diff options
Diffstat (limited to '4680-0.txt')
| -rw-r--r-- | 4680-0.txt | 8787 |
1 files changed, 8787 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/4680-0.txt b/4680-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..60171d1 --- /dev/null +++ b/4680-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,8787 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Manuel Pereira, by F. C. Adams + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Manuel Pereira + +Author: F. C. Adams + +Release Date: November, 2003 [EBook #4680] +Posting Date: January 11, 2010 +Last Updated: March 14, 2018 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MANUEL PEREIRA *** + + + + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo + + + + + +MANUEL PEREIRA + +or, The Sovereign Rule of South Carolina. + +With Views Of Southern Laws, Life, And Hospitality. + +By F. C. Adams. + + +Written In Charleston, South Carolina. Washington, D. C.: + +1853. + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAPTER I. THE Unlucky Ship + CHAPTER II. The Steward's Bravery + CHAPTER III. The Second Storm + CHAPTER IV. The Charleston Police + CHAPTER V. Mr. Grimshaw, the Man of the County + CHAPTER VI. The Janson in the Offing + CHAPTER VII. Arrival of the Janson + CHAPTER VIII. A New Dish of Secession + CHAPTER IX. A few Points of the Law + CHAPTER X. The Prospect Darkening + CHAPTER XI. The Sheriff's Office + CHAPTER XII. The Old Jail + CHAPTER XIII. How it is + CHAPTER XIV. Manuel Pereira Committed + CHAPTER XV. The Law's Intricacy + CHAPTER XVI. Plea of Just Consideration and Mistaken Constancy of the Laws + CHAPTER XVII. Little George, the Captain, and Mr. Grimshaw + CHAPTER XVIII. Little Tommy and the Police + CHAPTER XIX. The Next Morning, and the Mayor's Verdict + CHAPTER XX. Emeute among the Stewards + CHAPTER XXI. The Captain's Interview with Mr. Grimshaw + CHAPTER XXII. Copeland's Release and Manuel's close Confinement + CHAPTER XXIII. Imprisonment of John Paul, and John Baptiste Pamerlie + CHAPTER XXIV. The Janson Condemned + CHAPTER XXV. George the Secessionist, and his Father's Ships + CHAPTER XXVI. A Singular Reception + CHAPTER XXVII. The Habeas Corpus + CHAPTER XXVIII. The Captain's Departure and Manuel's Release + CHAPTER XXIX. Manuel's Arrival in New York + CHAPTER XXX. The Scene of Anguish + CONCLUSION + APPENDIX + + + + +INTRODUCTION. + + +OUR generous friends in Georgia and South Carolina will not add among +their assumptions that we know nothing of the South and Southern life. A +residence of several years in those States, a connection with the press, +and associations in public life, gave us opportunities which we did +not lose, and have not lost sight of; and if we dipped deeper into the +vicissitudes of life and law than they gave us credit for at the time, +we trust they will pardon us, on the ground of interest in the welfare +of the South. + +Perhaps we should say, to support the true interests of the South, we +should and must abandon many of those errors we so strenuously supported +in years past; and thus we have taken up the subject of our book, based +upon the practical workings of an infamous law, which we witnessed upon +the individual whose name forms a part of the title. + +Imprisoning a shipwrecked sailor, and making it a penal offence for +a freeman to come within the limits of a republican State, whether +voluntarily or involuntarily, seems to be considered commonplace, +instead of barbarous in South Carolina. This may be accounted for by the +fact that the power of a minority, created in wrong, requiring barbarous +expedients to preserve itself intact, becomes an habitual sentiment, +which usage makes right. + +This subject has been treated with indifference, even by the press, +which has satisfied itself in discussing the abstract right as a +question of law, rather than by disclosing the sufferings of those who +endure the wrong and injustice. When we are called upon to support, and +are made to suffer the penalty of laws founded in domestic fear, and +made subservient to various grades of injustice, it becomes our duty +to localize the wrong, and to point out the odium which attaches to the +State that enacts such laws of oppression. + +A “peculiar-institution” absorbs and takes precedence of every thing; +its protection has become a sacred element of legislative and private +action; and fair discussion is looked upon as ominous, and proclaimed +as incendiary. But we speak for those who owe no allegiance to +that delicate institution; citizens to all intents and, purposes +(notwithstanding their dark skins) of the countries to which they +severally belong; peaceable persons, pursuing their avocations, to +provide a respectable maintenance for their families, and worthy of the +same protective rights claimed by the more fortunate citizens of such +countries. In doing this we shall give a practical illustration of the +imprisonment of four individuals in South Carolina, and ask those who +speculate in the abstract science of State sovereignty, to reflect upon +the issue of that lamentable injustice which inflicts punishment upon +persons guiltless of crime. We prefer to be plain, and we know our +Southern friends will not accuse us of misconstruction, for we have +their interests at heart, as well as the cause of humanity, which we +shall strive to promote, in spite of the struggles of modern barbarism, +seeking to perpetuate itself. Fear, the inventor of such pretexts as are +set up, and mantled in Southern modesty, must remodel its code for South +Carolinians, before it can assert a power unknown to law, or trample +upon the obligations of treaty, or enforce nullification of individual +rights. + +CHARLESTON, S. C., July 17,1852. + + + + +MANUEL PEREIRA. + + + +CHAPTER I. THE UNLUCKY SHIP. + + + +THE British brig Janson, Thompson, master, laden with sugar, pimento, +&c. &c. left Kingston, Jamaica, in the early part of March, in the +present year, bound for Glasgow. The skipper, who was a genuine son +of the “Land o' Cakes,” concluded to take the inside passage, and run +through the gulf. This might have been questioned by seamen better +acquainted with the windward passage; but as every Scotchman likes to +have his own way, the advice of the first officer--an experienced salt +in the West India waters--went to leeward. On rounding Cape Antoine, it +was evident that a strong blow was approaching. The clouds hung their +dark curtains in threatening blackness; and, as the sharp flashes of +lightning inflamed the gloomy scene, the little bark seemed like a speck +upon the bosom of the sea. It was the first mate's watch on deck. The +wind, then blowing from the W.S.W., began to increase and veer into the +westward; from whence it suddenly chopped into the northward. The mate +paced the quarter wrapt in his fearnought jacket, and at every turn +giving a glance aloft, then looking at the compass, and again to the man +at the wheel, as if he had an instinct of what was coming. + +He was a fearless navigator, yet, like many others who had yielded to +the force of habit, was deeply imbued with that prevalent superstition +so common to sailors, which regards a particular ship as unlucky. +Imagine an old-fashioned boatswain, with north-country features strongly +marked, a weather-beaten face, and a painted south-wester on his head, +and you have the “Mister Mate” of the old brig Janson. + +“Keep her full, my hearty. We must take in our light sails and go on +the other tack soon. If we don't catch it before daylight, I'll miss my +calculation. She's an unlucky old craft as ever I sailed in, and if the +skipper a'n't mighty careful, he'll never get her across. I've sworn +against sailing in her several times, but if I get across in her this +time, I'll bid her good-by; and if the owners don't give me a new craft, +they may get somebody else. We're just as sure to have bad luck as if we +had cats and parsons aboard.” + +Thus saying, he descended the companion-way, and reported the appearance +of the weather to the skipper, who arose quickly, and, consulting his +barometer, found it had fallen to near the lowest scale. After inquiring +the quarter of the wind, and how she headed, what sail she was carrying, +and the probable distance from the cape, he gave orders to call all +hands to take in the topgallant-sails, double reef the fore, and single +reef the maintop-sails, and stow the flying-jib--dressed himself, and +came on deck. Just as he put his head above the slide of the companion, +and stopped for a minute with his hands resting upon the sides, a vivid +flash of lightning hung its festoons of fire around the rigging, giving +it the appearance of a chain of livid flame. + +“We'll catch the but-end of a gulf sneezer soon. Tell the boys to bear +a hand with them sails. We must get her snug, and stand by to lay +her under a double-reefed maintop-sail and jib, with her head to the +northward and eastward. We may make a clear drift--chance if it lasts +long,” said Skipper Thompson, as he stood surveying the horizon and his +craft. Scarcely had he given the orders before the storm burst upon them +with all its fury. Its suddenness can only be appreciated by those who +have sailed in the West India passages, where the sudden shocks of the +short-chopping sea acts with a tremendous strain upon the hull of a +heavy-laden vessel. The captain ran to the windward gangway, hurrying +his men in the discharge of their duty, and giving another order to +clew up the coursers and foretop-sail. Just as the men had executed the +first, and were about to pull on the clew-lines of the latter, a sudden +gust took effect upon the bag of the sail and carried it clean from the +bolt-ropes. The halyards were lowered and the yards properly braced +up, while the Janson was brought to under the canvas we have before +described. In a few minutes more the wind had increased to a gale, and, +as the sailors say, several times the old craft “wouldn't look at it.” + Several times we had to put her helm up, and as many times she shipped +those forcing cross seas which drive every thing before them, and sweep +the decks. At length a piece of canvas was lashed to the fore-rigging +which gave her a balance, and she rode easy until about five o'clock in +the morning, when by a sudden broach the canvas was carried away, and a +tremendous sharp sea boarded her forward; starting several stanchions, +carrying away part of her starboard bulwark and rail, and simultaneously +the foretop-gallant-mast, which snapped just above the withe. As a +natural consequence, every thing was in the utmost confusion--the old +hull worked in every timber. The wreck swayed to and fro, retarding the +working of the vessel and endangering the lives of those who attempted +to clear it from obstruction. Thus she remained for more than half an +hour, nearly on her beam-ends, and at the mercy of each succeeding sea +that threatened to engulf her. + +As daylight broke, the wind lulled, and, as usual in those waters, +the sea soon ran down. Enabled to take the advantage of daylight, +they commenced to clear away the wreck. In the mean time it was found +necessary to remove the fore-hatch in order to get out some spare sails +that had been stowed away near the forward bulkhead, instead of a more +appropriate place. The mate, after trying the pumps in the early part of +the gale, reported that she had started a leak; which, however, was so +trifling as to require but one man to keep her free, until she broached, +and carried away her topgallant-mast. The man on duty then reported +the water increasing, and another was ordered to assist him. On an +examination in the morning, it was found that she was strained in the +fore-channels, and had started a but. + +“She's an unlucky concern, skipper,” said the mate as he brought the axe +to take the battons off the forehatch. “A fellow might as well try to +work a crab at low tide as to keep her to it in a blow like that. She +minds her helm like a porpoise in the breakers. Old Davy must have put +his mark upon her some time, but I never know'd a lucky vessel to be got +as she was. She makes a haul on the underwriters every time she drifts +across; for I never knew her to sail clear since I shipped in the old +tub. If she was mine, I'd find a place for her at somebody's expense.” + +The sea became smooth, the water was found to have receded, the wind, +light, had hauled to W.S.W., and Cape Antoine was judged by dead +reckoning to bear S.S.W. about thirty miles distant. The larboard +fore-shrouds were found to have been scorched by the lightning, which +had completely melted the tar from the after-shroud. All hands were now +busily employed repairing the wreck, which by two o'clock P.M. they had +got so far completed as to stand on their course in the gulf, at the +rate of six knots an hour. + +The skipper now consulted in his mind as to the expediency of making for +Havana or proceeding on his cruise. The leak had materially diminished, +and, like all old vessels, though she gave a good portion of work at +the pumps, a continuation of good weather might afford an opportunity +to shove her across. Under these feelings, he was inclined to give the +preference to his hopes rather than yield to his fears. He considered +the interest of all concerned--consulted his mate, but found him +governed by his superstition, and looking upon the issue of his life +about as certain whether he jumped overboard or “stuck by the old tub.” + He considered again the enormous port-charges imposed in Havana, the +nature of his cargo in regard to tariff, should his vessel be condemned, +and the ruinous expenses of discharging, &c. &c. together with the cost +of repairs, providing they were ordered. All these things he considered +with the mature