The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-01-17


e he was obliged in u'tbe utmost degree to v.s
s or receive visits from any nan or woma
c because he o. she was Iegardel a competeI
e I witness ia court UEe ght IS wise 81
e | que that I must purchase my c0at OF
e ] particular tailor, because be vote
r | ny political t.cket. This doctrine OF ne 2
D | soc al quality has been worn thJeadbear
r sOphis.s. who have been So long accust0me
e TO sppesi 10 popular P-e. e.uiice instead q
r reason, that they dee.aim ssainst il frou
r mere force OF habit
7 The second objection IS apparently Of
) grsver character, and yeJ / aPpgeheud
VIII iall 10 pieces on 3 slight inyestiga
! No msn viii contend that all coio-ei per
sons are liars, aud yet the objeclsa b
worthless unless it is based upon this ale
cation, and u all negroes must be exclude,
from the witness sland because some ne
SToes are Untrgihlul, the same process o
, logic viii spply e4u5lly 10 white persons, 81
that the al. W.L be the exclusion 0t al
cl-sses Of SiIes5es. The iru3rauce Of thU
negro does not affect his crejibiiity % en-,
considerable extent. Lawyers and Judge
are flmi lar with zoe fact t1at the elIme %
perjury IS generally Committed by >hrewG
bold, adroit. bad men, who depend up0I
their cunning 10 shun the law. aud tbe OBJ
seryatJon OF ages IS truly expressed in Oh,
old sdsge that O. children ald fools tell Ia,
trJth. Often IN the timportsnt trials "a,
weighii=st testimony has heel given by
some artless little ehIi who knew jus
enough 10 tel the tralh without evasion
eSaCgcrati0n or c0ucea'mgut.
Nj Speaker, Missouri. ,Eied this measure
in the ioilawing law
tNO person can Oh account ot cc.or be
I disqualified a. 8 witness. Ur be disabled %
/ contract. otherwise than as others are disa-
| blei: Or be prevsntet from acquiring. bold
/ ing, and transmitting property; or be liable
| 20 any other punishment i-v any ottense
| than that imposed upon others for like Of
| ieuse; OF De restricted IN the eNe-c Sc o. re-
/ hg'ous Worship; or be hinierei IN acquiring
I education. or ae subjected 10 law % any
| other restraints or disqual dcaJious n regard
| to any personal rights th8u such as are laid
/ upon Others under like circumstances
/ Ami, s5r, this law has been followed by
/ the happie,t rssulfs. Ibc HsEI. es are more
/ c0ntsnted and settled IN Missouri now than
I in any state. because they feel the Sta @ is
determined to do them IMPARTIAL Justice.
They are equal before the law, sud il won q
| be useless 10 Try % stir them Up 20 iu-ur-
rectiou. Nc less harpy wide tne effect Of
this law be- upon white citizens, Tor 20 wall
make them, TO, Ieel Vule, and SECURE. D.
Is only whom we have done justice 90 others
that cur own conscience q. q 30 essc, We
are never 50 APPS 10 sUspec. O man OF pUr-
rose 10 wrong rs as when we have wrou-ed
HIM.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, we owe this law to
the colored citizens Of Tennessee o. a pocu
liar expression OF our Fraltuds 10 them iog
their wonderful iorbearauee and good
department throughout violent Ie-
bel!i0u, which robbed majority
Of white citizens OF discretion and
reason. They have been wise, sagueious,
and patient a class, beyond all cxucria-
tion. / cordially iudogsr the laugus 90 of
the uewly-uiectsd Governor Of Alabama,
who declared "that The goo6 conduct OF the
negroes, as a people, throughout the rebel
lion, was without 4 parallel in history"
Lot Us show that We appreciate his law
abiding disposition, sud make rt 20 his in
Ierest 10 do stll better IN time 10 come. Let
us encourage him in every way We can, and
appea TO bis self respect by teaching him
b prepare himself sud hope for the dis
charge Of still higher privileges, which
may not be far oil.
sir. al a time Ike this, when the fuuda-
mental principles of trea government and
Of ihe Ehts ot man, are being examined
and discussed as they never have been since
the day Of the revolution which gave birth I
70 this nation, 10 becomes all men to per
form an honorable part the work of ruri- !
Tying aud periecuDC our laws IN the I
spirit Of . comprehensive aud exalted
philanthropy, and 60 secure these
rights TO all men, ir-m the highest
10 the lowest classes Of society. Whatever
artificial lines society may draw between
men ON account OF family position or wealth,
the laws Of al enlightened commonwealth
should recognize no distinction, but render
amp'e justice to all men.
IL becomes us, as enlightened and c0nsci-
entious law makers, TO stretch forth friend
ly, helping hand u a long oppressed rud
deeply wro0ged class Of our citizens. 10 ia
little honor 10 help the rich aud powerful.
for they can help themselves but IL has
ever been regarded as a noble act 10 be-
friend tho triendless and 10 succ0r the
wretched. To assist in this good work,
would invoke the help Of every legislator ia
this House. And 10 does seem TO me that
there is one region of this State made classic
ground in the late terrible convulsion, and
which shall be ever green in the memory Of
all who love the Union for the uuhiuchug
fidelity and heroic courage Of its sons and
daughters, 10 whose Representatives ] might
with prOpriety appeal with peculiar ear
nestness ON this occasion. I, sir, refer to the |
members from East Tennessee, who repre- |
sent on this door those gallant spirits vino !
stood firm to the old flag when al around |
proved false
"FAthul found among the hithless."
VIII you refuse the colored citizen his |
ooih, who was your tried friend in the hour |
Of your calamity, when you were persecu- /
ted, as il were, 70 death, for yoHE love Of the /
Union
Ii the i4elity OF the colored msn should !
find gratitude on any spot on earth, / would |
expect to see it in the fruitful plains, pic
turesQus valleys and romantic Taouutaias Vi !
East Tennessee, thst
Cline OF the uul5rE3t-en tI3gs.
Who eisnd IRON P.sln TO m. uutsla e9y5
Was Ire dgm's home or gOry grave
Yes, sir, it would rejoice the uatioraI /
heart It the heroes who w.u immortal glory
as warriors should prove themselves the en-
Ii ghteued aud liberal friends Of equal jus-
tice and impartial laws ia the coaHcils o6a
the State.
Il is natural for us 20 expect those who
bsve done some things 50 cell % excel IN
others. Men Of East Tennessee, make the
measure Of your fame lull by doing Justice,
simply justice, TO the negro.
Mr.. Freeman said that prejudice was the
occasion Of the most serious objection 10 The
bill. The late struggle should have dis