The Hickman courier., 1871-03-11
THE HICKMAN COURIER,
Negre TesIlnnony.

| NeSr0 Testimony.
The Hickman COURIER favors negro
testimony, or rather an amedment to the
/ State law of evidence so as to make the
| negro competent witness. This, is as
alleged, to save trouble and keep our
people out Of the Federal courts. We
dissent from this view of the case, from
the fact that the people of Kentucky IN
thus acting would virtually admit the
validity of the Radical amendments to
/ the Constitution, and TO be true toprincl-
pie, and to honor, and to manhood, we,
4 to save little trouble, should never
voluntarily "aecept the situation" thus
ruthlessly and UNANIMOUSLY thrust upon us.
/ The admission of negro testimony equally
admits, or acknowledges the negro to be
a citizen, and voter. aud iuryniau,
aud Justice and Judge, and an equal
ia all respects TO the white man. First
demand and obtain the abrogation of the
sectional amendment to the Constitution,
and then, aud not till then the State can
amend her law OF evidence We are
ready to submit it TO the vote of the
people, the legitimate voters Of the State.
-Loaisriite Daily SIN.
The error of the Sun is in supposipg
that the admission Of negro evidence in
our State courts, virtually admits the
oalidity of the 14th and 18th amend
ments. The Democratic patty questions
the palidity of these amendments, not
because they award civil rights and the
elective franchise to the negro, but be
cause they do so in manner utterly
subversive Of local self government The
San would have the world believe that
the Democracy bases its opposition to
these amendments upon no higher
grounds than prejudice and hostility to
the negro, but thanks to the intelligence
of the party aud to the eternal principles
of truth, such is not the case. The De
mocraey would oppose as strenuouslY and
determinedly any effort of the Federal
Government to interfere with local State
affairs, having no relevancy whatever to
the negro.
But while we would spare no exertion
to have the Federal Government fastened
within the limited powers delegated to it
BY The States and the reserved rights Of
the States indisputably recognized and
established, we can not follow extremists
in this eternal wrangle about the mig
ger" The Democratic party has a5h
ing 10 do ,cith The negro As a slave,
the negro occupied conspicuous part
in politics, because the States justly
claimed the right Of regulating the insti-
tuition of slavery within their own Dor
ders, and opposed Federal Intervention.
But now, whether it has been effected by
fraud, violence or what not, his freedom
is an accomplished fact, (aud not even
the So, will dispute this), and bis prom
inence in politics should cease. Now,
we viii join the San in demanding the
abrogation Of these amendments, but
we opiue from a different stand point. We
would have them abrogated in order to
secure and establish for the States the
right Of local self government. Why
would the S,o. have them abrogated? In
order that the negro might be Invested
OF certain rights? Our view places the
Democracy upon eternal principle while
the latter reduces it to mere party Of
passion and prejudice.
The Radical party propose to shoulder
the negro, aud our view is to let them
bear the burden and make the most of it
The Democracy have higher principles
aud considerations, and will not be dis
com6tted in the eyes of any good man,
North or South, by engaging in war
for or against him. The negro must
work out his own salvation. So fan as
the cry about "negro equality" is Gun
eerned, its a mere bug boo, aud means
nothing. All this depends upon the con
sent of the people with whom he is thrown,
all the laws of the Federal and State
governments to the contrary notwith-
standing The negro has been free for
years, a voter for years, and yet has OBJ
tanned no social equality, except in in
stances where parties seek the negroes
level In America every man is lord of
his own household, and has right to
protect it from any intrusion white or
black. Let the negro pass from the
political boards. Let the Northern mind
become divested of that mistaken sympa-
thy for him, kept alive by extreme men
North and South for party purposes, and
their returning reason will restore the
Democracy to power, and forever extin-
guish the Radical party which is held to-
gether only by hate, prejudice, and ty
rauny.
Our state Revenue.