deliberation of a good master, who has the general +interests of all concerned at heart. So, if he put away for a port, in +consideration of all concerned, his lien for general average would have +strong ground in maritime law; yet there were circumstances connected +with the sea-worthy condition of the craft--known to himself, if not to +the port-wardens, and which are matters of condition between the master +and his owners--which might, upon certain technicalities of law, give +rise to strong objectionable points. With all these glancing before +him, he, with commendable prudence, resolved to continue his voyage, and +trust to kind Providence for the best. + +“Captain,” said the mate, as he stood viewing the prospect, with a +marlinespike in one hand and a piece of seizing in the other--“I verily +think, if that blow had stuck to us two hours longer, the old tub would +a' rolled her futtocks out. Ye don't know her as well as I do. She's +unlucky, anyhow; and always has been since she sot upon the water. I've +seen her top-sides open like a basket when we've been trying to work her +into port in heavy weather: and a craft that won't look nearer than +nine points close-hauled, with a stiff breeze, ought to be sent into the +Clyde for a coal-droger. An old vessel's a perfect pickpocket to owners; +and if this old thing hasn't opened their purses as bad as her own +seams, I'll miss my reckonin'. I've had a strong foreknowledge that we +wouldn't get across in her. I saw the rats leaving in Jamaica--taking +up their line of march, like marines on the fore. It's a sure sign. And +then I'd a dream, which is as sure as a mainstay--never deceives me. I +can depend on its presentiment. I have dreamed it several times, and we +always had an awful passage. Twice we come within a bobstay of all +goin' to Old Davy's store-house. I once escaped it, after I'd had my +mysterious dream; but then I made the cook throw the cat overboard just +after we left port, and 'twas all that saved us.” + +Thus saying, he went forward to serve a topgallant-stay that was +stretched across the forecastle-hatch from the cat-heads, and had just +been spliced by the men, followed by an old-fashioned sea-urchin, a +miniature of the tar, with a mallet in his hand. The captain, although +a firm, intelligent man, and little given to such notions of fate as +are generally entertained by sailors, who never shake off the spiritual +imaginings of the forecastle, displayed some discomfiture of mind at +the strong character of the mate's misgivings. He knew him to be a good +sailor, firm in his duty, and unmoved by peril. This he had proved on +several occasions when sailing in other vessels, when the last ray +of hope seemed to be gone. He approached the mate again, and with a +pretence of making inquiries about the storage of the cargo, sounded +him further in regard to his knowledge of the Bahamas, and with special +reference to the port of Nassau. + +“Six-tenths of her timbers are as rotten as punk,” said the mate; “this +North American timber never lasts long; the pump-wells are defective, +and when we carry sail upon her, they don't affect the water in the +lee-bilge, and she rolls it through her air-streaks like a whale. She'll +damage the best cargo that ever floated, in that way. Take my word for +it, skipper, she'll never go across the Banks; she'll roll to splinters +as soon as she gets into them long seas; and if we get dismasted again, +it's gone Davy.” + +“I know the old scow before to-day, and wouldn't shipped in her, if I +hadn't been lime-juiced by that villanous landlord that advanced me the +trifle. But I seen she was as deep as a luggerman's sand-barge, and I +popped the old cat overboard, just as we rounded the point coming out +o' Kingston harbour,” said a fine, active-looking sailor, who bore +every trait of a royal tar, and boasted of serving five years in the +East-India service, to his shipmate, while he continued to serve the +stay. His words were spoken in a whisper, and not intended for the +captain's ears. The captain overheard him, however; and, as a vessel is +a world to those on board, the general sentiment carries its weight +in controlling its affairs. Thus the strong feeling which prevailed on +board could not fail to have its effect upon the captain's mind. + +“Well, we'll try her at any rate,” said the captain, walking aft and +ordering the cabin-boy to bring up his glass; with which he took a sharp +look to the southward. + +“I'd shape her course for a southern Yankee port. I haven't been much in +them, but I think we'll stand a better chance there than in these ports +where they make a speculation of wrecking, and would take a fellow's +pea-jacket for salvage.” “We're always better under the protection of a +consul than in a British port,” said the mate, coming aft to inform the +skipper that they had carried away the chains of the bobstay, and that +the bowsprit strained her in the knight-heads. + + + + +CHAPTER II. THE STEWARD'S BRAVERY. + + + +DURING the worst of the gale, a mulatto man, with prominent features, +indicating more of the mestino than negro character, was moving in busy +occupation about the deck, and lending a willing hand with the rest +of the crew to execute the captain's orders. He was rather tall, +well formed, of a light olive complexion, with dark, piercing eyes, a +straight, pointed nose, and well-formed mouth. His hair, also, had none +of that crimp so indicative of negro extraction, but lay in dark curls +all over his head. As he answered to the captain's orders, he spoke in +broken accents, indicating but little knowledge of the English language. +From the manner in which the crew treated him, it was evident that he +was an established favourite with them as well as the officers, for +each appeared to treat him more as an equal than a menial. He laboured +cheerfully at sailor's duty until the first sea broke over her, +when, seeing that the caboose was in danger of being carried from the +lashings, and swept to leeward in the mass of wreck, he ran for that +all-important apartment, and began securing it with extra lashings. He +worked away with an earnestness that deserved all praise; not with +the most satisfactory effect for an angry sea immediately succeeding +completely stripped the furnace of its woodwork, and in its force +carried the gallant fellow among its fragments into the lee-scuppers, +where he saved himself from going overboard only by clinging to a +stanchion. + +The second mate, a burly old salt, ran to his assistance, but, before +he reached him, our hero had recovered himself, and was making another +attempt to reach his coppers. It seemed to him as much a pending +necessity to save the cooking apparatus as it did the captain to save +the ship. + +“He no catch me dis time,” said he to the mate, smiling as he lifted his +drenched head from among the fragments of the wreck. “I fix a de coffee +in him yet, please God.” + +After securing the remains of his cooking utensils, he might be seen +busily employed over a little stove, arranged at the foot of the stairs +that led to the cabin. The smoke from the funnel several times annoyed +the captain, who laboured under the excitement consequent upon +the confusion of the wreck and peril of his vessel, bringing forth +remonstrances of no very pleasant character. It proved that the good +steward was considering how he could best serve Jack's necessities; +and while they were laboring to save the ship, lie was studiously +endeavoring to anticipate the craving of their stomachs. For when +daylight appeared and the storm subsided, the steward had a bountiful +dish of hot coffee to relieve Jack's fatigued system. It was received +with warm welcome, and many blessings were heaped upon the head of the +steward; A good “doctor” is as essential for the interests of owners and +crew as a good captain. So it proved in this instance, for while he had +a careful regard for the stores, he never failed to secure the praises +of the crew. + +“When I gib de stove fire, den me gib de Cap-i-tan, wid de crew, some +good breakfas,” said he with a gleam of satisfaction. + +This individual, reader, was Manuel Pereira, or, as he was called by +his shipmates, Pe-rah-re. Manuel was born in Brazil, an extract of the +Indians and Spanish, claiming birthright of the Portuguese nation. It +mattered but very little to Manuel where he was born, for he had been +so long tossed about in his hardy vocation that he had almost become +alienated from the affections of birthplace. He had sailed so long under +the protection of the main-jack of old England that he had formed a +stronger allegiance to that country than to any other. He had sailed +under it with pride, had pointed to its emblem, as if he felt secure, +when it was unfurled, that the register-ticket which that government had +given him was a covenant between it and himself; that it was a ticket to +incite him to good behavior in a foreign country; and that the flag was +sure to protect his rights, and insure, from the government to which +he sailed respect and hospitality. He had sailed around the world +under it--visited savage and semi-civilized nations--had received +the hospitality of cannibals, had joined in the merry dance with the +Otaheitian, had eaten fruits with the Hottentots, shared the coarse +morsel of the Greenlander, been twice chased by the Patagonians--but +what shall we say?--he was imprisoned, for the olive tints of his color, +in a land where not only civilization rules in its brightest conquests, +but chivalry and honor sound its fame within the lanes, streets, and +court-yards. Echo asks, Where--where? We will tell the reader. That flag +which had waved over him so long and in so many of his wayfarings--that +flag which had so long boasted its rule upon the wave, and had protected +him among the savage and the civilized, found a spot upon this wonderful +globe where it ceased to do so, unless he could change his skin. + + + + +CHAPTER III. THE SECOND STORM. + + + +ON the fourth night succeeding the perilous position of the Janson off +Cape Antoine, the brig was making about seven knots, current of the gulf +included. The sun had set beneath heavy radiant clouds, which rolled up +like masses of inflamed matter, reflecting in a thousand mellow shades, +and again spreading their gorgeous shadows upon the rippled surface of +the ocean, making the picture serene and grand. + +As darkness quickly followed, these beautiful transparencies of a +West-India horizon gradually changed into murky-looking monitors, +spreading gloom in the sombre perspective. The moon was in its second +quarter, and was rising on the earth. The mist gathered thicker and +thicker as she ascended, until at length she became totally obscured. +The Captain sat upon the companion-way, anxiously watching the sudden +change that was going on overhead; and, without speaking to any one, +rose, took a glance at the compass, and then went forward to the +lookout, charging him to keep a sharp watch, as they were not only in a +dangerous channel, but in the track of vessels bound into and out of the +gulf. After this, he returned amidship, where the little miniature +salt we have described before lay, with his face downward, upon the +main-hatch, and ordering him to bring the lead-line, he went to leeward +and took a cast; and after paying out about twenty-five fathoms without +sounding, hauled aboard again. The wind was southward and light. As soon +as he had examined the lead he walked aft and ordered the sheets eased +and the vessel headed two points farther off. This done, he went below, +and shaking his barometer several times, found it had begun to fall very +fast. Taking down his coast-chart, he consulted it very studiously for +nearly half an hour, laying off an angle with a pair of dividers and +scale, with mathematical minuteness; after which he pricked his course +along the surface to a given point. This was intended as his course. + +“Where do you make her, Captain?” said the mate, as he lay in his berth. + +“We must be off the Capes--we must keep a sharp look out for them +reefs. They are so deceptive that we'll be on to them before we know it. +There's no telling by sounding. We may get forty fathoms one minute and +strike the next. I've heard old West-India coasters say the white water +was the best warning,” replied the Captain. + +“I'm mighty afraid of that Carysfort reef, since I struck upon it in +1845. I was in a British schooner then, bound from Kingston, Jamaica, to +New York. We kept a bright lookout, all the way through the passage, and +yet struck, one morning just about day-light; and, five minutes before, +we had sounded without getting bottom. When it cleared away, that we +could see, there was two others like ourselves. One was the ship John +Parker, of Boston, and the other was a 'long-shoreman. We had a valuable +cargo on board, but the craft wasn't hurt a bit; and if the skipper--who +was a little colonial man, not much acquainted with the judicial value +of a wrecker's services--had a' taken my advice, he wouldn't got into +the snarl he did at Key West, where they carried him, and charged +him thirty-six hundred dollars for the job. Yes, and a nice little +commission to the British consul for counting the doubloons, which, +by-the-by, Skipper, belonged to that great house of Howland & +Aspinwalls. They were right clever fellows, and it went into the +general average account for the relief of the underwriters' big chest,” + continued the mate. + +“We must have all hands ready at the call,” said the Captain. “It looks +dirty overhead, and I think we're going to catch it from the north-east +to-night. If we do, our position is not as good as before. I don't feel +afraid of her, if we only get clear of this