New-York daily tribune., 1865-12-21
A Legislative Cnucus-JudRe Joynes ana
w. N. 4. El!is-The Negro.sunrsge
Matter-A southorn EsIogy Of tho
BLACK Nnn-The Division OF spoiis By
Billy smith-Castle Thunder.

| From Our Special Correspondent
RICHMOND, Va. Dec. 1911 D. m.
A general caucus Of the members of both
branches Of the Legislative was held tonight in the
hall OF tie House Of Delegates. The meeting was
large enthusiastic and ting the object being
to compare notes and exchange vie upon the subject
Of allowing negroes testify in courts of justice.
The chie' spirits in pro- otine the onward march Of
civilization nd JoyLes OF Petersburg and w. IT,
Ellis Of Norfolk-both eminent Law! ers, but htte
known in politics; Southern men by brih education
attachments, and associations but far ahead Of their
Sslow.members in the great Of The day The
latter gentleman in his remarks, stated that until the
negro is allowed to testify in our courts with the
privileges 40 white men, shall never be free white
people We have Freedmans Bureau and. though /
10 where it sprang from, or that anywhere in
the Constitution IT Is provided for nevertheless such
Institution decides ali matters in which wool and ivory
are concerned and the best thing to he done Ia TO get
id Of II; until we do we are quasi subj rated people
for We h.ve 20 saomi, :: the decree. and opn'on.
NAV choose 10 impose 1t seems TO be OF the
ditio of our being readmitted into the Union. srd
we Should take its responsibilities upon own should
lers IN manner satisfactory 10 the Govern
1lent. We ought TO do that, which is most eI-
pedient. IL 10 no slavery TO place ourselves
upon the same footing with our conquerors.
We not stOop TO corguer We can stand upright
and become truly loyal. do not know Of state at
the North where negro testimony IA excluded IN the
cases where we propose To introduce It, Ihave fonnd
myself compelled professionally, 70 accept and solicit
negro testimony, and from my experience zee rea.
son inconvenience for not accepting in all case.
the same as white. We ought to act like men who
know their interests costing aside all scot innuen
does and cot listening to oDehaf We read or see We
have destiny in our own hands and VIII carve
i. msnfuly The objection to tue negro is that he
has woody heed, is black. and has been q slave. j
know something about slaves have freely confded IN
thote owned have left home property aid interest,
In har. NJ han nd alu f.u+f atfaf ei
cared tor. have found that In local fariy eud,
n they always faithful to ne, and the mere fct o.
hey not treacherous every hour of the past iol
70 ye hes proved that fact There s humiliation anC
habit Of obedience about the African you do not hnt
n snv other race. They have been dnnfu In spit. o
circln stances to the contrary and how by act o
war, could their natures be ohangedf have knowr
many instances Of families leaving everything In th
of few slaves the approach Of The enemy sn6
coming back have found everything safely eted
and ready 10 be returned 10 their msseTs In negroes
brought up in opr first families there Is more TO
g lteuess, yeracity and trustyortbinese than II
Of slavery. Go North. you can't md neer'
stage driver, mechanic artist. with few exceptions
and hey 10 appear In New.York w0nld be booeC
and moLbed by the crowd bnt at the South who eve
saw any sueh prohibiIioni have been praccing law
the past few years in Federal military courts. and
have found the negro in all To be inrinsicaly
truthful, and holding with religious awe the value %
sD oath. Before q jury mans appearance has du
weight II he vasciate, has a hans-dog look. II tell
discriminate In the negrof There are negroes In
family whom would trust far In preference to MANY
white men hear o. Anybody would desire freedom
aud what set Of could you ibeIate IN any crcum
stances that would act well have the negroes t
tie South. Our policy and duty clearly H. TO continue
them fastwarm friends and therefore desire that
they be allowed 10 testify In couits 10 make depos
tlGLs and sGidavits and In all such matter have tie
same privileges as whites.
Upon tie break ing up OF the the question was
voted upon and with but few dissenting voices decided
that tie Committee on Courts of Justice. for both
Honss should prepare favorable bhl and report at on
early day.
The question Of the t2l. 900 In gold divided between
Extra Billy Smith and lis friends just before the
uation and belonging 10 the State promises 10 create
very serious question as 10 whether The Government
bss been derauded In not having received this money
from ITO custodian by right Of capture the Virginia
Legislature and officers being Rebels by virtue Of tic
Government at Alexandra. The question has been re-
ferred 10 the Committee Courts Of Justice and Law,
who not little exercised with regard TO iurisdc'
tion No doubts the moral obligation Of these pub
lie plunderers. who proposing TO set up State author
ty at Ly nchburg finding by the surrender OF Lee all
prospect and hope for their peculiar plans being rns-
trated the necessity Of retaining the money ceased to
exist hence II should have been returned tO Its egi
mate place. the State Treasury, under Gov Peirpolnt
But great rascfs dodge great Obligations by small
po'hts hence the meie question OF Jurisprudence
whether the United States or Virginia should have the
iuncs decided the Virpinian Rebel Treasurer Bennett
10 snare LIS spos even late as last June. two months
| after the collapse Of their idol &. s.
asue ihuhder well known as ono OF the pest houses
wheTe Union prisoners were slowed. has been turned
over 70 ts proprietor by the Government He proposes
10 senu III Dill or rent since the Sd Of April last No
doubt the Government will meet the demand with Con.
federae scrip legal tenders not being instituted for
any such purpose.
The weather the past three days has been clear and
very cold. AND
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