Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1866-03-09
~CoLoRED PERsoNs.~

sec. I. 1ue Lrenefal Assembly OF lut
State of Georgia DO enact, that all ne
groes, mulattOes, mestizoes, and their de-
scendsnts, having one-eighth negro OF
African blood in their veins, shall be
known in this State as persons OF
color
Sec. .. Persons Of color shall nave the
right to make and enforce contracts, 10
sue, and be sued, 10 be parties and give
evidence, 10 inherit, to purchase, lease,
sell, hold, and convey real and personal
property, and to have full and equal
benefit OF all laws and proceedings for
the security Of person and estate, and
shall not be subjected % any other or
different punishment, pain OF penalty for
the commission Of any act or Oflen7e
than such as are prescribed for white
persons committing like acts or O3enses.
Sec. 3. All laws and parts Of laws in
relation 10 slaves and free persons OF
color initiating against this act, be and
the same are hereby repealed
Upon this the Macon Telegraph of the
9Th remarks:
By this enactment the State OF Geor-
gia gives practical evidence Of her deter
minatiOn 10 act just, and even cOnsid-
crate. part toward the African race
within her borders. il is no speculation
OF her politicians, no newspaper promise
for political effect, which may or may
not be given in good faith. but positive
tangible demonstration, in the form 81
l1JC, of her interest in the black popula
tioD, and her intention that they shall be
protected against oppression and made
secure IN all their rights. And we may
add, the enactment Of our Legislators viii
meet with 8 cheerful response from the
people Of the State. That some irregu-
larities NAV occur in the administration
OF the law under so sudden and radical
change in our domestic relations, is TO be
expected In the very nature OF things ;
but that il viii be generally faithfully eX-
ecuted-as much 50 a. any other law
on our State boOk--we have not doubt
And now, the question arises what re-
spOnse should the Government make TO
this evidence Of the intention of Geor-
Cia TO respect in good faith all the obll-
cations imposed upon her by the results
Of the war, 80 far rs the negro is con-
cerned? As we stand pledged 10 protect
the freedman IN his rights, and have
thrown around him the salutary guar
dianship Of law, giving him equal civil
rights with the white citizen, upon what
pribeiple Of policy or right can the Fed
eral authorities constitute 20 step in be
tween the freedman and his own state,
and. by a usurpatiOn OF authority,
control the domestic relations of our
commonwealth The Bureau Is clearly
an uncOnstitutioUa institution, and no
man can Justify its existence except on
the ground Of necessity. This may have
existed during the war, and perhaps up
20 the present time: but when the States
promptly come forward and remove the
occasion, as we have done, the further
continuance Of Federal interference in
the matter is clearly illegal. it is also
bad policy even as regards the negro, for
the authority Of the Bureau must neees-
sarilv be partial over so wide an extent
Of country. and where IL takes effect
collisions and troubles must necessarily
arise.
We hope, therefore, that the President
will see to 1t that Georgia, az least shall
be let alone to administer her internal
affairs IN her own way, az All events uhtll
she shall have given some evidence OF
her inability or unwillingness % 40 ~
Justly and effectively. Nobody objects
TO the presence Of a few white troops 10
aid in the execution Of the laws, both
State and Federal; but the active, Origi-
nal and arbitrary jurisdiction Of the Bn.
reau, together with martial law itself,
may nOwS with perfect propriety ana
safety, be dispensed with.