infernal coast,” said the +Skipper, as he rolled up his chart, and repaired on deck again. + +During this time, Manuel, who, had given the crew some very acceptable +hot cakes for supper, was sitting upon the windlass, earnestly engaged, +with his broken English, recounting an adventure he had on the coast of +Patagonia, a few years previous, while serving on board a whaleman, to +a shipmate who sat at his left. It was one of those incidents which +frequently occur to the men attached to vessels which visit that coast +for the purpose of providing a supply of wood and water, and which would +require too much space to relate here. + +“Did you run, Manuel?” said the listening shipmate. + +“What else did me do? If I no run, I'd not be here dis night, because +I be make slave, or I be killed wid club. Patagonian don't care for +flag--nor not'in' else--I trust--e my leg, an' he get to de boat jus' +when cap-i-tan come to rescue.” + +“Was you on board an Englishman then, Manuel?” inquired the shipmate. + +“Yes, I'm always sail in English ship, because I can get protection from +flag and consul, where I go--any part of globe,” said he. + +“I never liked this sailing among barbarous nations; they've no respect +for any flag, and would just as lief imprison an Englishman or an +American as they would a dog. They're a set of wild barbarians, and if +they kill a fellow, there's no responsibility for it. It's like a parcel +of wolves chasing a lamb, and there's no finding them after they've +killed it. But they give a fellow his rights in Old England and the +States. A man's a man there, rich or poor, and his feelings are just as +much his own as anybody's. It's a glorious thing, this civilization, +and if the world keeps on, there'll be no danger of a fellow's being +imprisoned and killed among these savages. They're a cowardly set, for +nobody but cowards are afraid of their own actions. Men neither imprison +nor kill strangers, that don't fear the injustice of their own acts. You +may smoke that in your pipe, Manuel, for I've heard great men say so. +But you'd been done making dough-nuts then, Manuel, if they'd got hold +o' you.” + +“Never catch Manuel among Patagonians, again; they not know what the +flag be, nor they can't read de registrum ticket, if they know'd where +England was,” said Manuel; and just as he was concluding the story of +his adventure, the little sailor-boy put his arm around Manuel's +waist, and, laying his head on his breast, fondled about him with an +affectionate attachment. The little fellow had been a shipmate with +Manuel on several voyages, and, through the kindness he had received +at his hands, naturally formed an ardent attachment to him. Taking +advantage of the good treatment, he knew how to direct his attention +to the steward whenever he wanted a snack from the cabin-locker of that +which was not allowed in the forecastle. After holding him for a minute, +encircling his arm around the little fellow's shoulder, he arose, +and saying, “I know what you want, Tommy,” proceeded to the cabin and +brought him several little eatables that had been left at the captain's +table. + +The wind now began to veer and increase, her sails kept filling aback; +and as often as the man at the helm kept her off, the wind would baffle +him, until finding it would be necessary to go on the other tack, or +make some change of course, he called the Captain. The moment the latter +put his foot upon deck, he found his previous predictions were about to +be verified. The rustling noise of the gulf, mingling its solemn sounds +with the petrel-like music of that foreboding wind that “whistles +through the shrouds,” awakened the more superstitious sensations of a +sailor's heart. The clouds had gathered their sombre folds into potent +conclaves, while the sparkling brine in her wake, seemed like a fiery +stream, rolling its troubled foam upon the dark waters. + +“Brace the yards up sharp-hard a-starboard!--and trim aft the sheets,” + ordered the Captain, who had previously given the order, “All hands on +deck!” + +The order was scarcely executed, before the noise of the approaching +gale was heard in the distance. All hands were ordered to shorten sail +as quickly as possible; but before they could get aloft, it came upon +them with such fury from E.N.E. as to carry away the foretop-mast and +topgallant-mast, together with its sails, and the main-topgallant-mast +with the sail. The foretop-mast, in going by the board, carried away the +flying-jib-boom and flying-jibs. Thus the ill-fated Janson was doomed to +another struggle for her floating existence. The sea began to rise and +break in fearful power; the leak had already increased so, that two +men were continually kept working the pumps. The crew, with commendable +alacrity, cut away the wreck, which had been swaying to and fro, not +only endangering the lives of those on board, but obstructing every +attempt to get the vessel into any kind of working order. The main-sail +had rent from the leash to the peak of the gaff, and was shaking into +shreds. The starboard sheet of the maintop-sail was gone, and it had +torn at the head from the bolt-rope, flying at every gust like the +shreds of a muslin rag in a hail-storm. Without the government of her +helm, she lay in the trough of the sea more like a log than a manageable +mass. Sea after sea broke over her, carrying every thing before them +at each pass. The officers and crew had now as much as they could do to +retain their holds, without making any effort to save the wreck, while +the men at the pumps could only work at each subsiding of the sea, +and that under the disadvantage of being lashed to the frame. A more +perilous position than that in which the old brig Janson now lay, it was +impossible to imagine. + +“'Tis the worst hurricane I've ever experienced upon the West India +coast, Captain, but it's too furious to last long; and if she don't +go to pieces before morning, I'll give her credit for what I've always +swore against her. She can't keep afloat though, if it hangs on another +hour in this way,” said the mate, who, with the Captain and Manuel, had +just made an ineffectual attempt to rig a storm stay-sail, to try +and lay her to under it. For the mate swore by his knowledge of her +qualities, that to put her before it, would be certain foundering. The +gale continued with unabated fury for about two hours, and stopped about +as suddenly as it commenced. The work of destruction was complete, for +from her water-line to the stump of the remaining spars, the Janson +floated a complete wreck. + +The captain gave orders to clear away the wreck, and get what little +sail they could patch up, upon her, for the purpose of working her +into the nearest port. The mate was not inclined to further the order, +evidently laboring under the strong presentiment that she was to be +their coffin. He advised that it was fruitless to stick by her any +longer, or hazard an attempt to reach a port with her, in such a leaky +and disabled condition. “If we don't abandon her, Skipper,” said he, +“she'll abandon us. We'd better make signal for the first vessel, and +bid the old coffin good-by.” + +The captain was more determined in his resolution, and instead of being +influenced by the mate's fears, continued his order, and the men went +to work with a cheerful willingness. None seemed more anxious to lend a +ready hand than Manuel, for in addition to is duties as steward, he had +worked at sail-making, and both worked at and directed the repairing of +the sails. Those acquainted with maritime affairs can readily appreciate +the amount of labor necessary to provide a mess with the means at hand +that we have before described. And yet he did it to the satisfaction of +all, and manifested a restless anxiety lest he should not make everybody +comfortable, and particularly his little pet boy, Tommy. + +“We'll get a good observation at meridian, and then we shall shape our +course for Charleston, South Carolina. We'll be more likely to reach +it than any other southern port,” said the captain to his mate. “That +steward, Manuel, is worth his weight in gold. If we have to abandon the +old craft, I'll take him home; the owners respect him just as much as +a white man; his politeness and affability could not but command such +esteem, with a man that a'n't a fool. I never believed in making equals +of negroes, but if Manuel was to be classed with niggers for all the +nigger blood that's in him, seven-tenths of the inhabitants of the earth +would go with him. I never saw such an attachment between brothers, as +exists between him and Tommy. I verily believe that one couldn't go to +sleep without the other. I should think they were brothers, if the +lad wasn't English, and Manuel a Portuguese. But Manuel is as much an +Englishman at heart as the lad, and has sailed so long under the flag +that he seems to have a reverence for the old jack when he sees the +bunting go up. He likes to tell that story about the Patagonians chasing +him. I have overheard him several times, as much amused in his own +recital as if he was listening to the quaint jokes of an old tar. But he +swears the Patagonians will never catch him on their shores again, for +he says he doesn't believe in making 'drum-head of man-skin,'” said the +Captain, evidently with the intention of affecting the mate's feelings, +and drawing his mind from its dark forebodings. + +“Well, Skipper, I pray for a happy deliverance,” said the mate, “but if +we make Charleston with her, it'll be a luck that man nor mermaid ever +thought of. I hearn a good deal o' tell about Charleston, and the Keys. +That isn't one of the places our stewards are so 'fraid of, and where +owners don't like to send their ships when they can find freight in +other ports?” + +“I expect it is, sir; but I apprehend no such trouble with any of my +crew,” answered the Captain promptly. “I sail under the faith of my +nation's honor and prowess, the same as the Americans do under theirs. +We're both respected wherever we go, and if one little State in the +Union violates the responsibility of a great nation like that, I'm +mistaken. Certainly, no nation in Christendom could be found, that +wouldn't open their hearts to a shipwrecked sailor. I have too much +faith in what I have heard of the hospitality of Southerners, to believe +any thing of that kind.” + +“Talk's all very well, Skipper,” said the mate; “but my word for it, I +know'd several ships lying in the Mersey, about three years ago, bound +to Southern ports for cotton. White stewards worth any thing couldn't be +had for love nor money, and the colored ones wouldn't ship for ports in +Slaves States. The Thebis got a colored man, but the owners had to pay +him an enormous advance, and this, too, with the knowledge of his being +locked up the whole time he was in port; thus having to incur the +very useless expense of supplying his place, or find boarding-house +accommodations for the officers and crew. If it be true, what I've hearn +'em say in the Mersey, the man doesn't only suffer in his feelings by +some sort of confinement they have, but the owners suffer in pocket. +But it may be, Skipper, and I'm inclined to think with you, our case is +certainly deplorable enough to command pity instead of imprisonment. The +government must be found cutting a dirty figure on the national picture, +that would ill-treat sailors who had suffered as much as our boys have. +I would hate to see Manuel shut up or ill-used. He's as brave a fellow +as ever buckled at a handspike or rode a jib-boom. Last night, while +in the worst of the gale, he volunteered to take Higgins's place, and, +mounting the jib-boom, was several times buried in the sea; yet he held +on like a bravo, and succeeded in cutting away the wreck. I thought he +was gone once or twice, and I own I never saw more peril at sea; but if +he hadn't effected it, the foot of the bowsprit would have strained her +open in the eyes, and we'd all been sharks'-bait before this. The fellow +was nearly exhausted when he came on board; says I, its gone day with +you, old fellow; but he come to in a little while, and went cheerily to +work again,” continued Mr. Mate, who though pleased with the Captain's +determination to make the nearest port, seemed to dread that all would +not be right in Charleston--that the bar was a very intricate one--water +very shoal in the ship-channel, and though marked with three distinctive +buoys, numbered according to their range, impossible to crops without +a skilful pilot. The mate plead a preference for Savannah, asserting, +according to his own knowlege, that a ship of any draft could cross +that bar at any time of tide, and that it was a better port for the +transaction of business. + +The Janson was headed for Charleston, the queen city of the sunny South, +and, as may be expected from her disabled condition, made very slow +progress on her course. During the gale, her stores had become damaged, +and on the third day before making Charleston light, Manuel Pereira +came aft, and with a sad countenance reported that the last cask of +good water was nearly out; that the others had all been stove during +the gale, and what remained, so brackish that it was unfit for use. +From this time until their arrival at Charleston, they suffered those +tortures of thirst, which only those who have endured them can estimate. