The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-31
How All Virginia Ba>tardy Laws We're
Reuea.ed

Repea.ed.
Editor The Times While nearly all the
witnesses TO the facts are alive, and, at
the request CT several, please permit one
Oh them through your columns to publish
how all bastardy laws of Virginia were
repealed. About eighteen years ago SEN
ator Edgar Allan then Of Prince Edward,
offered a bill In the Senate amending
the chapter OF the Code OF 1873, relating
exclusively to bastardy, so as to strike
therefrom the word white" wherever
IL occurred. the effect OF which amend
inents would he 10 give all coiored wo-
men the same rights and privileges
granted TO white women under the law,
thereby conforming the statutes 10 the
freedom OF the negro race--said laws
having been passed in slavery times, long
before tie late war between the States.
Ills bill was referred (uuder Senate rules
10 the judiciary Committee. Of which
Senator Charles HorndOn, of Fredericks-
burg, was then chairman. Promptly
Senator Allan was Oh hand 10 advocate
favorable report on his bill At this
Juncture, the bill under consideration
Senator G. y. Smith, Of Nelson, en-
tered the committee room on other bust
ness, whereupon Senator Herndon. with
a merry twinkle Of the eye and 4 face
tull OF fun, called attention TO Senator
Smiths presence, suggesting, I'm good
humOr that by common consent his
bachelor friend from Nelson. was the
recognized champion in the General AS
sembly Of the property rights" OF Vir-
sina women and their higher educa-
ton and 20 forth. and asked unani-
nous consent that ne be heard on Sena-
tor Allan's bill. Such consent was cor
daily granted with a shout Of laughter
mn, Oh
Smith. But, fortunately for him (as he
afterwards confessed when being congrat-
ulated upon his speech, he had the pre-
Nious day studiously read the powerful
arguments Of great lawyer against all
bastardy laws. Hence he was brim full
of arguments and facts TO sustain his
Views before this tribunal of able law
years, and, within twenty minutes he
convinced the entire committee that his
proposition then made. 10 repeal the
whole OF said chapter, was the true and
wise policy of the State.
After a brief speech by Senator Allan,
who said that his sole aim was 10 place
both races on equal footing under the
law. but that he preferred total repeal.
and another earnest effort in support
of said proposition by Senator T. j. Fitz-
patrick, OF Lynchburg, the committee
unanimously reported Senator Smiths
bill OF repeal as substitute Tor Senator
Ahan's equality bill. Soon it passed the
Senate and House OF Delegates, provok-
Ing much amusing debate. but elected
hardly any opposition. Thus an anti
quated, semi-barbarian stigma was re-
moved from the statutes OF Virginia at
inc instance Of Senator Smith. who de-
clined banquet rendered him at the
ume by Richmond people in honor OF this
gerat triumph over villIanous blackmail-
ing. Infamous perjury, and far worse re-
suits. incident 10 the odious bastardy
laws, that were developed in open court
trials where the youthful mind was i'm
pregnated and polluted with the loath-
some and demoralizing miasma of bas-
tardy and its degrading methods.
WITNESS.