The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1865-12-06
EXECUTIVE 0rrIcE,

Gentlemen of the Senate and House of REPRESENTATIVES.
In view of your resolution to take at an early day
recess until after the holidays deem it proper to call
your immediate attention to few subjects OF vital
portanee to the welfare of the State.
BY the sudden emancipation of over three hundred
thousand slaves, Mississippi has imposed upon her a
problem OF vast magnitude upon the proper solution Of
which depends the hopes and future prosperity and vel
fare OF ourselves and cur children.
Under the pressure Of federal bayonets urged on BY
the instructed symphthies of the world in behalf
ensaEed African the people of Mississippi have abolish
ed the institution OF slavery and have soemnlY declared
in their State constitution that the legislature should
provide by law Tor the protection and secury of The
person and property of the freedmen of the State and
guard them and the State against any evils that may
arise from their sudden emancipation" How this i'm
porant provision and requirement of the constitution is
to be Carried into effect is the question now presented
for orr solution We now meet the question as it
is, and not as ve would like hare it. The rule must
be justice The negro free whether ike it o. not
we must rease that fact now and forever TC be free
however, soes not make him citizen or entitIe Inn TO
political or social equality with the white man. Bat
the constitution ana justice do entte him 10 protection
and security IN his person and property, both real aud
personal
, In my humble judgment no person, bond or nee,
under any form of government can be assured of mo-
lection security either person or property sYcept
through sn independent and enlightened judiciary Tie
courts then, should be open to the negro But Of what
avail is It to open the courts and invite the negro to
and be sued if not permitted 10 testify himself and
introduce such testimony as he his attorney may
deem essential 10 establish the truth and justice of his
case? Whether the witness be white black it is the
denial OF the most common privilege of freedom an
unmeaning delusion, the merest mockerT
AS measure of domestic policy whether for the
protecuon OF tue person or property of the freedman
or for the protection of society the negro should he
allowed and required to testify for against the white
and black according to the truth There ars few man
lylng IN the south who have not known many white
criminals to go "unwhpped of justice" because negro
testimony was not permitted in the courts And now
that the negro is longer under the restraints and
protection OF his MASTER he will become the dupe and
catspaW Of the vile and vicious white man who seeks
his association, and will punder land with entire
| r nIGbTu spln ~
through negro testimony. 1t insult to the ipteG
gence and virtue Of courts and uries of white men
70 say Or susPee met they cannot or will protect
the innocent whether white black against the false
| hood and perjury of black Witnesses
] The question Of admitting negro testimony for the
protection OF their property sinks into insigpeapca nv
the side of the other great question of eusrdipg nm
and the State against the evils that NAV arisa from
theT sudden emancipation. What are the evils fhat
nave already arisen, against which are to guayd the
negro and the state? The is patent IL alIva
grancy and paupersm and their inevitable eoneontant
! CRIME and misery hang like dark pail over a ones
| prosperous and happy, but now desoated land
10 the guardian cars Of the freedmeRs' bursau Ia.
been Entrusted the emancpated slaves The civil law
and the white man outside Of the bureau has been de-
prlved of all jurisdiction over them Look aroun5 80
and see the result Gdleness and vagrancv has basn
the rule Our rich and productive fields have been d.
serted Tor the filthy garrets and scky cellars ~ onr
towns and cities From producers they are ronyartad
INTO consumers, and as winter approaches their onIv
saYatlon from starvation and want is federal rations
pIahdef ana plage -Four years of cruel war conduc
TED upon principles Of vandalism disgracefuI to the
ciElsaon OF the age was scarcely more blighnr and
destructive to the homes of the white man sn5 80
erlshing and degrading to the negro thar has rIt3
Id me last SIX or eight months from the administrator
q Ils Dlack incubus Many Of the officers connected
with that bureau gentlemen Of honor AND inteit
but they seem incapable Of protecting the rights a5
properly OF the white man against the yeines Of me
vic with whom they associated
How long this hideous curse permitted h. booxn :; |
TO be allowed to rule and ruin our unbanny neonTa
regret y IS not IN my power to give any assurance fur
theT than can be gathered from the pube and private
declarations Of president johnson that ',Te troons
will all be Withdrawn from Mississippi, when in IT,
OPINION Of the government the peace and order and
civil authority has been restored and can be maintained
"lthout them' IN this uncertainty q to what will
sasiy me government Of our loyalty and ability TO
MAINTAIN order and peace and civil government oar
duty under the constitution to guard the negro and the
State from the evils arising from sudden enaneipstoa
must not be neglected. Our duty to the State and h.