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. THE CHARLESTON POLICE. + + + +MR. DURKEE had said in Congress, that a negro was condemned to be hung +in Charleston for resisting his master's attempts upon the chastity of +his wife; and that such was the sympathy expressed for the negro, that +the sheriffs offer of one thousand dollars could induce no one present +to execute the final mandate. Now, had Mr. Durkee been better acquainted +with that social understanding between the slave, the pretty wife, and +his master, and the acquiescing pleasure of the slave, who in nineteen +cases out of twenty congratulates himself on the distinguished honor, he +would have saved himself the error of such a charge against the tenor +of social life in Charleston. Or, had he been better acquainted with the +character of her police, he certainly would have saved the talent of +Mr. Aiken its sophomore display in that cumbrous defence. In the first +place, Mr. Durkee would have known that such attempts are so common +among the social events of the day, and so well understood by the slave, +that instead of being resented, they are appreciated to a great extent. +We speak from long experience and knowledge of the connection between +a certain class of slaves and their masters. In the second place, +Mr. Durkee would have known that any man connected with the city +police--save its honorable mayor, to whose character we would pay all +deference--would not for conscience' sake scruple to hang a man for five +dollars. We make no exception for color or crime. A qualification might +be called for, more adapted to our knowledge of it as it has existed for +the last four or five years; but we are informed by those whose lives +and fortunes have been spent for the moral elevation of the city police, +that it was even worse at the time referred to. + +The reader may think we are making grave charges. Let us say, without +fear of refutation, they are too well known in the community that +tolerates them. As a mere shadow of what lays beneath the surface, +we would refer to the only independent speech we ever listened to in +Charleston,--except when self-laudation was the theme,--made by G. R--, +Esq., in one of her public halls a few weeks ago. Mr. R--is a gentleman +of moral courage and integrity, and, without fear or trembling, openly +denounced the corruption and demoralization of the police department. +Even the enemies of his party, knowing the facts, appreciated his +candor as a man, while they denounced the publicity, (for his speech +was paraded by the press,) lest the fair name of the queen city should +suffer abroad. A beautiful farce followed this grave exposition. The +board of aldermen, composed of fourteen men of very general standing, +remained mum under the accusation for a long time. Its object was to +show up the character of a class of officials, whose character and +nefarious arts have long disgraced the city. But in order to make a +display of his purity, Mr. C--, a gentleman entitled to high moral +consideration, chose to make it a personal matter; yet, not content +with a private explanation given by Mr. R--, he made a call through the +press. Mr. R--responded in a proper and courteous manner, acknowledging +the due respect to which Mr. C--'s private character was entitled; +thus increasing the ambition of the board generally, who, with the +expectation of Mr. R--making a like acknowledgment to them as a body, +(not excepting their honorable head,) made a demand in joint-officio. +This being duly signalized through the columns of the Courier and +Mercury, Mr. R--met it with a response worthy of a gentleman. He +referred them to the strongest evidence of his assertions, in the +countenance which they gave to a class of officials too well known to +the community for the honor of its name and the moral foundation of its +corporate dignity. Thus ended a great municipal farce, to prolong which +the principal performers knew would disclose the intriguing scenes of +their secondary performers. The plot of this melo-comic concern was in +the sequel, and turned upon the very grave fact of Mr. C--having some +time previous withdrawn from the honorable board, to preserve some very +delicate considerations for conscience' sake. + +How much spiritual consolation Mr. C--realized through the +acknowledgment of Mr. R--, or the honorable board in joint-officio from +the firm admonition, we leave for the secondary consideration of proper +wives and daughters. + +But the reader will ask, what has this to do with poor Manuel +Pereira,--or the imprisonment of free citizens of a friendly nation? We +will show him that the complex system of official spoliation, and the +misrepresentations of the police in regard to the influence of such +persons upon the slave population, is a principal feature in its +enforcement. To do this, we deem it essentially necessary to show the +character of such men and the manner in which this law is carried out. +We shall make no charges that we cannot sustain by the evidence of the +whole city proper, and with the knowledge that truth is stronger than +fiction. + +What will the reader say when we tell him that, among the leading minds +of the city--we say leading minds, for we class those who are considered +foremost in the mercantile sphere among them--are three brothers, +unmarried, but with mistresses bought for the purpose, whose dark skins +avert the tongue of scandal;--that, twice, men were sold, because of the +beauty of their wives, to distant traders, that the brothers might cast +off their old mistresses, and appropriate new ones to an unholy purpose; +that these men enjoy their richly furnished mansions, are known for +their sumptuous entertainments, set an example of mercantile honor and +integrity, are flattered among the populace, receive the attentions of +very fine and very virtuous ladies, wield a potential voice in the +city government, and lead in the greatest development of internal +improvements;--that these men even whisper high-sounding words of +morality, and the established custom considers their example no harm +when color is modified. + +What will the reader think, when we tell him that there is no +city-marshal in Charleston, but innumerable marshalled men, supported +by an onerous tax upon the people, to quiet the fears of a few. And +what will they think, when we tell them that the man whose name is +so frequently sounded through the columns of the press as the head of +police, and applauded for his activity among thieves, is the well-known +prince-officio of a voluptuous dwelling, where dazzling licentiousness +fills his pockets with the spoils of allurement. This man has several +counterparts, whose acts are no secrets to the public ear, and who turn +their office into a mart of intrigue, and have enriched themselves upon +the bounty of espionage and hush-money, and now assert the dignity of +their purse. It may be asked, why are these men kept in office?--or +have these offices become so disgraced that honest men will not deign to +accept them? No! such is not the case. It is that moral integrity is not +considered in its proper light, and is not valued as it should be; +that these men have a secret influence which is well known, and are +countenanced and retained for the weight of their control among a +certain class; and, strange to say, that the party ex-officio make these +demoralizing things the basis of their complaints against the “powers +that be;” yet such is their feeble dependence, that no sooner are they +in office than we have the repetition of the same things. + +Now, how far his honor is answerable for these things we must leave the +reader to judge. The leading characteristics of his nature conflict with +each other; his moral character is what is considered sound here; and +truly he is entitled to much respect for his exemplary conduct, whether +it be only exerted as an example, or the heartfelt love of Christian +purity. Some people are pious from impulse, and become affected +when purpose serves to make it profitable. We, however, are not so +uncharitable as to charge such piety to our worthy head of the city +government, but rather to a highly developed organ of the love +of office, which has outgrown the better inclinations of his +well-established Christianity. + +We must invite the reader's attention to another and still more glaring +evidence of the demoralization of social life in Charleston. A notorious +woman, who has kept the worst kind of a brothel for years, where harlots +of all shades and importations break the quietude of night with their +polluted songs, becomes so bold in her infamy that she appeals to the +gracious considerations of the city council, (board of aldermen.) How +is this? Why, we will tell the reader:--She remained unmolested in her +trade of demoralization, amassed a fortune which gave her boldness, +while her open display was considered very fine fun for the joking +propensities of officials and gallants. With her wealth she reared a +splendid mansion to infamy and shame, where she, and such as she, +whose steps the wise man tells us “lead down to hell,” could sway their +victory over the industrious poor. So public was it, that she openly +boasted its purpose and its adaptation to the ensnaring vices of +passion. Yes, this create in female form had spread ruin and death +through the community, and brought the head of many a brilliant young +man to the last stage of cast-off misery. And yet, so openly tolerated +and countenanced by leading men are these things, that on the 31st +of July, 1852, this mother of crime appeals to the honorable board of +aldermen, as appeared in the “Proceedings of Council” in the Charleston +Courier of that date, in the following manner: + +“Laid over until a monied quorum is present. + +“Letter from Mrs. G. Pieseitto, informing Council that having recessed +her new brick building in Berresford street at least two feet, so as to +dedicate it to the use of the citizens of Charleston, if they will pave +with flag-stones the front of her lot, respectfully requests, that if +accepted, the work may be done as soon as possible. Referred to the +Aldermen, Ward No. 4.” The street is narrow and little used, except for +purposes known to the lanterns, when honest people should sleep. +The information might have been couched with more modesty, when the +notoriety of the woman and the dedication of her tabernacle of vice +was so public. How far the sensitive aldermen of the fourth ward have +proceeded in the delicate mission, or how much champagne their modest +consideration has cost, the public have not yet been informed. Rumor +says every thing is favorable. We are only drawing from a few principal +points, and shall leave the reader to draw his own inference of the +moral complexion of our social being. We make but one more view, and +resume our story. + +An office connected with the judiciary, so long held as one of high +responsibility and honorable position, is now held merely as a medium +of miserable speculation and espionage. It is an elective office, the +representative holding for four years. The present incumbent was elected +more through charity than recompense for any amiable qualities, moral +worth, or efficient services to party ends. A more weak man could not +have been drawn from the lowest scale of party hirelings, though he had +abdicated the office once before to save his name and the respectability +of the judiciary. It may be said, he was elected in pity to speculate +on misery; and thus it proved in the case of MANUEL PEREIRA. This +functionary was elected by a large majority. Could his moral worth have +been taken into consideration? We should think not! For several times +have we been pointed to two interesting girls,--or, if their color was +not shaded, would be called young ladies--promenading the shady side of +King street, with their faces deeply vailed, and informed who was their +father. The mother of these innocent victims had been a mother to their +father, had nursed him and maintained him through his adversity, and +had lived the partner of his life and affections for many years, and +had reared to him an interesting but fatal family. But, no sooner had +fortune begun to shed its smiling rays, than he abandoned the one that +had watched over him for the choice of one who could boast no more than +a white skin. + +If men who fill high places live by teaching others to gratify their +appetites and pleasures alone, instead of setting a commendable example +for a higher state of existence, by whom can we expect that justice and +moral worth shall be respected? + +Connected with the city constabulary are two men whose duty it is to +keep a sharp lookout for all vessels arriving, and see that all negroes +or colored seamen are committed to prison. One is a South Carolinian, by +the name of Dusenberry, and the other an Irishman, by the name of Dunn. +These two men, although their office is despicable in the eyes of +many, assume more authority over a certain class of persons, who are +unacquainted with the laws, than the mayor himself. The former is a +man of dark, heavy features, with an assassin-like countenance, more +inclined to look at you distrustfully than to meet you with an open +gaze. He is rather tall and athletic, but never has been known to do any +thing that would give him credit for bravery. Several times he has been +on the brink of losing his office for giving too much latitude to his +craving for perquisites; yet, by some unaccountable means, he manages +to hold on. The other is a robust son of the Emerald Isle, with a broad, +florid face, low forehead, short crispy hair very red, and knotted +over his forehead. His dress is usually very slovenly and dirty, his +shirt-collar bespotted with tobacco-juice, and tied with an old striped +bandana handkerchief. This, taken with a very wide mouth, flat nose, +vicious eye, and a countenance as hard as ever came from Tipperary, and +a lame leg, which causes him to limp as he walks, gives our man Dunn the +incarnate appearance of a fit body-grabber. A few words will suffice +for his character. He is known