4

24

Georgia
Proposed new system
of Laws

code, is spoken of by the General as an accom
plished Christian gentleman, who at his in
stance removed from the Code that had been
outlined the objectionable features so suggest
ive of the Code passed for analogous purposes
by the Legislature of South Carolina.

As it now stands, this Code, with a few ex
ceptions, receives the Generals approbation;
but he apprehends, from the State of public Sen
timent in Georgia, that it will be badly m[u?]
tilated before becoming a law.

It provides, among other things, for the stri-
king out from the statute books of all
statues, regulations and municipal enact-
ments concerning slaves; for the granting,
to persons of color, of the right to acquire, own,
and dispose of property; to sue and be sued; to
give their testimony under oath in all civ-
il cases where the rights etc, of colored per-
sons are involved, and to be protected in
their persons and property; also for the estab-
lishment of County Courts the judges of which
to be sworn to administer justice impartially
without regard to race or color; also for
the legalizing of marriage relations between
all persons of color who are living together
as man and wife; also for the regulations
of the parental and filial relations, among
persons of color, by requiring parents to main-
tain their children whether legitimate or ille-
gitimate; and children to be subjected to the
same obligations in regard to their parents
as those which exist in relations to white
persons; also for the regulations of Contracts
etc, between masters and servants, and
masters and apprentices; also for the pun-
ishment of offences by persons of color.

Genl Tillson's letter closes with the expression
of a hope that Congress will soon so leg-
islate as to secure to well disposed and
industrious freed-people the right to home
and lands of their own.

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