The West Virginia journal. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1864-1877, 1866-02-14
Testimony Of Negroes.

allowing negroes to testify has passed
the House ofDelegates apd will doubt
less pass the Senate. We have not s0o'n
for. the arguments a: any length when
we're presented in favor and against this
measure of simple justice to white as
MI, 90 black men in West Virginia
n, onposi,ion was founded in prejudice
,,l the fear, as urged By Dir. Darne'
c.om ,Iason county, lest the negro
! would become equal to the white man
Mr. Bee va, also afraid that if the leg
stature passed this that it would make
them unpopular, and on account of the
popular prejudice against the negro the
Cuion party would lose the power. 1t
was also feared lest this WAS but step
ping stone to negro suffrage, Sc. The
arguments for the Bill we're founded in
Justice as we'll as right aud eSpediency
1.-THE negro can't enforce his contrurts.
can't protect himself against assault.
what incentive has he to work and be
come u good citizen? Besides his ties
,imony, as tho only witness in a case is
often very cssential in order that justice
may be done. We take circumstanlaI
cviGencc-,he evidence Of knife, Il
stone or tree, and vet VIC do not admit
that of human being, because his skin
is black. During the war we had de
pended on information given hy the
loyal negro, and it was generally found
reliable; yet, if he We're not so reliable
as white man, it is the business Of the
the court and jury 10 determine the cred
ibility Of the witness, and all the testl
mony in every case should be had that
Justice might be rcndrre'l. TWAS shown
that this Bill had nothing to do with
suffrage. many Of its supporters arowing
themselves opposed to the latter.
The following is the vote in the
House; the bill obtaining exactly the
number Of votes required. By the constl
tuition, was passed:
Those voting in the Affirmative were
Messrs. Ballard, Bceson, Bell, Bristor,
Brown, Carroll, Cs$sady, Combs, Gun
uinshup, Curtis, Dolly, Dyche. Fleming.
GuE, llagans, Hooker. llornbrooS,
Mair., Mccoy, McQuilkeu, MeWho.ter,
RAIDER, Riddle, Smith, Of Hancock,
Smith, of Berkeley, Stidger, Trainer,
Witchcr aud Workman-29.
Those voting in the negative were
Mcssrs. pinncll, (Speaker) Bee, Ben.
nett, Camden, Cook, Cooper, Darnel,
Davis. Given, Higgins, lliuchGrn, Hin
klc, johnson, keiIar, Kyle, Lockhar',
Maxwell, Mcrurdy, Spencer, Williamson,
aud Hlnn-2l.
The Wheeling MisNiycaccr, discussing
this measure, says:
"Thc object Of admitting testimony
in the courts is to find out the truth and
do justice; and i: is to the Interest OF
every member Of society that al possible
evidence shall be received, aud every
witness whose testimony will throw any
Ii. ht upon the truth Shall be not only
allowed but compelled to testify, and l"!
the courts aud jurics Judge as 20 the
credib.lity Of the witnrsaes, NJ they
always DO.
More than this. courts arc, or shonld
be, temples Of justice for the protection
of all members Of community in their
natural Rights .es life. liberty and prop
rrtv; aud no one can be assured IT,
,hcs@ rights withou, equality with Others
before the law, and who is denied the
right to be heard as Il witness. These
arc tic rights Of women and Minors.
Why deny them to men who ~ our
own law, aud by the organic law OF the
nation, have the inll stature Of frcemcu?