The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1866-01-26
rho Tc.,lmony OF Negroes.

The bill comforting on negroes the
right 10 testify in the Courts-or rather
abolishing the existing distinctions of
rnce and color in witnesses-was before
the House of Delegates yesterday on its
third reading, and after an animated
discussion. was returned 10 the COM
mittee, whether on account of some de-
feet or from opposition to its general
object does not appear. We suppose
the former, inasmuch ms n motion to ia
bic il WINS lost. BE that as it may, we
feel impelled from the degree of inter-
est excited aud the apparent misappre-
hcnsion under which 1t was discussed,
to offer suggestion or two in refer
ence 10 the subject. -s3
In the first place, tho proposition to
permit persons OF color to be witnesses
has nothing to do, directly or remotely,
with giving them the privilege of suf-
fringe. The first is natural right, in
herent in every Intelligent human crea-
ture of whatever race, color or SEX
The latter is a mere privilege conferred
or withheld arbitrarily by the body of
the people. Nor is this proposition to
permit negroes to testify in tho courts
"a new one, or in any respect what may
be denorninhted in the parlance of the
day 1t "radical" measure. The object
OF admitting testimony in the courts
is to find out the truth and do Justice !;
and it is to tho interest of every mem
her or society that all possible evidence
shall be received, and every witness
whose testimoney will throw any light
upon the truth shall be not only allow
cd but compelled to testify, and let the
courts and juries judge as to the credi-
bility OF the witnesses, ms they always
do. .l
More than this courts are, or should
he, temples OF Justice for the protection
of all members of community in their
natural rights of life, liberty and prop
erty;. and no one eau, be assured In
these rights without equality with others
before tho law; and who is denied the
right to DO heard as witness. These
nre the rights of women and minors.
Why deny them to men who by our own
law, and by the organic ilaw'of tho ma
ton, have the full stature of freemen
IL was n mockery to make these mon
freemen II we attempt to deprive them
of fundamental rights which attach TO
them as such both under the Federal
Constitution and our own Constitution.
As citizens these mon already have this
right under our own organic law. Shall
our statute law refuse to recognize the
factf
Not only is the proposition no new
one upon principles of political equity
but it is not now or novel in the history
of the legislation of our day. It is the
propositions of President johnson to the
lately rebcllious States, and insisted on
as an essential condition on which civil
government would be restored to thenI.
He insists on it as u principle of fnnda-
mental right which must underlie every
well regulated government, and with
out which ono class OF the community
has no assured protection against the
other, that needed to be recognized before
he could accord them the privileges
they had sacrificed by rebellion. South
Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee and
perhaps other Southern States, have
adopted the policy of the President on
this subject. A bill having the same
object is now before the Virginia Legis-
lature. is boldly advocated and win
probably pass. Itwould be very strange
IL, with such fncts, such considerations
and such examples, our own State,
which yields to none in loyalty to the
principles of Justice and in its support
AT tho VN6ItaN ENf
To adopt n proposition SO manifestly
just and judicinus as, that all men
shouldS ms witnesses in the courts of
justice, stand equal before the law.