New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1870-05-21
ROMANCE OF SLAVERY.

Remnants Of Its Barb arism
We copy the following from the Cincin-
natl Gazette:
In the forenoon of yesterday thin, tall,
awkward colored man shuffled ungracefully
into the Probate Court room, and presented
himself before the clerk who presides over
the marriage license desk. The clerk look
ed up and saw before him a jet black face,
wrinkled from age, Overwork or ill-health,
and surmounted by coarse, uncombed,
Struggling mat of black hair, marked here
ably an American citizen OF pure African de-
scent, fully forty years old. -. He said he
wanted marriage license and after giving
his name as Thomas Sharp, and the name of
his intended bride as Sarah Baker. he added,
with twinkle of pride, ''De lady is pure
white blood, sure" The clerk dropped his
pen, looked up in astonishment at the black
face before him, and said: 'You can't get q
license, SIR"
Thomas Sharp looked bewildered. He
evidently did not perceive that the fifteenth
amendment conferred on his race only the
right OF choosing men to rule over them,
and not wives. The memorable clerk re-
ferred him to the Judge, aud the Judge told
him to bring his bride into court.
Thomas went on his errand, and soon re-
turned with three women. One was dark
mulatto, another light mulatto, and the
third, Sarah Baker, was indeed as Thomas
had described her, of "pure, white blood"
She had long, light, soft hair, blue eyes, fair
complexion, regular features, with no trace
of negro blood or parentage about her. She
was small, and possessed a neat, symmetrical
figure.
Judge Hoeffer called the two before him,
and explained that the law forbid the inter-
marriage of persons of pure white blood
with persons of African blood, or having a
visible admixture Of African blood, and i'm
posed penalty Of fine and Imprisonment
upon the Probate Judge, who should issue
license for such marriage, az we'll as upon
the person solemniZing the marriage. He
then asked the expectant bride about her
parentage. Sac did not become suffused
with bushes, but told her story with clear,
straightforward, business air, in strange
contrast to the hating, dubious expressions
of her intended husband. She said she
never knew her father; he died when she
was quite young. Her mother was light
mulatto, the slave of Mr.. Baker, of Nash
vile, Tennessee. She had been told that
she was the child of her young master.
The Judge asked her if she had any ties.
timony to offer in support of her statement.
She referred to the dark muatto woman,
who, being sworn, testified that she and
Sarah were playmates together in Nashville.
Tennessee. Their mothers both belonged
to Mr.. Baker, who lived on Cherry street,
near College HILL. Sarah was reputed to be
the child of her mothers young master.
Sarah's mother was q very bright mulstto.
The witness and Sarah had been here about
four years, and were each about twenty-five
years of age.
This was all the testimony she had to
offer, and the judge told them to return at
two O'Clock to hear his decision. At that
hour Thomas came alone, evidently fearing
the decision would be adverse to bis hopes.
The judge at once told him he was satisfied
that Sarah Baker was of pure white blood, /
and that a license could not be issued.
81 am very sorry, MASTER" said Thomas;
+" I've only been here four months from the |
cotton fields. l met this gal at a ball, an
I've been takin' her to church, an you see
we naturally fell in love, an we wanted to
get married. Very sorry indeed, SIR" And |
he walked away, sad hearted and slow.