Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-11-06

y
with its increase, which was 10 be
permitted 20 run with the cattle of
his Wife after his death"
He then deyotes attention to the
condition OF the Tree Negroes. Here
is what he says:
During the early years of slavery
! the free Negroes seem 90 have had
about the same rights under the. law
that other tree persons had. except.
as / have already stated. they Were
not allowed 90 hold persons OF white
blood as bond-seryants. II appears
that. until after the Revolution. Ne
ero freemen were allowed to vote I'm
every state except Georgia and
south Carolina. Between 1882 and
1884 the four bordering States Del
aware. Maryland. Virginia and Ken
lucky denied the suffrage 20 the Ne
gro. ln North Carolina. Negroes who
paid "a public tax took part i'm the
election until 1888. when new Con-
sulution excluded Them from the
Suffrage. New Jersey took away
the suffrage OF the Nero I'm r<o-
connecticut I'm 1919. and PcuusvIva-
mia i'm 1888 New York. Finn iN2f.
required from Negroes am unusually
hish property qualification.
In order Co De absolutely fair. he
tells of the handicaps ct the free
Negroes. Here is the way ne de-
.scribes the unjust treatment metel
Ito them.
The effect OF the acitation for
abolition seems go have been that
the condition of the free Negroes
grew steadily worse. particularly in
lle Southern States. I'm some of.
-nese States they were forbidden toll
sell druEs. in others they might NOT
sen wheat and tobacco. and fu still
oioers to peddle market produce orr
own "a boat was against The law. In
several states Dc was against the law.
.lI iIte Negro to cross the State
.i'' in others. CO slave who was
eiuanci nated was compelled imme5f-
oteiy Co leave the state.
10 VIII Doe seen though chat Dr.
Washington ascribes this treatment
.of them Indirectly 90 the abolition
lists and he does not set 30 down as
The result of normal conditions. Hel
minimizes this iu the following LAM
suaee.
Notwithstanding the bardsh,rs
and difficulties under which the frre
Negro population laboreS both I'm !
me North and in the South. those
Hn Hnr..
ioDal history OF ttc Southern States /
have found that tbe number of Na-
ero.s who had succeeded in maxine i
some impression upon their commu- /
AllE. either by their native qualities
or 1y their success iu business. was
more considerable than is usually
lmae'ned. solomon Humphreys. Tor |
instance, after purchasing his FREQ
dom. became wcll-known business
man IN Georgia. Benjamin Iuudv
found az san Antonio a Negro who
AFTER PURCHASING his own freedom
ana ihat OF DIS wife ami family. had
become the owner of several houses
land lots"
Among the descendants of tho
Tree colored people of New Borno
North Carolina, with whom ann
.sonaily acquainted is the Hon
John =. Green. who was for twelve
Years % Justice of The peace FIN Cleva-
land, Ohio, four years "a member of
tne Ohio House or Representative
Two years member of the state
senate. and for nine years al the
mead of the Postage Stamp Distri- |
button Bureau of washington nm
ing IN the intervals OF his pubrc
service with practice at the CIeve-
iand bar. His father was a matter
iaiIor 300 New Berne. and a member
or a family OF free colored noople
whose traditions go back sometime
more tnan one hundred years.
Charles w. Chestnut. author Of
'"e 'ohJure Woman and other
popular stories Of Southern life
HesCe hdea from free colored people |
l ~, faNettevile, North Carolina. Mr.
Ollest NUT informs me that a colored
man by the name OF Matthew T.eorv
who before the war was me oy,no- ,s /
MN was obstrucing the streets but
considerable land. a number 90 si.,.-e
pTlck store in the business mart Of
the town, and a handsome residence
IN a good neighborhood. His SONS
gained some prominence in Nortb l
carolina during the Reconsideration
era Matthew Leary. Jr. went into
poHucs and afterwards became :
CleFk IN one OF the Government Of !
noes In Washington. A Younger
DIolher, Hon. John s. Learv. was the I
nISt colored man in North Carolina 1
TO be admitted to the bar. of which !
ne remained respected member nm
tl he died. at Charlotte. y. G. He
was understand, at one time a f.
member or the North Carolina loo
stature /
Another of the successful free
colored people OF North Carolina
wa, was James ID. Sampson. who began !
me as a house carpenter. and became
IN the course Of time a man OF con
siderable wealth and some local dis (
tiuc'lon' have been informed that
me legislature passed a bill grant /
ing ms FAMILY special privileges
winch were not permitted to Other
iree people of color. His children 4
IONA, BENJAMIN. and Joseph. were
All educated in the North. Beniamin |.
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