Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1866-02-08

evidence, he stands in numerous cases utterly de-
fenceess except by opposing force to force against
every species of outrage offered to himself or to his
family whether in his presence alone, under
the eye of other colored persons. If he should
submit to the violence, and suffer the most griev
Gus wrongs, there is no one who can be heard in
his behalf and he could expect, from his subns-
sion, nothing less than repetition of his unre-
dressed wrongs. ...
If he should oppose force to force, in the busiest
cause, whatever might be the result, his mouth
and the mouths Of al coored witnesses would be
closed.
| It is truth not less obvious than established by
all experience, that breaches of the peace always
decrease in proportion to the facility and imparti-
atty with which the violatOr is brought to Justice
| Citizens will not readily avenge themselves when
the sword of the law is at hand to do it for them
! But when the law is powerless, from whatever
cause, the hand of private violence will be sure to
come to the aid of self-defence. It is, therefore,
clear that by protecting the person of the negro
we shall most certainly protect the person of the
white man. If the former may be outraged in his
own domicil, il secret Places or along the high
way III open day, with impunity, because he may
be incompetent to testify to the wrong, he viii
turn from the door Of the court house and seek his
redress elsewhere and in q way too that viii like
wise shut the mouth of him who may witness the
act. Let no one suppose such result imprOba-
ble il the great and just law giver Of the Jews has
! himself set the example to an enslaved people
Secondly The admission Of suck eridepce is neccs-
ec,n IN enc2o t~ ,7o7 ,,I,,z9 "a, u Ola. .;5ts of
property.
| While in slavery they had no r,ro7,or+z- yyhot
was set apart for their use belonged to their mas
ter and was nndpe. his nrntec+o3 Tn +la;r nov,
state they enter on the broad orornI ~ c;+iznn-
shin and b come actors in all fro 4anart,non+s If
social life They are allowed to trade viii, thn
white man in every article OF property: to possess
and cultivate lands, and 10y all wise means should
be encouraged to habits Of industry and q desire
I for honest acquisition
! The protection Of mans honest gains should
ever be- after the protection Of lis person the
next great policy of q wise commonwealth II the
property which n negro shall Own-lis cattle. his
money, msy all be carried off yea his very house
robbed Of its furniture and his person of his vau
ables by abandoned white men and he shall be
unable to bring the robbers to Justice because the
witnesses are cooTe3 can the race feel ov ardent
disDOeitiO1 to Labor G01 fhemecIvasg On the con-
trary. viii they not feel tlonbly tc1nptci by snch
want of security for their own Ir0Deri = TO become
! depredator5 themselves. especially when they re-
fleet that it is the white mans p5licy, which TINS
exposes them to Hcautiots white men?
But, besides such slaring cases OF public wrongs
which would go unredrrssed by excluding their
evidence, there many Of more private mature.
which depraYcd white men would Dpr,1ctratn on
them or procure to be done by their negro assoc
ates AS tlieiT Instruments Already the wicked
white man and corrr7,t dependent negro have l,an
ded together in lavt~s tIefts and frauds on indus
trious and peaceful citizens both white and black
and the white associate, if negro evidence shall be
excluded, will stand secure in his villairv behind
his c0lOreG friend
The calamity to pubic virtue and private RIGHTS
would be incaIcuablc if those who were injured
icou1d not testify AGAINST 4ha ,,or,,tr,tn, ~ tb
crime. How shocked would everv citizen cf Ecgti,
Carolina feel, il the Legislature should enact that