me freedmen seems to me to be clear, and respect
fully recommend 1st That negro testimony should
be admitted IN our courts not only for the protection
OF the persoa and property of the feedmad but for
the protection of society against the crimes of both
races I'd. That the freedman be encouraged At once
to engage IN some pursuit Of industry, for the support
Of his family and the education of his children BY laws
hun OF friendship and protection
lax me freedmen for the support Of the INDECENT and
nelpess freedmen and then with iron will and the
strong hand OF power take hold of the der and vagrant
and force him to some profitable employment Sd Pass
militia Law that will enable the militia protect our
people against insurrecton any possible combination
IF vicious white men and negroes
deem the passage Of these measures, before you
axe recess, OF vital Importance. By them ne may T
lgain inspire people with hope aud confidence in
ne future, and encourage them to engage again in
lc1ural pursuits upon which all depends If we
~ " Pass sne the future is all uncertainty, gloom
'nd dependency. b J. HUEPHBEYs s
Governor of Mississippi s
IMPORTANT rsLEsaApErc coRxxsPoNpEyCE u
Q HIS Excelency the President of the United States
telegram jast received from the president of the
lobe and Ohio railroad says Passenger train
ere attacked on the eTenng Of the 14h possession ia
en- by garrison of colored troops ct LauderdaIe 81
Prngs, ladies insulted and the officers unable to CON
rol the troops" ~ tr
The legislature has uemoriased for removal IF +b b.
nlted States troops sd seem willing to extend IN o ty
eedmen the right to testify in court if assured the
oops would be withdrawn. Members fear that one az
80. ~ my teaus 10 sAother. W nat assurances can tf
siFe VI sne SUBJECT 3. g. HUMPHREYS u
Governor of Mississippi III
= Washington, Nov. II, 1850
Inc troops will be Withdrawn from Niss.sipp when
the OPINION OF the government, the peace and or wt
i ana the civil authorities have been restored and can
without them. Every step will be taken be
nile they are there to enforce strict discinne and nil
oordnaon to the civil authorities There can he No tn
aec OF assurance than has heretofore been on XII
{ part OF the federal government. There is no CON
sson required on the part of the people of Missis
,p or the Legislature other than strict compliance
IN the laws and the constitution of the United States me
the adoption of such measures "a vinr protecton To-
freedmen and as will enttle them to assume their alb
Institutional rights in the federal Union VI
Inc people Of Mississippi may feel well assured that mo
ire Is ne disposition arbitrary the part of the gov the
inent TO dictate what their action shall be Int nm h
a OOlir /
leGeial and will result in restoring all the
ich should exist between the States T ing
ersl Union 1t is hoped that they will feel and an reg
Gate the suggestions herein made for they are done
that spirit which should prevade the bosoT If al son
o desire peace and harmony and of tbnrnngb ra.. he
ION of the Union. There must he a confdsnco b sio
zen government and States, which the government We
hdes in the people, The people nust bsya f;tb ~ ODE
government This must be m aual and reciprocal ~ in
mat has been done will be thrown awsv - " and
ANDREW JOHNSON for'
President no
nE NAYf s9uADaoNs-The New York Commercial est,
cruiser says: gen
ne Pacific feet, which sailed from fortress, Monro. con
week nnder command of commodore Rogers com poir
e the vanderbilt, Powhatan, Tuscarors and fbe eviG
oe-turreted monitor Monadnock. We have atnros T
six Vessels in the Mediterranean $50. az PC. &c