The Washington bee., 1888-04-21

porters into dustn and disregard
every fundamental principle of the
constitution, we cannot expect but
to continue to live in a state OF
degradation, oppression and serf.
dom. Emancipation from the
bonds OF slavery is an express dec
leration OF the enjoyment, unre
strlcted, OF civil and political liber
ty. The same laws that operate
against the white man for crimes
should be applicable to the coIored
man for similar offenses, the same
political privileges accorded the
white man should be enjoyed by
the colored man; and if our
constitution is so defective
and United States laws repugnant
to said constitution to such a de.
gree that a white man receives a
quasi punishment. for the same
crime for which colored man suf
feTs death, can America assert that
she is the land of the free and the
home of the brave? Since
the ascendency of the democratic
party, we are of the opinion that
the colored man is aware that in
augural declarations have been but
promises and existing circumstan.
ces are but "reminiscences of the
past, and
Whereas, so much sympathy has
been expressed for Ireland in her
struggle for home rule, why is it
that no defense is made for the
suffering Negroes in the South, who
are not only deprived of their polit-
zeal rights but Of their civil liberty.
The revised Code of the District
of Columbia for the year 1857,
chapter Al, section enacted: The
valae of the slave condemed aud
or reprieved for sale and
transportation, shall be paid to the
owner out of the treasury; such
value shall be the cash price for
which he would sell at public sale,
with a knowledge of the crime tor
which he was condemned. 1t shall
be fixed by the criminal court and
entered Oh record, and paid by the
to the owner. fsuch
slave be slave only for term of
years, or for the life of another
person, he shall be valued accord.
ingly.
Sec. 5. A slave brought into this
District contrary to law, or who, in
passing through it, or temporarily
sojourning in it, committed the
offense for which he is condemned,
shall not be valued by the criminal
court, Or paid tor out of The treas.
ury; nor shall a slave be so paid
for who may be condemned for an
offense, in the commission of which
his owner was either principal or
and cOnvicthd thereof.
Sec. 9th. A negro shall be a
competent witness 1or or against
negro in any criminal proceedings,
and shall be a competent witness
In any civil case to which only ne
groes are parties, but not in any
other case.
Sec. 7th. No negro shall be en-.
titled to the privilege of voting at
or of being elected or ap-
pointed to any Office of profit or
trust.
The above are but a few of the
acts of'57, which show judicial dis
elimination against the slave, at
the Capitol of a Republic whose
declaration Of independence of
July 4th, 1776 declared, "We hold
these truths to be self evident; 1;
that all men are created equal;
that they are endowed by their
Creator with certain unalienable
lights; that among these are life,
liberty and the pursuit of happi-
less.
The laws pertaining to the
Negro slaves subsequent to
he declaration of Independence,
how their inconsistencies or their
to a government: of
liberty, freedom and Independence.
such an oligarchy exists to-day, in
he South, and the general gov
declares it's inability to
protect her unfortunate citizens.
Dur own form of government in
he District of Columbia is un.
american and unrepubllcan, aud
towards mOnarchal form
N oligarchy that Will soon become
8 absolute as the Government of
sussia. A great number of our
senator's and Representatives in
from the South are elect
d through fraud, intimidation
nd murder, by the suppression
free speech, by the maria ge
nd convict laws, make it iln-
ossible TO- colored men to get
lstlce in Southern courts when
pposed by white men, as an
xr;jonon nf fho I,nl- ~ /