Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1865-12-05


States Bonds Large amounts of money due TO eX-
ecntors administrators trustees and guardians have
been collected since the commencement oil the re-
bellion in what was called Confederate currency,
land have also been sold during the period referred
to belonging TO orphans, paid for in like manner, and
invested in the same kind of securities IL Is now
claimed that the orphan must be the loser do not
think this Is right in principle. This Confederate
money and these Confederate bonds were the crea- |
ton oil persons ged in rebellion, 10 raise means to
overthrow the Government of the United States. The
rebellion failed to accomplish its purpose; and has
Deen declared by the National Government an '-un-
lawful combination" The securities issued by il 10 |
carry out its purposes were consequently unlawful |
think then ltfollows necessary consequence that
the MONIES and lands of these orphans which were
invested IN unlawful securities, was aa illegal trans.
action by which the minor cannot be bound There.
fore, those who made the investment being of ma
ture age and well aware OF the nature Of the risk
oug ht TO stand the loss II is claimed that any law
attempting TO legalize these transactions would be
or post fdctO think the case is entirely different
where the parties capable OF contracting bought and
sold or deal: in these securities. There were large
number of contracts made in these securities There
were large number of contracts made in the State
between the last named class of parties to be perform
ed in the future by the pa yment of Confederate money
or the delivery of Conederat1 bonds Many of these
contracts in the shape OF bonds, single bills and
prOmssory notes for the payment OF a fixed sum OF
money in dollars and cents. without designating the
The payment of these debts. in what called Con-
federate money, cannot be allowed by law The
parties bound may have difficulty under the law, a
It now stands in pleading the facts in the courts so
a TO obtain relief think there should be some e-
rislatOn to authorize the courts TO ascertain the
proper value of these evidences OF debt, and OF all
contracts of the same character.
There are now confined i'll the penitentary, a num-
Der of convicts, sentenced by the courts during the
late troubles for various terms Of Imprisonment.
| / L., IL. =,
PENIrENTIARY AND PESITENTIARY BUILDINGS
At the evacuation of Richmond last spring, by the
insurgents the dwelling house attached to the Peni-
Tertiary and part ofthe prison were burned up-a the
prisoners escaped-some gave themselves to the mill.
tary authorities, and Others were arrested, ali oil
whom were returned to the prison. About eighty
were in the Penitentiary last June, who were being
subsisted by the military authorities OF the United
States The authorities required me 10 take posses
sion Of and support these convicts. | appointed
officers for the purpose. In addition to the destIuc
ton by fire. all the manufactured articles and tools
belon sng to the prison. and glass and sash in the
windows of the building, were carried away and
never recovered; nothing was left but the walls OF
the prison and some heavy machinery. The inmates
were destitute OF beds and blankets, and had but
little clothing Many OF them were sick, and there
was much INSTRUMENTATION manifested by Others
They claimed that they ought to he liberated, ana i
was with much difficulty that they were forced 10
resume their work. directed the shOemakers.
backsmith's and wheelwr.ghts shops TO be repaired
and furnished with new tools and materials to be
furnished on which the convicts employed IN them
might 20 TO work. Beds, blankets and clothing
were also supplied to the cOnvictS No applopria-
ton having been made for this purpose, betrayed
these expenses out of the contingent fund until II
was exhausted. | then requested the Auditor Of
Public Accounts to honor other necessary Dhls APP
proved by me- and pay the same out OF any FUNDS on
hand. until the General Assembly shall make the
necessary appropriations. see no reason why, by
proper management, after shall be repaired and FUR
nshed with the necessary tools, the Pententisry
should not sustain it,elf. II ere l. now pogElon
made by law for stOrekeeper TO the Pententary,
who is allowed eight per cent. upon his SAFES ana
purchases which j., think, an eXhorbltant allow
ance large amount of the sales have heretofore
been made by the superintendent, and the money
received by him. The stOrckeeper had nothing TO do
with the transaction, except TO receive the money
from the superintendent and deduct ms elght per
cent from the amount Ii II am correctly informed
under this provision the Pententiary storekeeper
received annually about as much compensation as
three Judges of the Court OF Appeals IL Is strange
that this abuse has been so long continued. only
appointed three Directors to the Penitentary. lhey
have estimated the necessary repairs TO the PRISON III
about twelve thousand dollars. There is immediate
necessity for these repairs. | directed them % ad-
vertse for proposals to furnish Materials &C iof
such repairs to be made at an early day III ths
month all of which will be submitted Tor your con-
SIleratlOn.
made as are deamed proper. There are strong ohJec-
tons and as think, founded in justice to having
the dwelling Of the superintendent WITHIN the en-
closure of the prison. All the books and records oi
the Pententary were carried on last spring Dy tue
late sunerntendent We have been unable to recover
them and great inconvenience has been experienced
by the want OF them.
