New-York tribune., 1866-12-28
REhR GUARDS or SLhVERY.


Even those who were content with avery easy
generalization regards any reform of the South are
coming 10 the opinion that the evils which vex that
unhappy section are too specific aud deeproOted 10 be
swept away by anything like partial Justice 10 Its OPP
pressed class. All over the South exist the numerous
rumnants Of q terrible system which did as much to
corrupt aud debauch white morals as TO debsse black
manhood. The new apprenticeship aud vagrant laws
are nothing but the remains Of the Slave Codes and
the public whipping post stands, and oyery country
justice may chain victim to it,
Does any onesupposc that while men and women are
publicly Aogged, while the whipPng-Post exists
as the unsightly stalk for the common flower and
fruit of Southern justice the freedmen will be treated
with tender mercy in all that Affects their civil rights
or that the whites will be less privileged than before
to rob and o2press them' The whip
ping-poSt fairly typifes all the prejudice
which the South has been able to carry of in its
forced retreat from Slavery and maintain in the body
Of it's law 1t may be used to punish the white man.
but so much more it tends TO make the poor white
worse than o negro 1t will undoubtedly be tor the
most part an instrument Of such precious laws as the
vagrant aud Apprenticeship codes; and every negro
whom these statutes ordain shall DO less
than man. will have the pillory in tho
background to assure him that if he is not con-
tent with fraction of his manhood he can have 1t
all whipped away.
Congress is bound to sec that the whppingpost and
the judicial slave.sale the twin relics of remain
ing barbarism shall be abolished How many negroes
are hGgged every day in the South we do not know;
but we are certain that State far north as Mary
land sells its slaves by the dozen. There is not
only sufficient law e1tant in the South to make q
free man as much q slave ever were
the most degraded rice-hands of Georgia but there is
also law to whip him to any planters hearts content
Seeing these things it is wonder that any consider
able sentiment of this country can cooly plead for
the rights of olgarchs to sit in Congress whio the
victims of their blind legislation are represented
chiefly by the judge who orders them TO be sold
into Slavery. and by the public whip
per who lashes them for petty larceny.
At recent slave sales in Maryland, half dozen men
and wcmen were sold for an average price of about S3O
so that it is actually ten times cheaper to buy slaves
under the present laws of the South than 1t was for
merly to purchase them in open market. 'e observe
that Judge Magruder. the author of these outrages
has been arrested by United States authorities, and
held to answer for violating the whole spirit and
essence Of the Civil Rights bill both in this
act and in refusing to admit negro
testimony into the courts. 1t is important that his
case, which shows a shameful contempt of opinion
and Of law, should be made if possible, an example
for there is hardly any crime which, under the ciy-
zation Of this land surpasses that of selling human
being into slavery Pirates have been hanged for no
worse offense and though Judge Magruder may
shelter himself in an obsolete code, 1t would be
pity to lose the salutary lesson which his
due punishment would be TO Judicial usk-
masters further South. We hope that his
conviction may fully satisfy justice but falling ms
we trust it may serve for warning that the Judge
who dares again attempt the crime of selling fellow
man, and fellow.ctyen, will do il at his peril.