The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1866-02-01


Mr. M,Whorter. of Kanawha, reported
that II was inexpedient to change the
law in relation to limitation and actions
to recover lands inexpedient to allow
an anpeal from decisions OF a Justice
when the amount in controversy exceeds
$40; and that it was inexpedient to re,
peal the law relating to the statutes OF
limitation. .or
Mr. Gotf, of Harrison, reported IN favor
of declaring vacant the seats OF John =
THOMPSON, of Putnam, VIM. F. Beard, OF
Fourth Delegate District, James WIN
row and Elliot Vawter, of Green orlel
and Monroe, and instructing the Speak
er .5 I-
The following Bills we're reported ny
the standing committees "a bill 70 pre-,
vent the further taxation OF soidleiS S,
property for bounty purposes "a biii
Removing the county seat OF Caihou Gun
county to Simon Stump's farm "A Dill
constituting the Ohio river IN jackson
conntv a lawful fence :" "a Bill chang.
inc the line between the counties OF
jackson and Mason" and "A Bill for
tbe protection of FISH" The latter bill
forbids the catching or killing of fish be-
tween the 18th day of May and the 18th
day of October.
House Bill No g, which is IS follows,
was taken up:
BILL TO AMEND HE Law IL RELATION
TO The COMPETENCY or WITNESSES
Be it enacted BY the Legislature Of Ws1t vr-
ginia:
/ No person shall be incompetent as
witness on account of color or race
2. Section 20 of chapter l76 Code OF
Virginia, second edition, and all other
acts conflicting with the foregoing sec
ton. or parts Of acts, are hereby repeal
ed. -,
Mr. johnson, OF Tyler. said the Dill
had been referred to the committee with
the understanding that it should be
amended so as to allow negroes to testl-
fy only against persons OF their own
color As the committee had failed to
make the necessary change, and as the
bill was now on its passage, he would
move that the bill be indefinitely post
postponed
This motion was lost.
Mr.. Bee, of Doddridge, SAID thsre bad
always been party that rode into pow.
or on the negro if the Union men OF
West Virginia were wise they would re
iect the bill; we had never given this
right to the red men of the forest, and
we should not now give it to the negro
the bill would not tend to elevate the
negro. but it would elevate the copper
mead party of the State, in many coun-
bo1 70 I,r;nc- ont pva,V voter
to prevent many counties from falling
into the opposition party. he would
much sooner vote for bill TO prevent
negroes from coming into the State
Mr.. Riddle, Of Doddridge, said the
Bill was one of considerable merit we
had set tho negroes free, aud should now
protect them; if we did not do so the ne
gro would be trampled upon; it was
merely giving the blacks the right OF
nature and the right of Constitution;
give the negroes this right, and let them
elevate themselves; he would vote for
the bill.
Mr. Kellar, of Barbour would
ask the gentleman from kitchle
county if his constituents will sustain
him in voting for the bill
Mr.. Riddle-My constituents Lave al
ways sustained me, and / have no te2rs
now,
MIR Witcher, OF Cabell, said he would
vote tor the bill, and was certain his con
stituents and the enlightened world
would sustain him,
Mr. Trainer, of Marshall said lie would
vote for the bill; he thought that JUS
tce and right demanded that the blacks
should be sustained in their rights the
idea of negro equality was all foolish
ness, making a man equal in law was
not making them socially equal. The
courts and iuries were honest and intel
ligent enough to deal justly
Mr. Darnel, of Mason, said as native
of Virginia, and representative OF the
people he could not let this odious bill
be discussed without raising his voice
against it; he had not fought the bat
ties of the country to place the negro
on an equality with him, or appear on
the witness stand against linn and by
the help of God the negro never should
appear so. Some years ago the abolition
party only asked to prevent the eXten-
sion of slavery then they freed the ne
70; now they only want to place him
on the witness stand next winter they
will only want to give him the right OF
suffrage Mason comfy would spurn
the bill, and, if it was passed, the Union
soldiers would drive the negroes from
the State
Mr. Bee. of Doddridge, said if the
House would vote down this bill, lie
would introduce bill which would give
the negro all the necessary privileges
if this bill was passed it would be re-
called, it could not stand the people Of
West Virginia would not submit to it
lie knew Doddridge county would not
submit to il, and he would vote against
it
Mr.. Bennett. Of Gilmer, said the pass
age of this bill would give our enemies
an advantage he claimed to be loyal
man, and had suffered much from the re-
bellion, and wished to cast his vote TO-
day in such a way az to promote the in
terests of the great Union party If be
voted for this bill be could not go home
and live in his county,
Mr.. Bell, of Ohio, said he could not but
feel greatly surprised at the great oppo.
sition to this bill; it seems so necessary
and important for the benefit of both
races that he could not account fer the
opposition to the measure only upon the
ground of prejudice against the black
racs The fitness Of the negro 20 testify,
he contended, was undisputedi the ne.
groes were essentially q religious people,
and their reverence and respect for an
oath could not be denied he could see
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