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0915

G22
(1)

[[stamp]] National Archives of the United States of America [[/stamp]]

An Act

To make free persons of color competent witnesses in the courts of this State in certain cases therein mentioned and to authorize the making and declaring of force affidavits by them in certain cases.

Sec. 1.  The Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Georgia in General Assembly met to enact that from and after the passage of this Act free persons of color shall be competent witnesses in all the Courts of this State in civil cases whereto a free person of color is a party and in all criminal cases wherein a free person of color is defendant, or wherein the offence charged is a crime or misdemeanor against the person or property of a free person of color, any law usage or custom to the contrary notwithstanding.

Sec. 2.  And be it further enacted, that in all cases hereafter pending or about to be instituted wherein a free person of color is a party plaintiff or defendant it shall be competent for such free persons of color to make and file any affidavit now by law allowed a citizen to advance the remedy or aid the defense and when so made and filed in conformity with law such action shall be had thereon as though the said affidavit had been made and filed by any other litigant.

Wm Gibson President
of the Senate

Jno B. Weems
Secty of Senate

Tho Hardeman, Jr
Speaker of House of Rep's

J. D. Waddell
Clerk of H of R

Approved 15 December 1865
Charles I. Jenkins
Governor