with its obll
cations expressed through It's chief executive 10
our commissions relative TO the restoration of
the State to her civil rights. When in the Con-
yentIon and the question of Characterization was
pending, was told by Mr.. Sharkey and Mr..
Yorkey, both Of whom had held conference with
the central power and spoke adyisedly was
told all that was required Of Mississippi was 70
concede Tree Constitution, and she would re
sumo her pie &c In the Union voted for tho
free Constitution, and to-day propose to con
graduate my distinguished advisers ON the res
toration OF Mississippi 10 her civil rights. but
they tell ne mo, concede testimony and we
will be admitted say adm. me now. Ana
this testimony will receive timely attention
afterwards. Upon the concession Of emanci-
pa'lon, Mississippi according to undenisble
pledges of the presIdei t, should have BEEN rec
ognled US q sovereign State In tue Federal I'm.
ian, and lett 10 deal with this question of testi
mony as a matter OF state policy, over which
the Federal Government should exeIciss no eon.
troll. l say according to the pledges of the
President as represented by our commissioner, il
should have ben 80, and | am unwilling to
move another inch until il is 10.
One concession only begots another few
more and consolidated government is irteyo-
cably fastened upon us. say it is hazardous 10
experiment with negro testimony with the priy.
ileges agains. IT, while Mississippi is yet denied
admission. Suppose it Is allowed, aud the ex.
pertinent does not operate to the satisfaction of
the Government. will it not declare at once
that the negro cannot get justice from white
jury, and that such prejudice shall bo neural
lzed by allowing the negro representation In the
jury box, when he IL party to the record? L,
said that he shall be protected in his
rights OF person and property suppose in the
opinion OF the Government, that testimony be-
tore white jury does not secure that protection,
will it hesltate 70 demand his admission into the
jury boxP Let this be done, then come, eouali-
ity, conflict, determination.
Having thus entered his protest against die.
tation from Washington, he paints the following
dismal picture OF the lruitlssness of the law in
aaording the negio any protection;
In view oil the great prejudice that prevails
against negro testimony, aud his inoapaclty 10
avail himself OF Its benefits, | am constrained "a
regard the proposition as a mockery, and behind
1t you gentlemen OF the committee cannot shell.
ter younelyee from the den nds Of the Consti
tullon, which are yet Imperative upon you te
protect him IN his rights vi person and proper.
w., You have only exposed him to Injustice anc
oppression, and laid your State liable to further
demands iof concession anu humiliation. What
protection Is there 10 his testimony with In,
prejudice prevailing against II. II you wish Il
know how potential thai prejudice Is, how grea,
its influence, behold 1t IN tue report YOU have
made against yourselves. SEQ how scan,ily YOU
measure this privilege to hun. You admit II m
IT. most Objectionable feature, only where he j,
interested, policy known to be Of doubtful
prOpre.y, disapprobated by the albest jurists Of
the civilized world, aud tolerated to-day No
where upon the American continent except IN
New lrk aud Mississippi. You admit hun .o
hls own o-se only where all the instincts of ma.
tute inslpre to uammel truth aud encourage
ialsehood' lou bring him lG1o court and OK.
ciude from hl' assistance all who nigh, leel con.
strained to do 30 by sympathy vi race or kind.
feo, he eonlrOns white Judge and jury oil
white men lne door is open against him "a
the white population OF the county or state IN
hln weak nNln he hlnk - hannah liz. - - ~