to the official department, of which +the magistrates are a constituent part, as a notorious ----l; and his +better-half, who, by-the-way, is what is called a free-trader, meaning, +to save the rascality of a husband, sells liquor by small portions, to +suit the Murphys and the O'Neals. But, as it pleases our Mr. Dunn, he +very often becomes a more than profitable customer, and may be found +snoring out the penalty in some sequestered place, too frequently for +his own character. Between the hours of ten and twelve in the morning, +Dunn, if not too much incapacitated, may be seen limping his way down +Broad street, to watch vessels arriving and departing, carrying a +limp-cane in one hand, and a large covered whip in the other. We were +struck with the appearance of the latter, because it was similar to +those carried in the hands of a rough, menial class of men in Macon, +Georgia, who called themselves marshals, under a misapplication of the +term. Their office was to keep the negro population “straight,” and do +the whipping when called upon, at fifty cents a head. They also did the +whipping at the jails, and frequently made from five to six dollars a +day at this alone; for it is not considered fashionable for a gentleman +to whip his own negro. We noticed the universal carrying of this whip, +when we first visited Macon, some four years ago, and were curious to +know its purport, which was elucidated by a friend; but we have since +seen the practical demonstrations painfully carried out. Those who +visited Boston for the recovery of Crafts and Ellen--whose mode of +escape is a romance in itself--were specimens of these “marshals.” + How they passed themselves off for gentlemen, we are at a loss to +comprehend. + +During the day, the Messrs. Dusenberry and Dunn may be seen at times +watching about the wharves, and again in low grog-shops--then pimping +about the “Dutch beer-shops and corner-shops”--picking up, here and +there, a hopeful-looking nigger, whom they drag off to limbo, or extort +a bribe to let him go. Again, they act as monitors over the Dutch +corner-shops, the keepers of which pay them large sums to save +themselves the heavy license fine and the information docket. When they +are no longer able to pay over hush-money, they find themselves walked +up to the captain's office, to be dealt with according to the severe +penalty made and provided for violating the law which prohibits the sale +of liquor to negroes without an order. The failure to observe this law +is visited with fine and imprisonment,--both beyond their proportionate +deserts, when the law which governs the sale of liquor to white men is +considered. Things are very strictly regulated by complexions in South +Carolina. The master sets the most dissipated and immoral examples +in his own person, and allows his children not only to exercise their +youthful caprices, but to gratify such feelings as are pernicious to +their moral welfare, upon his slaves. Now, the question is, that knowing +the negro's power of imitation, ought not some allowance to be made +for copying the errors of his master? Yet such is not the case; for the +slightest deviation from the strictest rule of discipline brings condign +punishment upon the head of the offender. + + + + +CHAPTER V. MR. GRIMSHAW, THE MAN OF THE COUNTY. + + + +ON the 22d of March last, about ten o'clock in the morning, a thin, +spare-looking man, dressed in a black cashmeret suit, swallow-tail +coat, loose-cut pants, a straight-breasted vest, with a very extravagant +shirt-collar rolling over upon his coat, with a black ribbon tied at the +throat, stood at the east corner of Broad and Meeting street, holding a +very excited conversation with officers Dusenberry and Dunn. His +visage was long, very dark--much more so than many of the colored +population--with pointed nose and chin, standing in grim advance to +each other; his face narrow, with high cheek-bones, small, peering eyes, +contracted forehead, reclining with a sunken arch between the perceptive +and intellectual organs--or, perhaps, we might have said, where +those organs should have been. His countenance was full of vacant +restlessness; and as he stared at you through his glasses, with his +silvery gray hair hanging about his ears and neck in shaggy points, +rolling a large quid of tobacco in his mouth, and dangling a little whip +in his right hand, you saw the index to his office. As he raised his +voice--which he did by twisting his mouth on one side, and working his +chin to adjust his enormous quid--the drawling tone in which he spoke +gave a picture not easily forgotten. + +“You must pay more attention to the arrivals,” said he in a commanding +tone. “The loss of one of these fellers is a serious drawback to my +pocket; and that British consul's using the infernalest means to destroy +our business, that ever was. He's worse than the vilest abolitionist, +because he thinks he's protected by that flag of their'n. If he don't +take care, we'll tar-and-feather him; and if his government says much +about it, she'll larn what and who South Carolina is. We can turn out +a dozen Palmetto regiments that'd lick any thing John Bull could send +here, and a troop o' them d--d Yankee abolitionists besides. South +Carolina's got to show her hand yet against these fellers, afore they'll +respect the honor and standing of her institutions. They can't send +their navy to hurt us. And it shows that I always predicts right; for +while these commercial fellers about the wharves are telling about +digging out the channel, I've al'ays said they didn't think how much +injury they were doing; for it was our very best protection in war-time. +South Carolina can lick John Bull, single-fisted, any time; but if that +pack of inconsiderate traders on the wharves get their own way, away +goes our protection, and John Bull would bring his big ships in and +blow us up. And these fellows that own ships are getting so bold, that a +great many are beginning to side with Mathew, the consul. Yes, they even +swear that 'tis the officials that stick to the law for the sake of the +fees. Now, if I only knew that the consul was the means of that Nassau +nigger getting away, I'd raise a mob, and teach him a lesson that South +Carolinians ought to have teached him before. It took about seventeen +dollars out of my pocket, and if I was to sue him for it, I could get +no recompense. The next time you allow one to escape, I must place some +other officer over the port,” said our man whom, we shall continue to +call Mr. Grimshaw. + +“Sure I heard the same consul, when spakin to a gintleman, say that +the law was only an abuse of power, to put money into the pockets of +yourself and a few like ye. And whin meself and Flin put the irons on a +big nigger that the captain was endeavoring to skulk by keeping him in +the forecastle of the ship, he interfered between me and me duty, and +began talking his balderdash about the law. Sure, with his own way, he'd +have every nigger in the city an abolitionist in three weeks. And sure, +Mr. Sheriff, and ye'd think they were babies, if ye'd see himself talk +to them at the jail, and send them up things, as if they were better +than the other criminals, and couldn't live on the jail fare,” said +officer Dunn, who continued to pledge himself to the sheriff that the +wharves should not be neglected, nor a hopeful English darky escape his +vigilant eye. + +“For my own part, I think they're better off in jail than they would be +on the wharf,” continued Grimshaw. “They're a worthless set, and ha'n't +half the character that a majority of our slaves have; and instead of +attending the captain on board, they'd be into Elliot street, spending +their money, getting drunk, and associating with our worst niggers. And +they all know so much about law, that they're always teaching our bad +niggers the beauties of their government, which makes them more unhappy +than they are. Our niggers are like a shoal of fish--when one becomes +diseased, he spreads it among all the rest; and before you know where +you are, they're done gone.” + +“They're not very profitable customers for us, Sheriff,” said +Dusenberry. “We have a deal of watching, and a mighty smart lot of +trouble after we get them fellows; and if we get a perquisite, it never +amounts to much, for I seldom knew one that had money enough to treat +as we took him up. These Britishers a'n't like us; they don't pay off in +port and if the fellows get any thing in jail from the consul, it's by +drib-drabs, that a'n't no good, for it all goes for liquor. And them +criminals make a dead haul upon a black steward, as soon as he is locked +up. But if these sympathizing fools follow up their bugbears about the +treatment at the jail, they'll get things so that our business won't +be worth a dollar. For my own part, I'm not so much beholdin', for I've +made myself comfortable within the last few years, but I want my son +to succeed me in the office. But if this consul of their'n keeps up his +objections, appeals, and his protests in this way, and finds such men as +his honor the district-attorney to second him with his nonsense and his +notions, folks of our business might as well move north of Mason and +Dixon's.” + +“I can wake him up to a point,” said Grimshaw, “that that abolition +consul ha'n't learnt before; and if he'd stuck his old petition +in Charles Sumner's breeches pocket instead of sending it to our +legislature, he might have saved his old-womanish ideas from the +showing' up that Myzeck gave 'em. It takes Myzeck to show these +blue-skin Yankees how to toe the mark when they come to South Carolina. +If South Carolina should secede, I'd say give us Myzeck and Commander to +lead our war, and we'd be as sure to whip 'em as we won the Mexican war +for the Federal Government. There is three things about an Englishman, +Dusenberry, which you may mark for facts. He is self-conceited, and +don't want to be advised;--he thinks there is no law like the law of +England, and that the old union-jack is a pass-book of nations;--and +he thinks everybody's bound to obey his notions of humanity and the +dictates of his positive opinions. But what's worse than all, they've +never seen the sovereignty of South Carolina carried out, and according +to Consul Mathew's silly notions, they think we could be licked by a +gun-boat. + +“It's no use arguing this thing, you must keep a keen eye upon the +English niggers; and when a man pretends to dispute the right, tell him +its 'contrary to law,' and to look at the statute-books; tell him it +costs more to keep them than they're all worth; and if they say the law +was never intended for foreign citizens, tell 'em its 'contrary to law.' +South Carolina's not bound to obey the voice of the General Government, +and what does she care for the federal courts? We'll pursue a course +according to the law; and any thing that is contrary to it we will take +care of for the better protection of our institutions. Now, don't let +one pass, upon the peril of your office,” continued Mr. Grimshaw. + +“It's not a button I'd care for the office,” said Dunn. “Sure it's +yerself be's makin' all the fees, and ourselves getting the paltry +dollar; and yerself gives us as much trouble to get that as we'd be +earning two dollars at magistrate Jiles' beyant. Sure! himself's +liberal and doesn't be afraid to give us a division of the fees when the +business is good. And sure ye make yer ten times the fees on an English +nigger, and never gives us beyant the dollar,” continued he, moving off +in high dudgeon, and swearing a stream of oaths that made the very blood +chill. There was a covert meaning about Mr. Grimshaw's language that was +not at all satisfactory to Mr. Dunn's Irish; especially when he knew Mr. +Grimshaw's insincerity so well, and that, instead of being liberal, he +pocketed a large amount of the fees, to the very conscientious benefit +of his own dear self. The reader must remember that in Charleston, South +Carolina, there is a large majority of men who care little for law, +less for justice, and nothing for Christianity. Without compunction +of conscience, and with an inherited passion to set forward the +all-absorbing greatness of South Carolina, these men act as a check upon +the better-disposed citizens. The more lamentable part is, that forming +a large portion of that species of beings known as bar-room politicians, +they actually control the elections in the city; and thus we may account +for the character of the incumbents of office, and for the tenacity with +which those oppressive laws are adhered to. + +This almost incompatible conversation between a high sheriff and two +menial constables, may to many seem inconsistent with the dignity +that should be observed between such functionaries. Nevertheless, all +restraint is not only annihilated by consent, but so prominently is +this carried out, and so well understood by that respectable class of +citizens whose interests and feelings are for maintaining a good +name for the city and promoting its moral integrity, that in all +our conversation with them, we never heard one speak well of those +functionaries or the manner in which the police regulations of the city +were carried out. