New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1866-08-03
WHAT Is A WHITE MAN'

The Supreme Court of Michigan has worried itseli
very much of late in attempting to discover what Is
white man simple mind, unaccustomed 10 subtle
distinctions would find no difficulty in deciding, but
would at once assert that white man is a man who
is white But such stupidity must arouse the disgust
of every profound philosopher. 1t has been clearly
ostablShedby the laws Of every Southern state ana
several Northern States. including Michigan that
man may he a white man and at the same time
black man. Everything depends upon the cartilage
Of the nose "a certain peculiarly OF the carthage
OF the nose, says the scientific testimony taken be-
fore the Circuit Court of Wayne County, " Is amin
able indication of African blood" This is truly an
appalling feet. and may lead to the amputaton Of
large number OF noses-lOr ii a man is only
niger by reason Of that organ, lot him cut it
OF. and instantly he rises in the scale of races
With his nose no matter how handsome it is, he is
born inferior destined to follow his nose upon down
ward career without bis nose such man may dine
with the President. Lot every man, then, look
% his CARTILAGE for We greatly fear that black men
with pretended white noses are common. The
hair proves nothing-so the same scientific
authority has establishedfor black man may even
without a wig have O white mans hair. Wool or
hair, the muatto may have either, but cannot have
both. Besides, be may be bald and then what be-
comes OF the test! Under these circumstances, all
persons with hooked prObososes may be expected OF
sinister design to conceal their cartilage; but the
candid snub.nose which is always turned up for the
inspection Of the world must at once remove suspi-
c0a. Whenever the reader has any doubt that an
oypartnfly white man may really be negro in dis
clse, he has only to approach the person and,
with apolite apology examine with bis fingers
TIE cartilage Of his nose. According to the appear
arce Of the cartilage he may then either bow, and
say Il am satisfied. my dear sir, you are not a
nogro;" or, Leave me, vile mpostor! with that
cartilage do you dare TO pretend to be white
Such an examination was actually made in Mchi-
gan lefore the Circuit Court referred to. An un-
fortunate man named Dean. being entirely ignorant
that Dc was a negro, attempted to vote at local
election and va. arrested for violation Of the laws.
Ho brought numerous witnesses who testified that
they had known him and his family for many years,
and to the best of their knowledge there was not a
drop Of negro blood in his body But this availed
Linn not An uncertain DR.. Pitcher examined his
nose before the court and from the conformation OF
BIS cartilage alone he was pronounced to be but
ffteeu.sixccnths of a white man, the remaining
sixteenth being pure African. The defendant
appealed to the supreme Court, and that intelligent
body sustained the nose, and the man, we believe,
was punished for voting contrary to law Chief
Justice Martin who dsseried from this decision has
furnished an opinion which will shock the community
H. contend. that a preponderaneo OF white blood
constitutes the man white, and actually scorns the
ilea that D. any authority Of law. or principle OF
reason. onc.sxteenth or one thiryseccnd OF African
Hood can exclude a white man from citizenship.
Thi. Wild and frantic argument will only excite
dcr..ioa. II carefully Ignores the existence OF the
ua.al cartilage, though the Judge ahcrwari admits
everything by his ronica suggestion that nose
pullcrs should be appointed by the Government TO
attend the polls, and anub all noses which cannot
r-0re clean record. In the meanwhile general
feeling q unels'ues, must porvade the community.
Those who haze rechcssly failed to get a certificate
IN flyor Of their cartilage may at any moment meet
thc fate OF william Dean. The whitost of white men
may be CHANGED into a negro metaphorcally, in the
twinkug Of m eye but literally, in the pulling Of a