Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1865-1869, 1866-01-23
Virginia Legislature.
SENATE.
MONDAY, January -, 1866.


Mr. Rolling. OF Petersburg said that Il had been
stated in some of the public journals that the Senate
has passed bill TO the effect that certain persons
should not be eligible 10 contract for the public
prnting and he wished 20 say that was not the in
tenton of himself, OF any senator Ia draw any dis
tinct0ns or 20 exclude any class of persons from a
fair and open competition.
CODE or VIRGINIA
Senate bill providing for the adoption, the Code
of Virginia, Of the edition of the statute laws known
the Code of Virginia of 1850 subject to all modl-
irations and amendments made previous 10 April
H. lS6l aud subsequent to the restoration oil tie
state, was passed.
SAVINGS BANKS.
Mr. GILMEE. OF Richmond, offered resolution
that the Committee on Banks enquire into the eApc-
diency OF reporting 4 hill 10 compel the savings
Banks IN this Commonwealth Ia settle Win their tie
postOrs the amount due them at the close oil the ae
war. Agreed to.
NEGRO TESTIMONY.
The bill providing for the punishment Of offences
by negroes and for the admission OF their evidence,
was taken up. As reported by the committee the
bill provide
{" That for all criminal offences committed by ne
,roes the Punishment shall be the same a provided
by law for white persons who may commit like Of
fences. That in all criminal prosecutions against
negroes they shall be entitled to trial by jury where
in like cases white persons would be so entitled and
the proceedings against them shall he the same A. m
ltnll> OF white persons Ike OueuCcN ludt
hereafter the evidence Of Indians and negroes shall
Toe heard in all legal Investigations, at law or IN
equity: 10 have such weight and credence as the
Jury court or Justice hearing il may allow TO IT. but
such evidence shall m all cases IN courts oil equity
a. well in proceedings at common law, De gwen
rirr rDce before the tribunal that Is 10 weigh IT, ana
not IN the form OF deposition. No appellate TIL
bunll shall suppercede or reverse the Judgment oIcr
or decree of an inferior tribunal the ground that
such Judgment, order or decree Is contrary To the
evidence of negroes, where the tribunal seeing ana
hearing the witnesses examined certihes on the re-
cord that il did not give credence 10 such witnesses
The evidence of negroes, 50 taken, may be reduced
10 writing and spread on the record, or filed IN the
cause when desired by any party 70 the proceeding
or deemed proper 10y the court; provided, that when
the parties 10 the proceedings are all white persons
the evidence of negro shall be received 70 prove
facts occurring prior 10 the lSt day OF January
1861"
Mr.. KEEN, of PttSylvania, moved, in amendment,
that the evidence OF negroes should only be taken
i'm cases in which they interested as parties on
ether or both sides
lie said that there had always been a line of de-
narration between the white and the negro, and It
that line had 10 be removed, it must he done by the
next generation and not by this. lie referred to the
outside pressure upon the question, and SAID that he
represented district which was not prepared 10
sweep away an barriers between the white and the
black lie had rather see the Legislature Adjourn
and the military assume command IN the state than
10 give way % any pressure from any source andact
IN haste and without proper elaboration.
He deprecated the idea that there WAS any enmity
between the races but he would not give way 10
that first step which must ultimately lead 10 inter-
marriage and other lrghtiu evils. lie SAID that the
sodcry had inlu>triOuSiy disseminated the idea that
the negroes had no worse enemies than Their former
masters and in some instances the better Judgment
OF the negro had been thus Oyerddcn.
Mr. MEADE. OF Frederick, differed with the Prev
Gus speaker and opposed the amendment offered 10y
him. He said that he had sufficient confidence IN
our courts and urcs 90 rest satisfied that they would
only give the proper wcightto any testimony brought
before them.
MIR BoLLING of Petersburg, said that the bill,
reported provided in itself for the objections ho-
puSed u he met ny the amendment now before the
senate. He admitted that the negroes were not yet
prepared Ia exercise with prudence the unrestricted
privilege OF tc,ttying in court and sad that ht did
not believe there was one man IN the state VINO
would call "A negro to give evidence against his
ncghbnr, 70 prove any claim or cause no matter now
great might be the interest involved
Mr. Gilmer. of Richmond, said that the abolition
of slavery was fixed fact and that the committee
in reporting the bill had discarded all prcJudlccN
aud endcdyurcd only To protect the Interests oil the
class for whom they were ltgiSatng. lie then prn-
rceded in 4 long speech, To defend the bill ana each
particular one o It's provisions. lie said that he had
cast aside all high inspirations, lofty feelings ANA
holy instincts and felt that he was legi>laung Tor
his children and not for himself; also thal the only
% strike the luJudrlt~ lIOu tue Nllc uldl WIS
IN admit uegiu t.stIWuny IN courts where their d..
gree Of reliability would be understood, He wanted
10 remove the military power, not by force but lay
moral suason, US he. more than most men, felt the
pra.put Degradation nt Virginia.
The amendment offered by Mr. Keen was then
adoptel-dyts 10; noe. 10.
Mr. KEEN thcu offered an amendment that the de-
PENDANT may testify Is witness in all criminal cases
% which negroes may be i party or testimony;
which was reected-aycS II. noes L.
He then stated that the effect OF the bill report
ed was TO acknowledge that the negroes had the
RIGHT % vote aud yet 10 defer the exercise OF that
right until January |, 1867.
Mr.. GuMFE again Analysed, diSScctcd, and COM
mcutci upon the bill. which he said had been tat
tered and torn 10 rags by the amendments OF the
patriotic and learned gentleman from fittsylya-
mia.
Mr. KEEN said that negro testimony had never
been received in the State by his will or with his
conserS and he repeated that he would never be
willing to abrogatc the distinctions between white
and black.
II was then proposed that the clause providing
that the evidence of negroes be not received to prove
facts occurring prior 10 January 1861 be stricken
out and also that 1869 b, substituted for 1868
\ warm discussion enSued, and finally the hill
and pending amendments was laid upon the table.
The Senate then adjourned,