DEAF AND DUMB, AND BLIND, AND LuNATic AsY-
LUMs.
refer you to the reports of the officers and vsl-
tors'of these institutions. The unfortunate class VINO
receive treat benefit from these asylums, erected al
so great an expense for their comfort care ana cure
demand liberal appropriations for their support.
THE FREEDMEN.
The former slaves of the State have become Tree
men. Much apprehension is felt in regard TO the III,
ture of these people Sufficient time has not elapsed
to enable MS 10 form any correct idea OF the future
destiny of the race. They were suddenly released
from bondage and it is not surprising that ltrtSu
larites should exist among them. There are COM
plants of an ndsposton on the part OF the negroes
to work. There are, however, many pralseworthy
exceptions. a prevalent idea among item was thit
when they were liberated they were to occupy the
lands of their former masters. Since they were De-
rated many of them were induced to believe that ii
they remained with their old masters they would be
in danger of reinstatement hence they became
rowing. In many instances, where satisfactory
wages arc paid they render fair service; but think
this is not generally the case. The great mass OF
them refuse to enter into contracts Tor more than
month, and frequently leave even then before that
time expires
Ii is obviously the duty well as interest
0f land owners and Others employing colOred labor
ers to treat them kindly, and pay them fair wages
do not think wages can be regulated by law or
that any new mode of enforcing contracts ought 10
be prescribed by the Legislature; but written con
tracts with this class OF persons should be enc0uf
aged The forfeiture of wages for non-fulhl!ment
Will. it is believed, be sufficient punishment To the
aborer for a violation Of his engagement. Freedom
IN its great essential, consists in the privilege 10
man of appropriating whatever he earns TO hIs own
use 10 be free, labor must be voluntary; every ell
fort to enforce it by law except as punishment Tor
crime or vagrancy. will result in failure ldIeness
brings its own punishment After the most mature
consideration have been able to give to the sub
ect think there is very little positive legislation
needed in regard to this class. \ law should De
passed requiring the clerk of each county cOrpO-
ration court to keep book, in which, at the joint
request OF negro man and woman who have here
totore been living as man and wife, he shall register
tleir names and the date OF their marriage for wic
service he may require fee from the parties not eX-
ceeding twenty-five cents. This registry should be
considered lawful marriage and legitimate tie chi.
lren of the parties and impose on them AL the obi.
qations of husband and wife, and OF parents. \ IL
cense should be required to be obtained by those de-
string to marry. as in the case Of white persons bat
separate register should be kept of all such Licenses
granted | would recommend that law be passed
authorizing the courts 10 grant permission 10 col
Orel ministers OF the gO>pel 10 celebrate te tS Oi
matrimOny The constitution of the State authorizes
the apprenticng OF colored children on the same
terms that white children are apprentced, and there
fore the law will need amendment in this particu-
lar Negroes should be tried and punished for
olenses in the same manner as white persons.
They should also he allowed to testify as wit
nesses in all cases in the courts of justice.
am aware of the objections which are made TO
this last recommendation, but ! think these ohjec
tons are founded more in prejudice than in reason.
One objection is upon the ground that perjury will
be frequently committed by the negro. II this were
valid objection, it might be urged against receiv.
ing almost any human testimony. | think the
strongest 0bjectOr will admit that some negroes VIII
testify truthuy. The same Obector will admit that
some white persons will commit perjury There has
been great tendency for many years, in England
and in this country, TO break down all the technical
rules established by the Common Law, which eN-
clude witnesses on the ground of interest, and to
adopt the great principle of receiving testimony from
all sources whence light be thrown upon the sub
ect under investigation. and leaving 10 those VINO
are to Judge of It's truthfulness to decide as to the
weight it Should have in tire decision OF the case.
think this is right. Maior.General Howard the
Superintendent OF the Freedmen's Bureau, adv sed
me last summer that his bureau would turn over t.
the State tribunals all subjects of controversy here
negroes are concerned if the testimony OF negroes