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. THE JANSON IN THE OFFING. + + + +AFTER several days' suffering for want of wafer and fatigue of labor, +several of the crew were reported upon the sick-list. Manuel, who had +borne his part nobly and cheerfully, was among the number; and his loss +was more severely felt, having done a double duty, and succeeded, as far +as the means were at hand, in making everybody on board comfortable. He +had attended upon those who gave up first, like a good nurse, ready +at the call, whether night or day, and with a readiness that seemed +pleasure to him. From the captain to the little boy Tommy, his loss +was felt with regret; and the latter would often go into the forecastle +where he lay, lean over him with a child-like simplicity, and smooth his +forehead with his little hand. “Manuel! I wish poor Manuel was well!” he +would say, and again he would lay his little hand on his head and smooth +his hair. He would whisper encouragement in his ear; and having learned +a smattering of Portuguese, would tell him how soon they would be in +port, and what pleasant times they would have together. + +On the 21st they descried land, which proved to be Stono, about +twenty-five miles south of Charleston. Tommy announced the news to +Manuel, which seemed to cheer him up. His sickness was evidently caused +by fatigue, and his recovery depended more upon rest and nourishment +than medical treatment. That night at ten o'clock the wind came strong +north-west, and drove the Janson some distance to sea again; and it was +not until the morning of the 23d that she made Charleston light, and +succeeded in working up to the bar. Signal was made for a pilot, and +soon, a very fine cutter-looking boat, “Palmetto, No. 4,” was seen +shooting out over the bar in the main channel. Manuel, somewhat +recovered, had a few minutes before been assisted on deck, and through +the captain's orders was laid upon a mattrass, stretched on the +starboard side of the companion-way. By his side sat little Tommy, +serving him with some nourishment. + +The boat was soon alongside, and the pilot, a middle-sized man, well +dressed, with a frank, open countenance, rather florid and sun-stained, +and a profusion of gold chain and seal dangling from his fob, came +on board. After saluting the captain, he surveyed the weather-beaten +condition of the craft, made several inquiries in regard to her working, +and then said in a sang-froid manner, “Well! I reckon you've seen some +knocking, anyhow.” Then turning again and giving some orders in regard, +to getting more way upon her, he viewed the laborious working at the +pumps, and walking about midships on the larboard side, took a sharp +survey of her waist. “Don't she leak around her topsides, Captain?” said +he. + +Receiving an answer in the affirmative, he gave a glance aloft, and +then at the sky to windward; asked how long he had worked her in that +condition, and where he took the gale. “It's a wonder she hadn't swamped +ye before now. I'd a' beached her at the first point, if she'd bin mine; +I'd never stand at slapping an old craft like this on. She reminds me +of one o' these down-east sugar-box crafts what trade to Cuba,” he +continued. Then walking across the main-hatch to the starboard side, he +approached the men who were pumping, and after inquiring about freeing +her, suddenly caught a glimpse of Manuel, as he lay upon the mattrass +with his face uncovered. + +“Heavens! What! have you got the yellow fever on board at this season +of the year?” he inquired of the mate, who had just come aft to inquire +about getting some water from the pilot-boat. + +“No, we've had every thing else but the yellow fever; one might as well +bin on a raft as such an infernal unlucky old tub as she is. It's the +steward, sir--he's got a touch of a fever; but he'll soon be over it. +He only wants rest, poor fellow! He's bin a bully at work ever since the +first gale. He'll mend before he gets to town,” was the reply. + +“Ah! then you've had a double dose of it. It gives a fellow bringer off +them capes once in a while.--The steward's a nigger, isn't he?” inquired +the pilot. + +“Nigger!--not he,” said the mate. “He's a Portuguese mixed breed; a kind +o' sun-scorched subject, like a good many of you Southerners. A nigger's +mother never had him, you may bet your 'davie on that. There's as much +white blood in his jacket as anybody's got, only them Portuguese are +dark-lookin' fellers. He's no fool--his name's Manuel, a right clever +feller, and the owners think as much of him as they do of the Skipper.” + +“Gammon,” said the pilot to himself. “What would he think if we were +to show him some specimens of our white niggers in Charleston?” And +turning, he walked past Manuel with a suspicious look, and took a +position near the man at the wheel, where he remained for some time +fingering the seals of his watch-chain. The Captain had gone into the +cabin a few minutes before, and coming on deck again, walked toward the +place where the pilot stood, and took a seat upon an old camp-stool. + +“Cap,” said the pilot, “ye'll have trouble with that nigger of your'n +when ye git to town. If you want to save yerself and the owners a d--d +site o' bother and expense, y' better keep him close when y' haul in; +and ship him off to New York the first chance. I've seen into the mill, +Cap, and y' better take a friend's advice.” + +“Nigger!” said the Captain indignantly, “what do they call niggers in +Charleston? My steward's no more a nigger than you are!” + +“What, sir?” returned the pilot in a perfect rage. “Do you know the +insulting nature of your language? Sir, if the law did not subject me, +I would leave your vessel instantly, and hold you personally responsible +as soon as you landed, sir.” + +The Captain, unconscious of the tenacity with which the chivalrous blood +of South Carolina held language that mooted a comparison of colors, +considered his answer; but could see nothing offensive in it. + +“You asked me a question, and I gave you a proper answer. If you +consider such a man as my steward--poor fellow--a nigger, in your +country, I'm glad that you are blessed with so many good men.” + +“We polishes our language, Captain, when we speak of niggers in South +Carolina,” said the pilot. “A South Carolinian, sir, is a gentleman all +over the world. It don't want nothin' further than the name of his State +to insure him respect. And when foreign folks and Northerners from them +abolition States bring free niggers into South Carolina, and then go to +comparing them to white folks, they better be mighty careful how they +stir about. South Carolina ought to've seceded last year, when she +talked about it, and sent every Yankee home to make shoe-pegs. We +wouldn't bin insulted then, as we are now. I'll tell you what it is, +Cap,” said he, rather cooling off, “if our folks was only as spunky as +they were in eighteen hundred and thirty-two times, them fellers what +come here to feed upon South Carolina, put the devil in the heads of the +niggers, and then go home again, would see stars and feel bullet-holes.” + +The Captain listened to the pilot's original South Carolina talk, or, as +the pilot himself had called it, polished language, without exhibiting +any signs of fear and trembling at its sublime dignity; yet, finding +that the pilot had misconstrued the tenor of his answer, said, “You must +have mistaken the intention of my reply, sir; and the different manner +in which you appropriate its import may be attributed to a custom +among yourselves, which makes language offensive that has no offensive +meaning. We never carry pistols or any such playthings in my country. +We have a moral security for our lives, and never look upon death as so +great an enemy that we must carry deadly weapons to defend it. In fact, +pilot,” he said in a joking manner, “they're rather cumbersome little +bits for a feller's pocket: I'd rather carry my supper and breakfast in +my pocket. Now tell us, who do you call niggers in South Carolina?” + +“Why, Captain, we call all what a'n't white folks. Our folks can +tell 'em right smart. They can't shirk out if it's only marked by +the seventeenth generation. You can always tell 'em by the way they +look--they can't look you in the face, if they are ever so white. The +law snaps 'em up once in a while, and then, if they're ever so white, +it makes 'em prove it. I've known several cases where the doubt was in +favor of the nigger, but he couldn't prove it, and had to stand aside +among the darkies. Dogs take my skin, Cap, if theren't a Jew feller in +town as white as anybody, and his father's a doctor. It got whispered +round that he was a nigger, and the boarders where he stayed raised a +fuss about it. The nigger's father had two of them sued for slander, +but they proved the nigger by a quirk of law that'd make a volume bigger +than Blackstone; and instead of the old Jew getting satisfaction, the +judges, as a matter of policy, granted him time to procure further proof +to show that his son wasn't a nigger. It was a very well-considered +insinuation of the judges, but the young-un stands about A-1 with a +prime nigger-feller.” + +“I should like to have 'em try me, to see whether I was a nigger or a +white man. It must be a funny law, 'nigger or no nigger.' If a feller's +skin won't save him, what the devil will?” said the Captain. + +“Why, show your mother and her generation were white, to be sure! It's +easy enough done, and our judges are all very larned in such things--can +tell in the twinkling of an eye,” said the pilot. + +“I should think the distinguishing points would be to show that their +mother had nothing to do with a nigger. Do your judges make this a +particular branch of jurisprudence? If they do, I'd like to know what +they took for their text-books. If the intermixture is as complex as +what you say, I should think some of the judges would be afraid of +passing verdict upon their own kin.” + +“Not a whit!” said the pilot; “they know enough for that.” + +“Then you admit there's a chance. It must be an amusing affair, 'pon +my soul! when a nice little female has to draw aside her vail before a +court of very dignified judges, for the purpose of having her pedigree +examined,” said the Captain. + +“Oh! the devil, Cap; your getting all astray--a woman nigger never has +the advantage of the law. They always go with the niggers, ah! ha! ha!!” + +“But suppose they're related to some of your big-bugs. What then? Are +your authorities so wise and generous that they make allowance for these +things,” asked the Captain, innocently. + +“Oh! poh! there you're again: you must live in Charleston a year or two, +but you'll have to be careful at first that you don't fall in love with +some of our bright gals, and think they're white, before you know it. It +doesn't matter seven coppers who they're got by, there's no distinction +among niggers in Charleston. I'll put you through some of the bright +houses when we get up, and show you some scions of our aristocracy, that +are the very worst cases. It's a fact, Cap, these little shoots of the +aristocracy invariably make bad niggers. If a fellow wants a real prime, +likely nigger wench, he must get the pure African blood. As they say +themselves, 'Wherever Buckra-man bin, make bad nigger.'” + +“Well, Pilot, I think we've had enough about mixed niggers for the +present. Tell me! do you really think they'll give me trouble with my +steward? He certainly is not a black man, and a better fellow never +lived,” inquired the Captain earnestly. + +“Nothing else, Cap,” said the pilot. “It's a hard law, I tell you, and +if our merchants and business men had a say in it, 'twouldn't last long; +ye can't pass him off for a white man nohow, for the thing's 'contrary +to law,' and pays so well that them contemptible land-sharks of officers +make all the fuss about it, and never let one pass. Just take the +infernal fees off, and nobody'd trouble themselves about the stewards. +It all goes into old Grimshaw's pocket, and he'd skin a bolt-rope for +the grease, and sell the steward if he could get a chance. He has sold a +much nearer relation. I'm down upon the law, you'll see, Cap, for I know +it plays the dickens with our business, and is a curse to the commerce +of the port. Folks what a'n't acquainted with shipping troubles, and +a shipowner's interests, think such things are very small affairs. But +it's the name that affects us, and when an owner stands at every item in +the disbursements, and a heavy bill for keeping his steward, and another +for filling his place, or boarding-house accommodations, and then be +deprived of his services, he makes a wry face, and either begins to +think about another port, or making the rate of freight in proportion to +the annoyance. It has an effect that we feel, but don't say much about. +I'm a secessionist, but I don't believe in running mad after politics, +and letting our commercial interests suffer.” + +“But what if I prove my steward a'n't a colored man?” said the Captain; +“they surely won't give me any trouble then. It would pain my feelings +very much to see Manuel locked up in a cell for no crime; and then to +be deprived of his services, is more than I can stand. If I'd known it +before, I'd suffered the torments of thirst, and put for a port farther +north.” + +“It'll cost more than it's worth,” said the pilot. “Take my plain +advice, Cap; never try that; our lawyers are lusty fellows upon fees; +and the feller'd rot in that old nuisance of a jail afore you'd get him +out. The process is so slow and entangled, nobody'd know how to bring +the case, and ev'ry lawyer'd have an opinion of his own. But the worst +of all is that it's so unpopular, you can't get a lawyer worth seven +cents to undertake it. It would be as dangerous as an attempt to +extricate a martyr from the burning flames. Public opinion in Charleston +is controlled by politicians; and an attempt to move in a thing so +unpopular would be like a man attempting to speak, with pistols and +swords pointed to his head.” + +“Then it's folly to ask justice in your city, is it?” asked the Captain. +“But your people are generous, a'n't they? and treat strangers with a +courtesy that marks the character of every high-minded society?” + +“Yes!