The tri-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1866-1868, 1866-03-20
NEGRO TESTIMONY IN THE COURTS
OF VIRGINIA

VI SlpOlNla.
Some interest being felt in the subject,
both in this State and abroad, we republish
the law of the last Legislature in relation to
the testimony of negroes, which appeared in
our Legislative report at the time of its pas
sage; and, as being a kindred measure, we
give also the act, also passed by the recent
Legislature, providing for the punishment of
offences by negroes, abolishing slavery, &c.
An Act an Relation to the Testimony Of
COIored Persons: Be it enacted by the Gene
raj Assembly, that coiored persons and In
dams shall, if otherwise competent, and sub
ject to the rules applicable to other persons,
be admitted as witnesses in the following Ca
SeS:
l. In all civil cases and proceedings at
law or in equity, in which a colored person
or an Indian is party, or may be directly
benefited or injured by the result.
2. In all criminal proceedings in which a
colored person an Indian is a party, or
which arise out of an injury done, attempted
or threatened to the person, property or rights
OF a colored person or Indian, or in which it
is alleged in the presentment, information or
Indictment, or in which the court is of opin
ion from the other evidence that there is
probable cause to believe that the offences
was committed by white person in con-
junction or co-operationwith colored per-
son or Indian.
3. The testimony of colored persons shall,
in all cases and proceedings, both at law and
in equity, be given are te1aue and not by de-
position and in suits in equity, and in all
other cases in which the deposition of the
witness would regularly be part of the re-
cord the court shall, if desired by any party,
or if deemed proper by itself, certify the
facts proved by such Witnesses, or the evil
dence given by him as far as credited by the
court, as the one or the other may be proper
under the rules of law applicable to the case,
and such certificates shall be made part OF
the record.
4. This act shall be in force from its pas
sage.
An Act to amend and re-enact the 9th sec
ton of chapter 103, Of the Code of Nir-
ginia, of 1860, defining a mulatto; pro-
vi6ing for the punishment of offences by
colored persons and for the admission OF
their evidence in legal Investigations and
to repeal all laws in relation to slaves and |
slavery, and for other purposes:
Be it enacted By the General As~'m6Ly, That
any person having one-fourta more of
negro blood, shall be deemed a colored per-
son, and every person, not a colored person,
having one-fourth or more of Indian blood,
shall be deemed an Indian.
All laws in respect to crimes and punish
ings applicable to white persons, shall apply
in like manner to colored persons and to In
dians, unless when it is otherwise specially
provided.
The following act and parts of acts are
hereby repealed:
All acts and parts of acts relating to slaves
and slavery chapter 107 ofthe Code of 1860,
relating to free negroes chapter 200 of said
Code relating to offences by negroes; chap
ter 212 of said Code relating to proceedings
against negroes chapter 90 of said Code re-
lating to patrols; sections 25 to AZ, both in
elusive, of chapter 90 of said Code; sections
26 to 80, both inclusive, and sections SO to
81, both inclusive, of chapter 1913 of said
Code; the 9TH paragraph as enumerated in
section of chapter 2O3 of said Code; all
lcts and parts of acts imposing on negroes
he penalty of stripes where the same penalty
$ not imposed on white persons; and all
'ther acts and parts of acts inconsistent with
his act.
This act shall be in force from its passage
-Richn,0nd Times.