Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-20
MrATdnble Does not de Governor recommend

MrATrmble Does not toe Governor recommend
tkis vary measure hs-# kSA ~
Mr Carrigan Not such a bin as this.
Mr.. Trimble Does this bill do more than make
the persons designated competent witnesses n
Mr.. Carrigan: If you permit such classes to
testify in the courts, they at once become my
equals.
Mr.. Trimble: Il God has made any one such
your equal, he is; mo- power on earth can make
him either your inferior or superior.
Mr.. Carrigan: When man is clothed with the
power to swear away my life, he becomes my equal,
that is the question. ~
Mr.. Trimblc No, then be would bel your superior
But this bill gives no such power. There Is the
court there is the jury they judge of the credi-
bility of the witness.
Mr.. Carrigan If these people are not citizens,
why legislate to give them privileges they can't
exercise, which viii do them no good? If you will
change the Constitution, then you can pass this
bill. Otherwise you cannot, constitutionally.--
Then would work forlit but now Il cannot. -, q
Moreover, you viii defeat German colonization
by passing this measure, for the negroes will mme-
dately flock in from all the surrounding States.-
Pass this bill, and in twelve months you will be
ovcrrun. Meantime, we are not adopting, or even
maugurating any measures looking TO the welfare
OF the poor white man, crushed to the earth by the
depredations of the late Infamous war. You have
no word Of comfort for them. I love charity, gem
erosity, benevolence, but have been taught that
charity begins at home. Instead of quieting our
distracted State, this opens wide the door to strife
and tronble. We have had yet comparatively no
murders but if you pass this measure, you win
bring upon the heads Of the unfortunate you seek
to benefit only curse The whole United States
army viii be required for their protection,
In closing the speaker said that we are told that
we must take choice between this bill and the
| freedmens bureau. For myself and my constit-
uents, prefer the freedmens bureau. | implore
yon to let this measure lie by for some years until
public opinion shall be allayed-until prejudice
shall die out. Let uE not distract the country.
| Mr.. Smith said ! hoped the session would pas.
of without anything of thissort will not trouble
| the Seuate with long speech, but as expect Ia
vote for the bill it is due to justice and humanity
that the gentleman should be answered by me-
/ He says we have constitutional ground to pass
this bill. But do not let approach this impor-
tant question with the prejudices of two hundred
years Not line Of the constitution was read n
opposition TO this measure, but the assertion |.
broadly made that the black man is not a citizen
4 This assertion grows out of that infamous Dred
Scott decision Tell me not that man under The
laws, amenable like others to punishment for viola
\ ting the criminal code is not citizen. The high
est tribunal in this country has settled this ques-
ton of citizenship. Congress and the Executive
have decided the blacks to he citizens. Only the
other day the President commenced an address to
number of colored people by calling them his fell
low-citizens by telling that this is their country
well as his own. He addressed them not rs br1tes
but as citzens---his fellow-citizens If they arr
not how can you try them for criminal otfenses
and punish them you would citizens. ReaC
what the President says ..-E. 1850 anisl.t3 7.
Mr.. SenteE The President has also said this is
the white mans country. Which saying do you
support? ar eH ilr rh
Mr.. Smith: The last one, made in the light o
lavp &. ,,of;N .f l,
of competency 10 be a witness. We assemble here
not under the old constitution merely but espe.
cially under the amendments adopted in February
The clause the gentleman depends on was adopted
I N l835-ths in 1865. The last does away will
the supposed conflict. If this is not So wo had nc
right to pass the franchise bill. The Courts hay,
J decided that we Rad such right. Then what be
comes of the gent,emans argument The sched-
ule is part of tho constitution. When we pasJ I
franchise bill, and 20 home finally, then the 9th
section is fulfilled, and ceases to be part Of th'
constitution aat= 2'J
l wish to refer to one other question-negrc
equality. l am not myselfuneasy about that. Al
the laws that legislatures can make, all that Con
gress can make, or the potentaes can declare law,
cannot make me associate with those | do not
choose. Let worth be where it will, let it receive
due homage. 1t is significant that race that has
been shrouded in darkness for two hundred years
made fewer depredations while they were troops
than our own soldiers. Nineteen outrages have
been perpetrated by whites during the war where
one was perpetrated by a negro. ] have seen num-
bers of men go into court to testify without know
ing the obligations of an oath-men whom would
not associate with, aud who did not become my
equals by being legally competent witnesses.