The herald., 1894-10-08
THE NEGROES AND Mr. ESTEE.
His Position as Disclosed by the
Official Record.
Opposed to the Admission of Their
Unsupported Testimony.
Chinese Regarded More Valuable Citi-
gems, Having More Property and
Paying More Taxes-An In
ferior Race.


made charges to the effect that 81. M.
Estee, Republican candidate for gov
ernor. had opposed legislation intended
to extend the rights and better the con-
dition OF the colored race.
Mr. Estee and the Republican press
have denied the charges. Mr.. Barnes
was not strictly accurate in his state
ment OF the case.
The following is taken from the re.
cords:
SACRAMENTO, Cal, March 4, 1868.
In the Assembly of California Legislature:
The house took up senate bills Nos.
2 and 5, amendatory, respectively, OF
civil and criminal practice acts, so as to
admit the testimony OF negroes in courts
OF juatce,
Mr.. Estee moved to amend the bill by
adding providing that no verdict shall
be found upon the uncorroborated test.
imony of negroes and in cases of trial
by Jury it shall be the duty OF the court
to instruct the jury to disregard the
testimony of negroes unless corroDorated
by other evidence"
Speaking to the question, Mr.. Eatee
said he had proposed the amendment in
good faith, and if it wers adopted he
would vote for the bill. In some instan-
ces it was proper enough that negroes
should be allowed to tell their stories in
court aad he was willing they should do
80 in all casee, but he was not willing
that judgment should be rendered upon
such testimony alone. He believed the
negroes were an inferior race, and that
no legislation could elevate them. His-
tory showed that they had never at
tanned to nationality or achieved any
great moral or intellectual success. They
had never attempted to elevate them-
selves and the fact that they had always
been eneiaved was to him proof OF their
inferiority. for it was impossible to per-
manenty enslave the Caucasian race. He
did not believe that the negroes had any
claim upon the white race or this gov
ernment. History would chow that
they had done nothing towards achiev-
ing our liberty and independence. IA
voice-Oh, yea. 1t WAS true that two
paltry companies were raised in Vir-
ginis during the revolution, but they ran
away in the first battle. He was in
favor of enlisting negroes in the
army for the cake of having them
to dig ditchee, etc., but they would
face to face. He was opposed to the bill
as meaaure of policy. At this time
they should not do solitary act to di-
vide the Union party or drive one man
from its ranks. He looked upon the
future as full of gloom and danger to the
Union cause and hoped they would
strengthen it by every meana. They
should make the union more worthy Of
preserving bv exalting the privileges oi
American citizenship. They should
mako every soldier in the field know
that he is fighting for the liberties
of the Caucasian race and not
for the negro. He was aware
that he was rendering himself unpopular
to a portion of his party; yet as this was
not party Issue he had right to diff
fer. If this bill would advance our
cause, would conquer q single rebel bat
TALON or would promote the government
in any degree he would cheerfully vote
for it. Sut il would do no euch thing,
and, on the other hand, he WAS appre-
hensive that it would prove detrimental
to the Union cause. There was danger
of California changing front on the
Union question and he would do moth
ing to enhance that danger. He be-
lieved that no good would result to the
cause of justice ry admitting negro tes-
mony; ard if they were admitted to
testify. it would be necessary TO educate
them go as to render them capable OF
telling the truth. He thought his col
league (Mr. Warwick had misstated
the case to which he referred, in which
a negro had been denied justice in the
county court of Sacramento.
Mr.. Warwick said he referred to the
case before Justice Robinson in justice
court.
Mr.. Estee said that was another mat
ter. He supposed that he referred to
Juogo Robert Robinson, who had been
out of office for about a year. He
doubted ii Justice Robinson had used
the language attributed to him.
Mr.. Warwick said he did not attribute
the language to him.
Mr.. Estee further Eaid that il they
elevated one inferior race they must
another and he believed the Chinese
were more valuable citizens than the
negroes. They had more property and
paid more taxes.
Amendment rejected.
On the passage OF the bill authorizing
negroes to testify Mr.. Eatee votec
"No. o."-TFrom the Sacramento Daily
Union, March 5, 1868.