--but society in South Carolina has nothing to do with the law; our +laws are gloriously ancient. I wish, Cap, I could only open your ideas +to the way our folks manage their own affairs. I'm opposed to this law +that imprisons stewards, because it affects commerce, but then our other +laws are tip-top. It was the law that our legislature made to stop free +niggers from coming from the abolition States to destroy the affections +of our slaves. Some say, the construction given to it and applied to +stewards of foreign vessels a'n't legal, and wasn't intended; but now +it's controlled by popular will,--the stewards a'n't legislators, and +the judges know it wouldn't be popular, and there's nobody dare meddle +with it, for fear he may be called an abolitionist. You better take my +advice, Cap: ship the nigger, and save yourself and Consul Mathew the +trouble of another fuss,” continued the pilot. + +“That I'll never do! I've made up my mind to try it, and won't be driven +out of a port because the people stand in fear of a harmless man. If +they have any souls in them, they'll regard with favor a poor sailor +driven into their port in distress. I've sailed nearly all over +the world, and I never got among a people yet that wouldn't treat a +shipwrecked sailor with humanity. Gracious God! I've known savages to be +kind to poor shipwrecked sailors, and to share their food with them. I +can't, pilot, imagine a civilization so degraded, nor a public so lost +to common humanity, as to ill treat a man in distress. We've said enough +about it for the present. I'll appeal to Mr. Grimshaw's feelings, when +I get to the city; and I know, if he's a man, he'll let Manuel stay on +board, if I pledge my honor that he won't leave the craft.” + +“Humph!--If you knew him as well as I do, you'd save your own feelings. +His sympathies don't run that way,” said the pilot. + +The Janson had now crossed the bar, and was fast approaching Fort +Sumpter. Manuel had overheard enough of the conversation to awaken fears +for his own safety. Arising from the mattrass, in a manner indicating +his feeble condition, he called Tommy, and walking forward, leaned over +the rail near the fore-rigging, and inquired what the Captain and +the pilot were talking about. Observing his fears, the little fellow +endeavoured to quiet him by telling him they were talking about bad +sailors. + +“I think it is me they are talking about. If they sell me for slave +in Charleston, I'll kill myself before a week,” said he in his broken +English. + +“What's that you say, Manuel?” inquired the first mate as he came along, +clearing up the decks with the men. + +“Pilot tell Captain they sell me for slave in South Carolina. I'd jump +overboard 'fore I suffer him,” said he. + +“Oh, poh! don't be a fool; you a'n't among Patagonians, Manuel; you +won't have to give 'em leg for your life. They don't sell foreigners and +outlandish men like you for slaves in Carolina--it's only black folks +what can't clothe the'r words in plain English. Yer copper-colored hide +wouldn't be worth a sixpence to a nigger-trader--not even to old Norman +Gadsden, that I've heard 'em tell so much about in the Liverpool docks. +He's a regular Jonathan Wild in nigger-dealing; his name's like a fiery +dragon among the niggers all over the South; and I hearn our skipper say +once when I sailed in a liner, that niggers in Charleston were so 'fraid +of him they'd run, like young scorpions away from an old he-devil, when +they saw him coming. He sells white niggers, as they call 'em, and +black niggers--any thing that comes in his way, in the shape of saleable +folks. But he won't acknowledge the corn when he goes away from home, +and swears there's two Norman Gadsdens in Charleston; that he a'n't the +one! When a man's ashamed of his name abroad, his trade must be very bad +at home, or I'm no sailor,” said the mate. + +“Ah, my boys!” said the pilot in a quizzical manner, as he came to +where several of the men were getting the larboard anchor ready to let +go,--“if old Norman Gadsden gets hold of you, you're a gone sucker. A +man what's got a bad nigger has only got to say Old Gadsden to him, and +it's equal to fifty paddles. The mode of punishment most modern, +and adopted in all the workhouses and places of punishment in South +Carolina, is with the paddle, a wooden instrument in, the shape of a +baker's peel; with a blade from three to five inches wide, and from +eight to ten long. This is laid on the posteriors--generally by +constables or officers connected with the police. Holes are frequently +bored in the blade, which gives the application a sort of percussive +effect; The pain is much more acute than with the cowhide; and several +instances are known where a master ordered an amount of strokes beyond +the endurance of the slave, and it proved fatal at the workhouse. They +tell a pretty good story about the old fellow. I don't know if it's +true, but the old fellow's rich now, and he does just what he pleases. +It was that somebody found one of those little occasional droppings of +the aristocracy, very well known among the secrets of the chivalry, and +called foundlings, nicely fixed up in a basket.--It's among the secrets +though, and mustn't be told abroad.--The finders labelled it, 'Please +sell to the highest bidder,' and left it at his door. There was a fund +of ominous meaning in the label; but Norman very coolly took the little +helpless pledge under his charge, and, with the good nursing of old +Bina, made him tell to the tune of two hundred and thirty, cash, 'fore +he was two year old. He went by the name of Thomas Norman, the Christian +division of his foster-father's, according to custom. The old fellow +laughs at the joke, as he calls it, and tells 'em, when they stick it to +him, they don't understand the practice of making money. You must keep a +bright look out for him, Manuel--you'll know him by the niggers running +when they see him coming.” + +The pilot now returned to the quarter, and commenced dilating upon the +beauty of Charleston harbor and its tributaries, the Astley and Cooper +Rivers--then upon the prospects of fortifications to beat the United +States in the event of South Carolina's seceding and raising an +independent sovereignty, composed of her best blood. The Captain +listened to his unsolicited and uninteresting exposition of South +Carolina's prowess in silence, now and then looking up at the pilot and +nodding assent. He saw that the pilot was intent upon astonishing him +with his wonderful advancement in the theory of government, and the +important position of South Carolina. Again he looked dumbfounded, as +much as to acknowledge the pilot's profundity, and exclaimed, “Well! +South Carolina must be a devil of a State: every thing seems captivated +with its greatness: I'd like to live in Carolina if I didn't get +licked.” + +“By scissors! that you would, Captain; you ha'n't an idee what a mighty +site our people can do if they're a mind to! All South Carolina wants +is her constitutional rights, which her great men fought for in +the Revolution. We want the freedom to protect our own rights and +institutions--not to be insulted and robbed by the General Government +and the abolitionists.” + +“Do you practice as a people upon the same principles that you ask of +the General Government!” inquired the Captain. + +“Certainly, Captain, as far as it was intended for the judicious good of +all white citizens!” + +“Then you claim a right for the whites, but withhold the right when it +touches on the dark side. You'll have to lick the Federal Government, as +you call it, for they won't cut the constitution up to suit your notions +of black and white.” * * * + +“That's just the thing, Cap, and we can do it just as easy as we +now protect our own laws, and exterminate the niggers what attempt +insurrections. South Carolina sets an example, sir, of honor and bravery +that can't be beat. Why, just look a-yonder, Cap: the Federal Government +owns this 'er Fort Sumpter, and they insulted us by building it right +in our teeth, so that they could command the harbor, block out our +commerce, and collect the duties down here. But, Cap, this don't scare +South Carolina nohow. We can show 'em two figures in war tactics that'd +blow 'em to thunder. Ye see yonder!” said he, with an earnest look of +satisfaction, pointing to the south, “That's Morris Island. We'd take +Fort Moultrie for a breakfast spell, and then we'd put it to 'em hot +and strong from both sides, until they'd surrender Fort Sumpter. They +couldn't stand it from both sides. Yes, sir, they shut Fort Moultrie +against us, and wouldn't let us have it to celebrate independence in. +There's a smouldering flame in South Carolina that'll burst forth one +of these days in a way that must teach the Federal Government some +astonishing and exciting lessons. There's old Castle Pinckney, sir; we +could keep it for a reserve, and with Generals Quattlebum and Commander, +from Georgetown and Santee Swamp, we could raise an army of Palmetto +regiments that would whip the Federal Government troop and gun-boat.” + +We have given this singular conversation of the pilot with a strange +Captain, which at the time was taken as an isolated case of gasconade +peculiar to the man; but which the Captain afterward found to harmonize +in sentiment, feeling, and expression with the general character of the +people--the only exceptions being the colored people. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. ARRIVAL OF THE JANSON. + + + +ABOUT five o'clock on the evening of the 23d, the Janson passed Castle +Pinckney, ran up to the wharf with the flood-tide, let go her anchor, +and commenced warping into the dock. Her condition attracted sundry +persons to the end of the wharf, who viewed her with a sort of +commiseration that might have been taken for sincere feeling. The +boarding officer had received her papers, and reported her character and +condition, which had aroused a feeling of speculative curiosity, that +was already beginning to spread among ship-carpenters and outfitters. + +Conspicuous among those gathered on the wharf was a diminutive little +dandy, with an olive-colored frock-coat, black pants, embroidered vest, +and an enormous shirt-collar that endangered his ears. This was secured +around the neck with a fancy neckcloth, very tastefully set off with a +diamond pin, He was very slender, with a narrow, feminine face, +round popeyes--requiring the application of a pocket-glass every few +minutes--and very fair complexion, with little positive expression of +character in his features. His nose was pointed; his chin, projected +and covered with innumerable little pimples, gave an irregular +and mastiff-shaped mouth a peculiar expression. He wore a very +highly-polished and high-heeled pair of boots, and a broad-brimmed, +silk-smooth hat. He seemed very anxious to display the beauty of two +diamond rings that glittered upon his delicate little fingers, made +more conspicuous by the wristbands of his shirt. Standing in a very +conspicuous place upon the capsill of the wharf, he would rub his hands, +then running from one part of the wharf to another, ordering sundry +niggers about making fast the lines, kicking one, and slapping another, +as he stooped, with his little hand. All paid respect to him. The +Captain viewed him with a smile of curiosity, as much as to say, “What +important specimen of a miss in breeches is that?” But when the little +fellow spoke, the secret was told. He gathered the inflections of his +voice, as if he were rolling them over the little end of a thunderbolt +in his mouth. As the vessel touched the wharf, he sprang to the corner +and cried out at the top of his voice, “Yer' welcome to Charleston, +Captain Thompson! Where did you get that knocking?--where are ye bound +for?--how many days are you out?--how long has she leaked in that way?” + and a strain of such questions, which it would be impossible to trace, +such was the rapidity with which he put them. The Captain answered him +in accordance with the circumstances; and supposing him clothed with +authority, inquired where he should find some hands to work his pumps, +in order to relieve his men. “By-Je-w-hu! Captain, you must a' had a +piping time, old feller. Oh! yes, you want help to work your pumps. Get +niggers, Captain, there's lots on 'em about here. They're as thick as +grasshoppers in a cotton-patch.” + +“Yes, but I want 'em now, my men are worn out; I must get some Irishmen, +if I can't get others at once,” said the Captain, viewing his man again +from head to foot. + +“Oh! don't employ Paddies, Captain; 'ta'n't popular; they don't belong +to the secession party; Charleston's overrun with them and the Dutch! +Why, she won't hurt to lay till to-morrow morning, and there'll be lots +o' niggers down; they can't be out after bell-ring without a pass, and +its difficult to find their masters after dark. Haul her up 'till she +grounds, and she won't leak when the tide leaves her. We can go to +the theatre and have a right good supper after, at Baker's or the St. +Charles's. It's the way our folks live. We live to enjoy ourselves in +South Carolina. Let the old wreck go to-night.” The little fellow seemed +so extremely polite, and so anxious to “do the genteel attention,” + that the Captain entirely forgot the tenor of his conversation with the +pilot, while his feelings changed with the prospect of such respectful +attention; and yet he seemed at a loss how to analyze the peculiar +character of his little, pedantic friend. + +“You must not think me intrusive, Captain,” said he, pulling out his +segar-pouch and presenting it with at Chesterfieldian politeness. “It's +a pleasure we Carolinians take in being hospitable and attentive to +strangers. My name, sir, is--! My niggers call me Master George. Yes, +sir! our family!