The Union flag. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1865-187?, 1865-12-22
TO the East Tennessee Loyalists.

Oc,ober uraed tho importance of
conferinrl upon the FREE PEOPLE OF
COLOR the privilege of testifyinp in
courts of Justice. / stated this fact ;
that as our laws now stand, a free col.
ored man may be deprived Of his life
in the presence of an-hundred colored
witnesses. whose lips are scaled in the
courts. | urged that our iuries and
indges would be intelligent men. the
exclusive Judges of the weight of tes-
timony, and as such, they would take
into consideration the character of the
witness, both for honor and intelli-
gence. | had shree reasons for re-
'rsas;s 'rsas; II. zsiing this. -nensure, and these
still satisfy m, ,aisiid thas ! wasdiafl.
/. The thing Is right 10 itself, and
the dictates Of virtue, patriotism, hu-
manity and religion, say give the col.
ored man this showing.
2. 1t would do away in Tennessee,
the necessity for " Freedman's Bu.
reau," tribunal foreign to our Con-
stitution and domestic laws; necessar-
ly arbitrary, and which must bo pre-.
sided over, in many instances, by in
experienced military men, who have
no law knowledge, and bnt little If anv
judicial experience. I know then, as
/ know now, that the Government
having emancipated the slaves, it
would protect them by Congressional
legislation, and that the "Bureau
must become n permanent institution.
3. felt confident that the passage
of such law would satisfy the color
ed people and the country. and that
the indiscriminate right of suffrage
would not be exacted of us =; whereas,
if we should fail to concedo to the ne.
gro the right to testify, Congress
would rraEt it for us, and with it the
right of suffrage.
A law to his effect hiss passed
the Senate, but tho chances arc that
it will be defeated in the House If
lost, it will be killed by the loyal votes
of East Tcnnessee-the members cor
rectly representing the sentiments of
their constituents. This knew when
| pressed the measure in my message;
bnt believe the honest, patriotic peo
pie were mistaken as to their own best
interests-I think so still, bpt time
will show.
The rebels clamor for the right Of
testifying and voting, and Union men
are ready toconceGe the right, on the
account of the color of their skin. One
fact alone should settle the question as
to the rebels-that is, for four years
they did all they could to destroy the
Government. For this they should
not be allowed voice in its affairs
One fact alone should settle the ques.
ton as to the blacks-ior four years
they did all they could, by giving in
formation and fighting, to save the
Government. And, but for their col7r,
the part they took in the rebellion
would give them the right to testify
und vote. The voice of prejudice says,
hold them back. The voice of reason
and Justice says, take suffrage from
the enemies of ihe Government. and
0ipe il to its friends. IF the States will
not do this. Congress has the power,
under the amended Constitution, to do
it, and will and ought to carry it out.
As to the powers of the National
Government, what shall be tho rela.
tions between itself and those who
have been in rebellion against il, and
between itself and thoso it has made
free in order to nut down the rebellion,
and save its own existance. 30 much is
conceded bv all who advocate reorgan.
lzation on any plan. from the presi.
dents experiment down to tho freside
suggestion, that there is no necessity
for claiming more than is conceded.
If in restoring the oovernmonts n.
the revolted States, the National Gov.
ernment may say that rebels who take
n prescribed oath may vote that 9th.
crs more guilty of treason shall not
take this oath, and shall not vote ;
then it cnacts law regulating suff.
rage. And if it can enact such a law,
there can be no limitation on its pow
or, under the amended Constitution.
1t can say that some whto men may
vote and others may not; it can also
say that some black men may certify