Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-17

African race as it existed under their law
and stitutions.
Q. In what spirit is the emancipation 0
the slaves received by the people?
| A. Generally it is accepted, I think, il
perfect good faith and with an intention Il
do the best in the new order of things in thi
particular.
Q. What, at present, are the relations sus
tanned between the white and black people,
especially in relations of employers and EN-
ployees?
A. Quite as good. think. as in any par
of the world that I can hear of between
like cases of employers and employees anC
the condition of things in this respect OF
my return last fall was very different from
what it was when left home for my pres
ent visit to this city. During the fall anC
up to the close of the year, there was a gen
eral opinion prevailing among the eoloreG
| people that at Christmas there would be Q
division of lands and a very general indis-
| position on their part to make any con-
tracts at all for the present year. Indeed
| there were very few contracts, I think
made throughout the State until aftel
Christmas, or about the first of Janua-
~. General Tillson, who is at the head
of the BuTaau in the State and whose
administration has given very general salts
faction to our people, l think was very
| active in disabusing the minds of the color
ed people from their error in this particular.
He visited quite a number of places in the
State and addressed large audiences of col
ored people, and when they become salts
fed they were labOring under mistake in
anticipating a division of lands after
Christmas and the first of January they
made contracts very readily generally, and
since affairs in the main have moved on
quite smoothly and quietly.
G. Are the negroes generally at work.
A. Yes, they are generally at work.
There are some idle. This class constitute
but small proportion.
Q. What upon the whole, IS their conduct
proper, under the circumstances in which
they have been placed, or otherwise?
A. As whole, much better than the most
hopeful looked for.
Q. AS far as you know what are the lead
ing objects and desires of the negro popula-
tion at tbe present time in reference to
themselves2
A. 1t is to be protected in their rights of
person and property . be dealt by fairly
and Justly.
Q. What, if anything, has been done by
the Legislature Of your State for the accom-
plishmento tofthese Objects2
A. The Legislature has passed an act, Of
which the following is a copy:
No. 90-An act to define the term persons
of color, and to declare the rights of such
person.
Section 1. Beitenacted, &c, That all ne
groes, mulattOes, Mestzoes and their de-
seendants, having Une-eight negro or Afri-
can blood in their veins, shall be known in
this State as persons OF color.
Section l. Be it further enacted that
person of color shall have the right to make
and enforce cont acts, to sue, be sued, to be
parties and give evidence 10 inherit to pur-
chase, and 10 have full and equal benefit of
all laws and proceedings for the security of
person and estate, and shall not be subject
to any ether or different punishment, pain
or penalty for the commission of any act or
otense than such as are prescribed for
white persons committing like acts or Of
fenses-
Section 3. This section repeals all con-
ficting laws.
The bill was approved by the Governor,
March Il, 1866
Q-Does this act express the will of the
people, and will it be sustained
A I think it will be sustained BY the
courts as well as public sentiment t was
passed by the present Legislature. As an
evidence of the tone of the Legislature of
the State, as well as that Of the people of
the State upon the subject I will refer you
simply to a letter I wrote to Senator Stew
art upon the same subject. l submit you
a copy of that letter it is as follows:
WASHINGTON, D. c., April 4, 1865.
DEAR SIR: In answer TO your inquiries
touching the sentiments and feelings Of the
r----Il s9f G,aaraia s------I 4-- e.tfs4v-a- II
legal status of this class of population in the
State, allow me to say thatin he address de-
livered by me on the 22d of February last
before the Legislature, copy of which l
herewith hand you, express fully and
clearly my own opinions and feelings upon
the subject of your inquiry. This address
was written and printed as you now see it
before its delivery. It was delivered verbal
that there 1night be no mistake about it.
It was as it new stands, fully en-
dorsed BY the Senate in joint resolution
which was concurred in by the House
without dissent and was ordered to be put
upon the journals of both Houses. This l
refer to you as better and more reliable
index of the feelings and views Ofthe people
of the Southern States on the subject, than
any bare individual opinion 1 might ex-
press. The legislature Of the State, it is
presumed, is as correct an exponent Of the
general feelings and views of the State as
any that can be obtained from any quarter.
IN duuiLlOl 10 Luls iuo LeElSidAuIc buDse-
quently evinced views ty passing an act
which l also enclose to you. This act speaks
for itself 1t is short, concise and pointed,
as well as comprehensive. 1t secures to
the colored race the right to contract and
enforce contracts, the right to sue and be
sued, the right to testify in Courts, subject
to the same rules that governs the testimO-
ny of white citizens, and it subjects them
to the same punishment for all offenses as
the whites, and in respect to all civil rights
all classes in Georgia now stand equal be-
fore the law. There is no discrimination in
these particulars on account Ofrace or color.
Please excuse this hasty note Ihave no
time to 60 into details
Yours, most respectfully,
ALEX H. STEPHENS.
Hon VIZ. II. STEWART, Senator
Q. What, if anything, is being done in
Georgia with regard to the education of ne
groes. either children or adults
A. Nothing by the public authorities as
vet. Schools are being established in many
parts of the State under the auspices of the
Freedmen's Bureau, think, and quite a
number by the colored people themselves,
encouraged by the whites.
Q. What disppoition do the negroes mani
fest in regard to education
A. There seems to be very great desire
on the part of the children and younger
ones and with their parents to have them
aduoatad