The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1868-03-07
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For Tie Bolioar B1tlLetiH.
AIR EplroR-Among the important mat
ters of interest in our recent Court business,
there is one which deserves notice as-bear-
ing directly upon the system Of apprentice
ship and hiring Of orphan children, which
the circumstances of the times has forced
upon the people at large. Upon writ
of habeas corpus fled by the step-ftther
of minor freedman to obtain the posses
sion Of a child which had previously been
hired by. one of our citizens, it was decided
BY the court that no ground sufficient could
be prosecuted to avoid the consequence Of q
contract made by a father for hire Of a child,
and in this case the child was remanded to
the possession of the hirer and the petition
dismissed. This case decides a question
which has been presented IN various forms
before cur County Court for the possession
Of children hired out by their parents or
guardians, aud concludes all attempts to
avoid such contracts. Itis full time for the
freedman to learn that the Courts, while
they are willing and ready to do justice to
then, likewise diseourages all attempts upon.
frivolous pretexts for violating their con
tracts. The freedmen Of the country must
be taught to know that being now elevated
to the position Of citizens. they are strictly
.amenable to the law, and that solemn con
tracts are made to be binding upon them
ard not to be broken. This is only an ilIus-
tration Of the many attempts that are made
I,f,tb 90 70 osar5is . J,,l+s N .,,,;,,1-. - l
into. contracts, and Afterwards if they are
not satisfied or become offended for slight
causes with their employers, to desert and
abandon their contracts. It's too apparent
to be discussed that the employer is IL most
cases left without remedy, ,-sinee as a class
the freedmen are not. resp ponsible fer losses
and damages that accrue from the violation
Of their contracts
Asin this case the parent not being able
to recover posscssioE.of their children hired,
in any other way, resort to secret means Of
purloining them from the house of their
employers and coneealing them. If they
are defeated in this, they may resort to this /
lawful way of accomplishing
their purposes BY suing out writs Of Hq1eas
corppa We are to be congratulated with
the prompt and summary disposal Of this
attempt in the case referred to. and it is to
be hoped that it viii teach tho freedmen
that however willing the courts are to listen
to their grievances and to remedy their
wrongs. they will not tolerate frivolous Pc
titions Of the kind, nor consume the public |
time and means in hearing foolish com
plants. The citizens of Hardeman county |
are justly entitled to the praise Of being /
peaceable and law-abiding and none can
Justly accuse them of trampling upon the !
freedmen's rights. On the contrary. few +
can boast of the same forbearance
and kind disposition shown to this class of /
our population The laws are enforced /
rigidly, but with mercy toward all, and this
population cahaot complain. Let them then
exhibit the same regard for the law, and let
them understand that their contracts of /
every character, pertaining to work and
labor done or to be performed, viii be en-
forced for and against them, as justice de-
mand'. This case Of Habeas corpus settles
at once every attempt to overcome the law.
and sho~s them that they cannot hire their
children out and have them restored again
upon every change Of mind or inclination-
We hope you will notice this and bring it
before the white and black
population of the county CITIzEN.