The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1866-07-18
Pr 0 CL A N ATI0N

BY HIS Ereelleney, JAMES L. ORR,
Governor and Comnander.in Chief in
and over the STATE Of South Carolina:
WHEREAS, Major General Sickl.s.
w companding Department Of the
Csrolinas, on ths 26ih inst, by Special
Order No 10, has directed that white per.
cons in Military custody, charged with f.lo.
MES or misdemeanors on the persons and
property Of co'ored persons, should be
turned over TO II. civil suthe rities for trial.
and that like cases arising hereafter will Be
disposed Of in .hs same manner:
And whereas, this Ordcr-so gratifying
70 The feelings and spntim-n Of the pespi,
OF this State-is bansd upon he legal opin.
;sn OF Chief Jsstic. Dnnkin given upo n The
urgent request of this Department. and
communicated to Gen Sickle-: lst That
persons OF color, under the 90 h and 3o,h
sections Of the "Act TO organic. Distric,
Csurts, are competent Witnesses in tho
Court OF Ssnuns 10 all cases Of felony
committed by whites On the person or pro
P@riy Of a .perso' Of color I'd That thew
are competent to make affidavirs and an.
out wsrrants g"inst whi.ss in felopirs and
nisdemeanors, aud also TO testify Lsfor.
Grand Jur.s in .uch cases, as well ss on
tho trial before ths Petit Jury. And Sd
hat until tue District Judges are commis
sitnsd the Court of Gen~raI Session. r,
tain. juri-dcIi,u of cases ~f misds M amor
eenmitod bv whites on the person or pro
perty Of colorsd persons, Chief Justic.
Dunkin says. "Ths Court Of General Sea
sions had alwa's cognz,ncs of offeare,
committed by white person. against tn.
person or property OF person of COLOR
In tho case Of State. ~ Hill, I'd Sp.ar.
100. which was an indictment against ,
white pers"n for assault and battery on n
Tree PsTs"n o: color. it was not ONLY so
ruled. but recognized as we'll s-ttlrd law
for more than half century. The District
Courts OF December. 1865. not having been
put 10 operation. ] suppose the general
J"fsoi"ton or 'hs Court at Sessions r-nniu;
and i understand that such has been the
ruling OF the Circuit Judges 10 reference 10
ca"~" Of bastard " and ragr4ncy which have
cope before th.D
The 3oth section Act 1865. provides
mat IN svsry ease, civil asd criminal, in
which n person Of csl"r 10 a party, or which
affects tho Person or property Of N person
sf color, Psr-oas OF color shall be eomps
tent witnesses" II isa remedial S,atut,
and mu'i es construed in reference to it's
s'gect. NY op!"ion is, that persons of
rolor are conI stsit 10 testify before Grand
Juriss and NAgistra'es in criminal ca e.
'"uehiHg Tho person or property Of persons
Of color
Asd whereas. tho security .f the liberty
Of tn. citizens arising from his,ight to b.
lad I,N n Ia.g, nfh T. e.
ssiI.d, in the Prs-ent nnsmn lo"s condition
"i the country, by the civil officers Of the
State executing the principles csn,s!n.d /.
Inc opl"ion OF the justly di,tiaguis' ed Chief
Justice. in good faith and ~ith ~ earnest
desire to give secsrity asd protection ~ the
persons and property Of the colorsd Sopu-
lation.
And 10 the end & at this high oriv,leos
State. I. JAMES l.. ORR. Gos,ro., Of
tho said State. d." proclaim and declare. that
-" th' duty of every NaRis'rats ts Civ.
careful confederation to svsry comrinin;
made to him by person Of color against a
-rhte man for aay felony or mi.dsmsanor
alleged 10 have been committed against the
p'raon or property Of = person Of c"Isr
and ifhr. upon such consideration, cor rclud .
'"'~ s''S'S go ''"'o"no's gTVuWuS ICf Sucn
complaint, said Magis,rat. shxli take N.
ntidaVi: OF such per, on ofcslsr, and issns
his warrant .gsi"st The offender. requiria,
sis arrest and rec"g"iZance to appear a, ihs
next term Of tre Couu "f G-neTai Sessions.
just ss he would do II ihs party making
the complaint WoTs a shits nan aad h.
will also reregnize all witnesses BY whom
ihs complaint may desire to prove the
ehargs, as 10 now provided by law, for se.
curing the attendance OF State witns.s.s
All Sheriff. and Cons,ables will prempt,v.
faithfully and fca,ls,sly execute all such
wsrrsn's ~ NAV be placed in their hands.
And ] call upon all gs.d ciiizs.a tn aid
10 the f"ir and faithful execution Of the laws
OF this State. as sspoundsd BY the Chief
Justice an, vs'y soon tho earnest wish
expressed BY the comnanding General IN
ordefs No 10, (publi-hea herewith for the
information Of the ps"pie) ",hat Il will not
90 long before it may be truly said, ths,
no offence sgainst the psrcs, and no Injury
70 the person or property. Of even the hua
b'est inhabi'ant may BE- committed with
impunity 10 the State Of Sosth Carolina"
will DO happily realized.
GIVEN under nv hand s.d the erest
SEA- sfths State, at the City Of
Columbia, the 30th day Of June.
rs j 1866. andi the niss'sesth year OF
the Independence Of the United
Sfntas nf A