People v. Howard

Field, C. J. delivered the opinion of the Court Baldwin, J. concurring.

The defendant was convicted of the larceny of a gold watch belonging to a person of half negro blood, and the testimony of the negro was offered to establish the fact that the property was taken from him without his knowledge or consent. The question for consideration is, whether, in a criminal action against a white man, a black person—a mulatto in the present case—is a competent witness, where he is the injured party. By injured party, is meant the person who is the immediate and direct sufferer from the offense committed. The question presented must have its solution in the construction of certain provisions of the act concerning crimes and punishments. The thirteenth section of that act provides that, “ the party or parties injured shall, in all cases, be competent witnesses ; ” and the fourteenth section provides that “ no black or mulatto person, or Indian, shall be permitted to give evidence in favor of or against any white person.” This latter section, in our judgment, creates an exception to the general rule declared in the preceding one. The connection of the two sections, one following the other, leads us to that conclusion. The party injured may testify, in all cases, subject to this exception, that a black or mulatto person shall not be permitted to appear for or against a white person.

It is possible, as suggested by the District Attorney, that instances may arise where, upon this construction, crime may go unpunished. If this be so, it is only matter for the consideration of the Legislature. With the policy, wisdom, or consequences of legislation, when constitutional, we have nothing to do.

[65]The judgment must be reversed, and the cause remanded for a new trial. Ordered accordingly.

Cope, J. delivered the following dissenting opinion: I dissent from the conclusions arrived at by my associates in this case. It is a fundamental rule in the interpretation of statutes, that the construction must be according to the intention of the Legislature; and it is only where the language is ambiguous and the intention doubtful, that the Courts are called on to construe or interpret. The rule is cardinal and universal, that if a statute is plain and unambiguous, there is no room for construction or interpretation. In cases of doubt, the whole statute is to be taken together, and effect given, if possible, to every clause and section of it; and it must be so construed as to reconcile, as far as practicable, the different provisons, and make the whole act consistent and harmonious. The distinction to be observed in the construction of penal and remedial statutes is well understood; and this distinction applies with equal force to different clauses of the same statute. Penal statutes are to receive a strict interpretation; and a statute imposing disabilities is penal in its character, and must be strictly construed. The general words of such a statute must be restrained for the benefit of those against whom its provisions are intended to operate. Remedial statutes are to be liberally interpreted, and the words used are to be construed largely and beneficially, so as to suppress the mischief and advance the remedy, den eral words in one clause of a statute may be restrained by particular words in a subsequent clause of the same statute; and where a general intention is expressed, and the act also expresses a particular intention incompatible with the general intention, the particular intention is to be considered in the nature of an exception. But the effect of this rule must, to some extent, be controlled by the nature of the particular clauses upon which the incompatibility arises. Where a general provision is remedial and beneficial in its character, its operation will not be restrained by a subsequent provision of a penal nature, unless the intention of the Legislature to that effect is clearly and unequivocally expressed.