The loyal Georgian., 1866-03-03
MILLEDGEvTLLE, Feb. IA, 1866.

opinion as to the lie ,islatiOn which is
proper under existing circumstances re.
lat've to the freedmen of this State is
now before me, and as entertain no
opinions which | wish to wi hhold from
nv fellow citizens, who may f e an inter
est in knowing my vi"ws on this or any
other subject of public interest, I reply
without hesitation.
The actions of wise men are always
more or less infu need by the circum.
stances by which they are surr, u ,ded.
The late war has caused a complete revo.
luton in our labor sys eG, in the Scu'h-
eru States; aud an entire change in the
relations which the white and olaes races
ccupy towards each other. Action which
would have been wise under our late sys.
tenn would be very unwise now, AID much
which would have been uuwise then would
be wise now.
The fact is undeniablc that those who
we're our slaves prior to the war are now
free, and, so far as legal rights are con-
cerned, are placed upon terms of equality
with us. This is tact which is morti~
flying to our people, but it is none the
less true on that account. The sooner
it is realized to its fullest extent, the
better for us do not say the negroes
are the equals of the white race. God
lid not make them so, and man can never
change the status which the Creator as
signed to them. They are not our equals
intellectually or socially, and unless made
ress rules the hour. they will never be
placed upon basis of political equality
With U.s. All intelligent men, who are
acquainted with the race, know that they
are not competent to the task of self
government, much less, to aid in governs
ing great nation of white people. But
they are nov placed upon terms of legal
equality with us. If we desired to do 80,
we would not BE- permitted by the govern.
ment of the United tates to enact and
nforce one code Of penal laws for the
white race, aud another for the negro
race, or to establish one law of contracts
to govern them, and another for our own
government. o far as the laws of rights
and remedies in our courts are concerned
the two races will have to be placed upon
terms of perfect equality While the
negro should not be allowed to occupy
the jury box, or to exercise the elective
franchise at the ballot box, he must have
the same right to sue and be sued, aud to
testify in all courts of the State, which
the white man has. The credibility of
the testimony in either case to be deter
mined by the jury, under the rules Of
evlAence which govern courts and jurles
on that subj, CT. He must be made sub
Ject to the same penal ena ;tmeuts, aud
suffer the same punishment TOR crime,
which is Inflicted upon the white man,
~ word, his rights of life, libery and
property: including the full aud free en-
joynent of the proceeds Of his labor;
must be am, ,,ly secured to him by law,
with all the guarantees necessary to their
protection Aud in the administration
OF the law, courts AID juries must see to
it that equal aud impartial justice i
meted out to him When this is done
have no doubt We will b. relieved from
the jArlsdlcti N Of the Freednen's b lreau
and our own courts allowed to take coz
zlnce Of all cases Ia which the negro
as we'll as the white race is concerned
Until it is done no one can reasonably ex
pcct auy such result
| t1iuk it nnwise and injudicious FOR
The Legislature TO pass apy Freedman's
Code, or auy other law that dlscriminates
between the races, So far as rights and
remedies iu our courts are concerned. A
short statute extending the provisions of
the penal code of this State 50 as to EN-
brace all persons of African descent, and
extending to them all the civil rights in
our courts enjoyed by white persons, ex
cept the rig ght to sit III jury box, togeth
er with the same rights of marriage as
between persons of their own color, and
the same rights of Inheritance, with the
same laws of guardianship, apprentices
ship, &C., is all the legislation relative TO
them Which is expedieut or proper.
Hoping that tue Legislature may be
guided by Divine wisdom IN arriving at
a wise inclusion, aud that such action
NAV be had as viii aid in restoring Ms TO
our proper pos tion as one oi the States
of the Union, aud in promoting the future
peace, prosperity aud happiness OF Goth
races, | am, very respectfully, your
ebedient servant,
JOSEPH E. BRowN.
Messrs r A T Ridley, + A Frost, II
r Casey D E Butler, John D Stewart,