The Hickman courier., 1871-04-15
OF col. GEO. ". SILL
VERTOOTH.
A Politician with wool In Ehis
Teeth.
Senator qgler's Speeeh-Te CandidGtes
for he LEGISLATURE


Col. Geo ". Silvertooth, the retiring
representative of Hickman and Fulton
couuties, RECALLED respectable audience
of our people, at the court house, on
Monday last, in lengthy speech, nearly
the xhole of which was devoted to the
discussion Of the negro testimony quess
ton. We had purposed reporting his
remarks in full, but second thought
pursuaied US that as every man, woman.
and child, in the two counties, had heard
the same speech from the same lips re
peatedly, it would be cloves labor lost
Nevertheless, it was remarkable speech
remarkable as showing an extraordina-
ry tenacious memory in retaining the
same through so many succeeding years,
aud more particularly remarkable be,
lcause it exhibited in real stage style, the
expiring throes Of deceased politician
1t was an able effort-a thorough Bour
bon Buncombe effort, and could our un.
fortunate country have drawn veil over
her misfortunes, and changed eircum
stances aud conditions of the past ten
years, The people might have applauded
to the echo 1t was good speech in
1S6O-(we heard il then)-and its a
good speech now as speech, but in ar
gument it fails to meet the real issue it
fails to respond to the evils noD upon
our people.
Here are the points of his speech
Ist. The Civil Rights Bill is iniquitous
and Unconstitutional.
"a. The 14th and 10th amendments,
are iniquitous, and adopted by fraud and
violence.
Sd. The admission of negro testimony
would be the death blow to Kentucky
State sosereigaty.
4th. If We admit negro testimony, ne
gro equality in. every possible and con-
ceivable shape, must follow.
9th. The newspapers we're to blame
for attempting TO lead the people into
All ttCcC abA " =
9th. The Supreme Court would soon
pronounce the whole thing uucoustitu
tional.
9Th. If Stale courts admit negro ties,
timony, Federal jurisdiction would NO.
be removed.
stb. The people should pay the fines
imposed upon judges and magistrates for
refusing 10 admit negro testimony in our
State courts.
These points we're argued in what We
pronounce an Incorporate and extraya
CANT style. and utterly failed to eompre-
hend the question.
The 1st and ID propositions are griev-
ously true, but have no direct bearing
upon the question at issue. The Ken
tucky Legislature by SO amending her
laws Of evidence as to make the negro a
com posess ,visee-s fn her sstaee ootsrtss
does not pronounce, Que way nor the
other. upon the justice or validity Of the
Civil Rights Bill, or the l4th aud 10Th
amendments. Their validity would be
justas much a question, and could be
just as well tested, then as now. Action
by our Legislature don't affect the foal
decision particle.
The Sd proposition is an absurdity
Kentucky has tie right to qualify the
negro as a competent witness, if she
chooses in her State courts, and this all
admit. The Federal government dees
not ask our State 10 do this, but leaves
it optionary, whether We will do SO, or
suffer the transfer Of certain eases to
Federal courts, whore such evidence can
be heard. There is no penalty to the
State if We refnse--no reward if We ac-
cept, but it is altogether voluntary act
on her part. and consequently nc surren-
der of State "sug er rini-i-ty y The
Inconvenience, annoyance, expense, and
injustice, arising from Federal jurisdic
tiOn over cases which the people think
should, and desire to, have tried in then
local home courts, causes the appeals
which have reached the State Legislatur,
for relief.
The 4th proposition is the one upon
(which the distinguished speaker veutee
himself most furiously We should have
need to sup upon calamities for ful
moon-to drive behind pale faced night
mare beyond the stggian horrors, ere VI
couTd comprehend the lawful fate II
store. Negro eqqaiity-intermarriage
admission into your free schools, jurl
box, hotels, etc, mustfollow his qualifica
Ftfon as a witness by our State Legislature
I let every intelligent mind divest itsel
Of prejudiee right here, and listen t
reason We assert, that. aetien on tbs
part Of the Kentucky Legislature aco,llc
not copfer. one additional right or priv
/ Iiege upon the negro, that is not nop
guaranteed to him. The misfortune i
that he no,o has them, and noao has tbs
/ right to demand and enforce then
thmugh tho Federal courts. It is thi
very condition Of affairs which cause
the white people to cry to the State Leg
islature for relief We want these case
tried in our local courts, before judges
magistrates, and jurors, who we know
who know US, and ia whom we have con
fdencei and not be dragged, nolens 70
leus, away FROM home, at great expense, tt
be tried before a court prejudieed agains
us. The questigu iplnsediatsy before
I the people Of Kentucky is not whether
We will coafer the right to testify, or any
other right or privilege. upon the negro
because hcdlreaoly has them; but 81 m m in
which court, Stots or Feaerai, shall be
be received? This is all the question.
The 9th proposition says that the Sn-
preme Court will soon pronounce the