The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1866-02-07

refusing to concur in proposition to elect
forthwith two Trustees of the University.
A bill to incorporate the English and
American Wool and Vine Growing, Manu-
featuring, Mining and Agricultural Associa-
ton in the United States of America, was
ordered to be printed, and postponed until
II O'Clock tomorrow.
A bill to protect the culture of the grape
and ether fruits; was amended on its second
reading, by making the stealing of water
melons larceny, at the instance of Mr.. league.
The bill as amended passed its second read
ing.
A bill co amend the Charter of the Macon
County Turnpike, passed its second and
third reading, under a suspension ofthe rules.
SPECIAL ORDER.
At 10 o'clock, the House, pursuant to or
der, resolved itself into committee of the
whole, Mr. Rayner in the chair, and proceed
ed with the consideration of the bill con-
corning Negroes, Indians and persons of
color, or of mixed blood.
The question recurring on the motion of
Mr.. McNair to sttike out the 18th section,
Mr. jenkins, of Warren, addressed the COM
lnittee in support of the motion.
Mr.. jenkins took the ground that this was
a white mans government, and characterized
as erroneous the intimation thrown out in
the report of the Commission, tnat the Su-
preme Court of this State had decided that
free negroes are citizens. Ee undertook to
say that no such decision had ever been made.
Calling attention to the unfriendly legisla-
ton of Indiana and other Northern States,
against persons of color; and asked if in
those States where they are few in number,
and had enjoyed liberal education, they
were not ALLOW. ed to testify, should we be re-
quired to accord to them more rights and
privileges than other States2 If the educa-
teG negro is deemed, by those who profess to
aDe lis peculiar friends, an incompetent wit
ness, how much stronger the reason that they
should not be permitted to testify in North
Carolina, in all cases in which they are inter
ested For his part, if the negro be deemed
fit to testify when interested, it would be Bet
ter, in his opinion, that their evidence be
taken in cases other than those 10 which they
are parties. This measure was the worst that
could be devised for che protection of freed
men, and the more intelligent among them
were The least DESTROYS that this franchise be
granted them. Mr. Jenkins cited the Presi-
dent as unfriendly to the agitation of this
quCStiOil III tuc C1SlilCt vi SOluiiiDld.
Mr.. Phillips replied at some length He
said that Mr.. Jenkins had cited but one in
stance out of twenty-three free States, in
which the right to testify has been refused to
the negro. The State of Indiana had never
been regarded in North Carolina as a safe
exemplar in matters of legislation, and her
constitution expressly prohibited the emigra-
ton of free persons of color into her borders
If North Carolina denied this population the
right to testify, then North Carolina and In
diana would stand alone in that regard. The
right to testify was not political right. 1t
had been styled natural right. He was not
prepared to say whether it was right or not,
but it seemed to him to have many of the
essential elements of natural right. 1t
would be better to base legislation with re-
gard to the negro upon the supposition that
he is fellow-being, and actuated to some
extent by the same feelings which sctuate
us. The theories prevalent in the South in
relation to the negro had been radically er-
roneOus in many respects and had brought
us to grief. The right of petition-the right
to be heard-the right of telling ones griev-
ance in ones own way is what is asked. 1t
would remove a natural cause of dissatisfac-
ton, if the privilege be accorded The gen
| teman from Warren cited the remarks of
| President johnson, remarks based exclusive
ly on the question of free-negro suffrage in
the District of Columbia, as proving the i'm
| policy of granting to negroes the right of
testifying. He had very shrewdly by the use
of the comprehensive phrase, and so FORTH
created the impression that the President
while speaking only of impolicy of accor-
ing the elective franchise to negro residents
of the District, was thinking also of the
question of admitting them as witnesses in
the courts of justice.
Mr.. P. with much earnestness and elo-
| qucnce enforced his conviction that this grant
of the right to testify, was demanded by the
natural sense of justice of the enlightened
t christian world; that this consideration.
| aside from motives of policy, should induce
prompt and willing concession of right
it were cruel and unjust to deny.
At the close of Mr.. Phillips remarks, on
motion of Mr.. Hoke, the committee rose. re-
/ ported progress, and obtained leave to sit
| again tomorrow at 10 o'clock.
message was received froi.l His Excel
lency the Governor, transmitting memorial
from the Trustees of the University, which
was sent to the Senate with proposition to
print and refer to the committee on finance.
The House then adjourned until to-mor-
| row 10 o'clock
SENATE.
EoIr