The daily clarion. [volume] (Meridian, Miss.) 1863-1866, 1865-12-03
"a 60, .t;tu ION aud laws of q. ely State

the Northern horizon. 1t grew In size,
its proportions multiplied. The heavens /
darkened, the explosion came, the ribs of
government gave way, and the negro Is
freedman / ask is there no argument IN
this. and does it not impress gentlemen |
with the Importance of observing another
obligation imposed by the Constitution,
to protect the freedman and the State
| against any evils that may arise from their
sudden emancipation.
| Mr.. Speaker, | remarked that l enter
| tanned no prejudices against this race,
and that | recognized the obllg atlon TO
protect these people in their rights OF
person aud property. L propose TO give
| them protection in lieu of testimony.
can not believe that negro testimony Is
adapted TO the present condition OF the
country. to the present status of the ne
| GRO nor that he can avail himself of its
| benefits with the powerful prejudices ope-
rating aeaints it. | do not believe that
the negro, so lately, having escaped from
slavery ,ihas had time, rec from constralnt,
| TO establish a character for rectllude ana
integrity that will justify him in going
into court and risking himself upon his
testimony for protection.
| propose then, that when white per
son and freedman become parties 10
the record, to establish the principle oil
the old law, that neither shall testify In
their own case but shall rely upon dis
interested white witness for testimony or
upon the conditions of a written contract
Neither party can have witness unless
that witness be n white person, and he IS
a witness for the black man as well as
, for the white man. 1t does not pull a
: white man down to an equality with a
freedman, but it preserves the suprema-
CIV of the white mans testimony, and II
anv advantage is held by his character
of testimony over the other, the beneht
of that advantage belongs as much to
the freedman AS to the white man. nat
there is imperfection and Inconvenience
: in this system, | am free to admit, but II
Is an in convenience our people should 6t
willing to submit to rather than make
concession, which perhaps Will render
: them powerless to resist the demands To-
{ another. The bayonet is held over Mis-
: sissippi, yet it would be hard TO deter
"A mine if the concession were not made
from olicy rather than principle. III
a question of vast and vital interest, on
} that haste nor trammeled Legislation
should not venture to tamper with, bh
exnarience should dictate its advance AM
y caution guard and control its progress
= Until this can be our privilege let US cor
;, cede no more.
"a Let US have time to pause, to reflect
- while and see what is best to do. Let U
N mt a ''stay law" upon this testimony unit
4 Mississippi is restored to her own cav
i. rights. and can as becomes her lnterei
q and her duty. We have the negro on pro
40 bation now. He has not experlmented
= freedom vet. We don't know what tt
or development will be. Let tho princlp
I of the old law be re-establlshed so lar
luA to apply to the white man, and the Tree
of men, where one becomes party Win "a
ID other to record. | believe no other pole
~ a safe one at present. / believe 1t the o
-. lv one at all adapted to the PRESENT cor
H. dition of the country, TO the present stat
ar. of the freedman or that will be protectl'
,st ITO him in its operations. In view OF Il
av great prejudice that prevails against neg
On Testimony, and his incapaclty to aVi
ed himself of its benefits; l am constraln
nd to regard the proposition as a mockei
nd and behind it you gentlemen OF the col
, 'mittee can not shelter yourselves from
al demands of the Constitution, which a
is~ vet imperative upon you to protect him
he his rights of person and property,yo ma
m Touly exposed him TO injustice aud oppre
"a. sion. and laid your State liable TO 1urth
I'VE demands for concession ana hunllla'lO
Ing What protection is there In his testlmo
on with the prejudicles prevailing against !,
ofI If Won wish TO know how potential u
bie nreiudice is, how extensive lis Int1nenc
49,, behold it in the record you have ma
90, AGAINST YOURS elves. See how scantlly }
,7Ih measure this privilege TO him. You
t;fv Init it in its most Objectionable teatu
~ onlv where he is interested, a POI
ofI known to be of doubtful proprlety,
The anprobated by the ablest Jurists OF
- civilized world, and tolerate to-day
where upon the American continent
contad in New York and MISSISSIPPI
49, You admit him In his own case on
o. wbere all the instincts OF nature lnsplr
,e trammel truth and encourage faiseno
ua Won bring him into court ana exon
lat from his assistance all who might
INV constrained to do so by sympathy OF T
f1r, or kindred, he confronts white Ju
hat and Jury of white men. Inc 400
act omen against him to the white popuia'
IL is of the county or State In ms wear
:, i oa sinks beneath the heavy gulllatln'
al the white mans tongue, This Is the
ond tectionthat gentlemen OF the commute
- Far him after weeks of dehberatlon, /
,,,hat thew propose. Were | an advo
and Of negro testimony l should scorn
The mockery as this.
coed am opposed to extending this fraI
rity. n the freedman, from principle and
shall nolicv. am opposed to it from primo;
lorse because don't believehe can compfei
may the high obligations of an oath. l de
O lift believe he Jean appreciate the van
leavy character, noarestimate the dignity
this tegrity. am opposed to 1t as que
enta Of poiicy, think it unwlse and unpe
efeat- ing the people of Mississippi 10 mar
,rece otSer concession until the Fedora
Sc ar eminent complies with its obllgatioI
ry re- dressed through its chief executive
f the Commissions relative to the restora': .
for The State to her civil rights. When
. in Convention and the question OF emar
,ar9- tom was pending, | was told 6y Mr
st no. Lev and Mr Yerger, both OF whom
- ,. r. ia conference with the central
Tho and smoke advisedly. was told Ia
mraIl that was required of Mississippi
aarsad oanced,, free Constitution, and she
We are resume her place in tie Unloi
,onsti- vo.ed for the free Constitution, ana
ice he. nronose to congratulate my dlsting g.
r. :, apdyisers on the restoration OF Miss
andad 70 her civil rights. but they tell M
ootten inst concede testimony and we VIII
s. was rnittedn say admit me now, al
4 that testimony will receive timely att
hv tha afterwards. Upon the concession
- .aa.;nat;on. Mississippi, aecordin