Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1870-06-17
Negro Testimony and North carolina n adj
1caiS

|
We have before referred to the fact thai
| in the Legislature of 1865-'66 the most
bitter and persistent opponents of negro
testimony in those bodies were the pohtl'
cal friends of Governor HOLDEN. IN the
| Senate such men as Judge HOWARD, Col.
| HALL. and in the Commons, Colonel Co.'S
AN, Major AlOCL4NINIY, and other leading
Democrats and Conservatives fought day
after day against G. l.. Harris, q. W. Lo-
gan and other friends of Governor HOL-
DEN, and who are to-day fellow Radicals.
and as a matter OF course, fellow Office
| holders. Against tho votes and protests
of such men, who had the sanction and
advice of HOLDEN, the right to testify in
the Courts was granted to the col0red peO-
| pie This was done before they had been
made citizens, or any thought of doing SO
was entertained. 1t was given TO them by
these men as right it Ecs resisted by the
| Holden party from prejudice. they then
had no use for the "nigger," nor would
| they nov, if he could not vote.
Major ". A. SsEITH, of Johnston coun-
ty, has been recommended by the Radicals
of Alamance for the Senate from that Sen
atOrial District. Doubtless Major SMITH
would prefer to do less violence to law and
his own ideas of right and run at homo,
but the outlook in Johnston is not so good
for success as in Alamance and Guilford.
Major SMITH is an orthodox Radical now,
and loves the 'nigger at q distance ever
l,o 40 IN,Jk
when he asked for the poor privilege to
testify IN the Courts, he was 80 bitterly OPP
posed to giving it to him, that he repu
dated ''his devoted FRIEND" B. E. MOORE,
a gentleman of eminence and experience,
and mnch needed in the public councils in
that crisis, and endorsed the pretensions
of J. L. Pennington, @ man of little abili-
ty and no qualifications. for the Conven-
ton The Raleigh Sentinel has repubEsh-
ed the following letter from Major SMITH,
which. doubtless, will interest the colored
Republicans, and which Galloway will hold
the next Senate
Boon HILL. JOHNSTON COUNTY, I
Sept. 7th, 1866. {
j. l.. Penatngton. Esq:
70 Of the Sd inst, is at hand You say
am reported having s&id publicly on the
| streets in Raleigh, that b. l.. Moore, ESQ, Of
your city, had said i'll my presence that he was
in favor OF negro evidence in the Courts. Mr..
Moore did say IN my presence that he toaS IN
J0cOr OF negro eUldehCe Not ony in my presence
but in the presence of John Pool, of BERTHE; Mr..
Brooks, of one of the lower counties; and ----
Thompson, of BERTHE.
l was not present when Mr.. Moore in con-
versaton with the above gentlemen, but they
told me OF i the next morning at the Marlborough
House.
MIR. Moore went further than merely stating
he was for negro evidence He argued with me
an hour about it, and finally, / not yielding to
his arguments asked me to postpone making up
my mind upon the subject, as he looked upon it
| rs matter of great Importance and no one
should make up their minds too soon until the
subject was thoroughly Investigated i'll all it's
bearings
have GlloGyS been and am Il ;iepOted
friend Of Mr.. MOOre'S, and up this time polit-
cal friend but could not and would not vote
for any who at EtiS tih.e il in favor OF negro
evidence.
You can use this as you please.
Very respectfully,
A