The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1883-11-03
GOOD NEVER DIES.
NEGRO PAYS A TRIBUTE TO
JUDGE GASTON
For a Decision which FOreshadOWed
the Changes that another Generation

The changes that another Generation
Saw.
Special Correspondence Of The Chronicle.
WAsHINGTON, ID. c., Oct. 27.-l re- !
Gently had the pleasure OF hearing John
Mercer LangstOn, United States Minister
to Havti. lecture on the subject" The |
Status Of the ColOred American in DIR.
Rankin's church. Fred Douglass. eX-Sen-
ator Bruce. Dr. Rankin, Prof. Greener and
many Others occupied seats upon the stage
and the church was filled with congrega-
ton composed Of both races. l listened
intentlv, and | must say, with cOnsldera-
bic interest to the very able address, the
rreater part of which had the pleasure to
near But | am not gOlng to lnf1ct upon
THE CHRONICLES readers synopsis OF
the address or even a brief review Of it,
but | do wish to speak OF one portion
which will be of interest to every North
Carolinlan. and especially to every cOOred
native of the State.
Said Mr. Langston. Anterior to the
great opinion to which | will refer in
moment. there had been but one single
opinion of great lawyer in the United
states, that had recognized the fact that
we could become citizens Of the United
States on the mere fact Of our birth or ma
tivitv Where do you suppose that man
came from? Where do you suppose he
practiced law? Where do you suppose he
made his speech on this subject, and af-
terwards honored the Supreme Bench?
He lived in North Carolina. He made his
speech in 1885 in the Constitutional Con-
vention of that State, and when the poor
colored man who had been made free, but
overtaken in an attempt to commit an as
sault upon a man who undertook to strap
him down, was ordered to be punished by
thrty-nine lashes, his lawyer being one OF
ability, and skill. and learning, objected
to such procedure and carried the case to
the Supreme Court OF the State.
''The young lawyer Of North Carolina
held that no stripes can be inflicted upon
the back of an American citizen. The
case came before tue honorable Judge Gas
ton. He was bold in his opinion to de-
eide. for the first time in the history Of
this country, cert ainly in any State OF the
South that a man once slave, emancl-
pated in this country, was by reason OF
his nativity, an American citizen, and
could not be punished by strip pes. You
Will read this case, as it is entitled in the
reports of North Carolina, Manuel cs. The
State.'
Can any of The CHRONICLES readers
tell the name of the young lawyer who
carried this case up before Judge CASTOR
Said the speaker, : two years ago IN New
Be1ne n. c., l visited man by the name
OF Tucker, who used to be the slave OF
Judge Castor, where | saw beautiful
small steel engraving Of Judge Castor
hanging on the walls Oh WudI uG CdIIeu IIS
sitting room | thought l would get that
picture, for | have had the greatest possible
admiration for Judge Gaston ever since
read his speech IN the Constitutional Con
vention TO which | have referred, aid
learned of the decision he gave IN the Case
of Manuel VS.. the State of North Carolina.
Thinking he would readily give it TO me
when requested, | said to him: "Wiil you
be kind enough to make me present OF
that beautiful little steel engraving OF
Judge Gastons' What do you think was
his reply? Mr.. Langston, said he. ask me
for my mousse ask me for my money; ask
me tor any other thing you choose, but the
picture of Judge CASTOR is to be the last
thing that give 10 any one.
| asked why.
Judge G. ston decided said he, thai
we Che coIofed people in North Carolina
must have the same protection that The
cIizens of this State, and the citizens Of The
United States have, and we all love Judge
Castor for such decisiOn.'
| had hattered myself that | knew some
thing of Judge GastOn's life. But l mus
confess that what my duskey orator tOl(
me was something that had some how Q
other escaped me, and will doubtless b'
equally as interesting piece Of information
to many of the CHRONICLES readers.
RaJEICH