--you have heard of my father probably--he belongs to +one of the best stocks in Carolina--owns a large interest in this wharf, +and is an extensive cotton-broker, factors, we call them here--and +he owns a large plantation of niggers on Pee-Dee; you must visit our +plantation. Captain, certain! before you leave the city. But you mustn't +pay much attention to the gossip you'll hear about the city. I pledge +you my honor, sir, it don't amount to any thing, nor has it any +prominent place in our society.” + +“Really, sir,” replied the Captain, “I shall do myself the honor to +accept of your hospitable kindness, and hope it may be my good fortune +to reciprocate at some future day. I'm only too sorry that our wrecked +condition affords me no opportunity to invite you to my table to-night; +but the circumstances which you see everywhere presenting themselves are +my best apology.” + +“Oh, dear me! don't mention it, I pray, Captain. Just imagine yourself +perfectly at home. We will show you what Southern hospitality is. +We don't go upon the Yankee system of Mr. So-and-so and +What-do-ye-call-'um. Our feelings are in keeping with our State pride, +which, with our extreme sensibility of honor, forbids the countenance +of meanness. South Carolinians, sir, are at the very top of the social +ladder--awake to every high-minded consideration of justice and right. +We are not moved by those morbid excitements and notions that so often +lead people away at the North. Make no unnecessary preparation, Captain, +and I will do myself the honor to call upon you in an hour.” Thus +saying, he shook his hand and left. + +The pilot had delivered his charge safe, and was about to, bid +the Captain good-by for the night. But in order to do the thing in +accordance with an English custom, that appears to have lost none of its +zest in South Carolina, he was invited into the Captain's cabin to take +a little prime old Jamaica. Manuel, who had somewhat recovered, brought +out the case from a private locker, and setting it before them, they +filled up, touched glasses, and drank the usual standing toast to South +Carolina. “Pilot,” said the Captain, “who is my polite friend--he seems +a right clever little fellow?” + +“Well, Captain, he's little, but he's first-rate blood, and a genuine +sprig of the chivalry. He's a devil of a secessionist, sir. If ye were +to hear that fellow make a stump speech on States' rights, you'd think +him a Samson on Government. His father is the head of a good mercantile +house here; 'twouldn't be a bad idea to consign to him. But I must bid +you good-night, Captain; I'll call and see you to-morrow,” said the +pilot, leaving for his home. + +The Janson was hauled well up the dock, and grounded on the ebb-tide. +Manuel prepared supper for the officers and crew, while the Captain +awaited the return of his new acquaintance. “Captain,” said Manuel, +“I should like to go ashore to-night and take a walk, for my bones are +sore, and I'm full of pains. I think it will do me good. You don't think +anybody will trouble me, if I walk peaceably along?” + +“Nobody would trouble you if they knew you, Manuel; but I am afraid they +will mistake you in the night. You had better keep ship until morning; +take a good rest, and to-morrow will be a fine day--you can then take +some exercise.” + +Manuel looked at the Captain as if he read something doubtful in his +countenance, and turned away with a pitiful look of dissatisfaction. +It seems that through his imperfect knowledge of English, he had +misconceived the position of the celebrated Thomas Norman Gadsden, whom +he imagined to be something like an infernal machine, made and provided +by the good citizens of Charleston to catch bad niggers. “Nora-ma Gazine +no catch-e me, Cap-i-tan, if me go ashore, 'case me no make trouble in +no part de world where me sail, Oh! no, Cap-i-tan, Manuel know how to +mine dis bisness,” said he returning again to the Captain. + +“Yes, yes, Manuel, but we can't let the crew go ashore 'till we get +through the custom-house; you must content yourself to-night, and in +the morning 'twill be all right. I'm afraid you'll get sick again-the +night-air is very bad in this climate; old Gadsden won't trouble you. He +don't walk about at night.” + +Manuel walked forward, not very well satisfied with the manner in which +the Captain put him off. The latter felt the necessity of caution, +fearing he might infringe upon some of the municipal regulations that +the pilot had given him an account of, which accounted for his refusal +Manuel sat upon the main-hatch fondling Tommy, and telling him what good +things they would have in the morning for breakfast, and how happy they +ought to be that they were not lost during the gales, little thinking +that he was to be the victim of a merciless law, which would confine +him within the iron grates of a prison before the breakfast hour in the +morning. “I like Charleston, Tommy,” said Manuel; “it looks like one of +our old English towns, and the houses have such pretty gardens, and the +people they say are all so rich and live so fine. Tommy, we'll have a +long walk and look all around it, so that we can tell the folks when we +get home. The ship, owes me eleven pounds, and I mean to take some good +things home for presents, to show what they have in South Carolina.” + +“You better buy a young nigger, and take him home as a curiosity to show +among the Highlands. You can buy a young Sambo for any price, just +the same as you would a leg of mutton at the butcher's; put him in +a band-box, lug him across, and you'll make a fortune in the North +country. But I'd rather buy a young wife, for the young niggers are +more roguish than a lot o' snakes, and al'a's eat their heads off afore +they're big enough to toddle. They sell gals here for niggers whiter +than you are, Manuel; they sell 'em at auction, and then they sell corn +to feed 'em on. Carolina's a great region of supersensual sensibility; +they give you a wife of any color or beauty, and don't charge you much +for her, providing you're the right stripe. What a funny thing it would +be to show the Glasgow folks a bright specimen of a bought wife from the +renowned State of South Carolina, with genuine aristocratic blood in her +veins; yes, a pure descendant of the Huguenots!” said the mate, who +was leaning over the rail where Manuel and Tommy were seated, smoking a +segar and viewing the beautiful scenery around the harbor. + +“Ah!” said Manuel, “when I get a wife and live on shore, I don't want to +buy one-it might be a dangerous bargain. Might buy the body, but not the +soul-that's God's.” + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. A NEW DISH OF SECESSION. + + + +ABOUT a quarter past eight o'clock in the evening, Master George, as he +called himself, the little pedantic man, came skipping down the wharf. +As soon as he approached the brig, he cried out at the top of his voice, +“Captain! Captain!!” + +The Captain stepped to the gangway, and the little fellow, who had stood +crossing and working his fingers, reached out his hand to assist him +ashore. This done, he took the Captain's arm, and commencing a discourse +upon the wonderful things and people of South Carolina they wended their +way to the Charleston Theatre. The company then performing was a small +affair, and the building itself perfectly filthy, and filled with an +obnoxious stench. The play was a little farce, which the Captain had +seen to much perfection in his own country, and which required some +effort of mind to sit out its present mutilation. Yet, so highly pleased +was Master George, that he kept up a succession of applauses at every +grimace made by the comedian. Glad when the first piece was over, the +Captain made a motion to adjourn to the first good bar-room and have a +punch. It was agreed, upon the condition that the little man should “do +the honor,” and that they should return and see the next piece out. The +Captain, of course, yielded to the rejoinder, though it was inflicting +a severe penalty upon his feelings. There was another piece to come yet, +which the little fellow's appetite was as ready to devour as the first. +The Captain, seeing this, could not refrain expressing his surprise. +This was taken as a charge against his taste, and George immediately +commenced a discussion upon the subject of the piece, the intention of +the author, and the merits of the principal performers, whose proper +adaptation he admired. The Captain knew his subject, and instead of +contending in detail, advised him to take a peep into the theatres of +New York and London. Not to be undone, for he was like all little men, +who insist upon the profoundness of their own opinions, he asserted that +it could be only the different views which individuals entertained of +delineating character, and that the Charlestonians were proverbially +correct in their judgment of music and dramatic performances. + +“I pity the judgment that would award merit to such a performance as +that,” said the Captain. + +“How strange, that you Englishmen and Scotchmen always find fault with +every thing we Americans do. Your writers manifest it in their books +upon us and the people seem of necessity to copy from them, and echo +their grumblings,” rejoined Master George. + +“You judge from the common saying, instead of a knowledge front +observation, I fear,” said the Captain. + +“Lord, sir! you must not judge me by that rule. Carolinians, sir, +always appreciate intelligent strangers, for they always exert a +healthy influence, and never meddle with our institutions; so you see it +wouldn't do to follow the pestilent notions of petty scribblers, lest we +should form wrong opinions.” + +“But tell me,” said the Captain, “do you consider yourselves Americans +in South Carolina?--the pilot must have led me astray.” + +“Americans! yes, indeed, the true blood at that, and no man of tip-top +judgment ever questioned it. But you must mark the difference; we +ha'n't Yankees, nor we don't believe in their infernal humbuggery +about abolition. If it wasn't for South Carolina and Georgia, the +New-Englanders would starve for want of our cotton and rice. It's the +great staple what keeps the country together; and as much as they talk +about it, just take that away, and what would the United States be? We +South Carolinians give no symptoms or expressions of what we mean to do +that we cannot maintain. We have been grossly insulted by the Federal +Government, but it dar'n't come at us and just give us a chance at fair +fight. We'd show 'em the thunder of the Palmetto, that they'd never +trouble our sovereignty again. Captain, I pledge you my honor that if +there wasn't so many infernal Yankees in Georgia, and she'd follow +our lead in secession, we'd just lick the whole North. Georgia's a big +State, but she a'n't pluck, and has no chivalry at all among her people. +She allows such privileges to them Yankees-gives them power to control +her manufacturing interests-and this is just what will uproot the +foundation of their slave institution. Georgians a'n't a bit like +us; first, they are too plebeian in their manners-have no bond of +guardianship for their laws, and exert no restraints for the proper +protection of good society. But, Captain, their stock has a different +origin, and the peculiarity which now marks our character may be traced +to the offspring of early settlement. We derived our character and +sentiments from the Huguenots; they, from an uncharacterized class of +coarse adventurers, whose honesty was tinctured with penal suspicion. +This, sir, accounts for the differences so marked in our character.” + +The little fellow pressed this kind of conversation in the lobby of +the theatre, and at the same time took the very particular pleasure of +introducing the Captain to several of the young bloods, as he called +them, while they walked to and from the boxes. At length the Captain +found himself in a perfect hornet's nest, surrounded by vicious young +secessionists, so perfectly nullified in the growth that they were all +ready to shoulder muskets, pitchforks, and daggers, and to fire pistols +at poor old Uncle Sam, if he should poke his nose in South Carolina. The +picture presented was that of an unruly set of children dictating their +opinions to a hoary-headed old daddy-accusing him of pragmatism, and +threatening, if he was twice as old, they'd whip him unless he did +as they directed. The knowledge of South Carolina's power and South +Carolina's difficulties with the Federal Government he found so +universally set forth as to form the atmosphere of conversation in the +parlor, the public-house, the school and the bar-room, the lecture-room +and the theatre. + +The little man extended his invitation to a party of the bloods. The +Captain was taken by the arms in a kind of bond fellowship, and escorted +into Baker's eating-saloon, a place adjacent to the theatre, and, to +a man unaccustomed to the things that are in Charleston, a very rowdy +place. This is considered by Charlestonians one of the finest places +in the Southern country; where good suppers and secession (the +all-engrossing subjects with Charlestonians) form the only important +element of conversation. It may be set down as a fact, that among +seven-tenths of the people of Charleston, the standard of a gentleman +is measured according to his knowledge of secession and his ability +to settle the question of hot suppers. We say nothing of that vigorous +patriotism so often manifested in a long string of fulsome toasts that +disgrace the columns of the Mercury and Courier. + +At Baker's the place was literally crowded with all kinds and +characters, graded from the honorable judge down to the pot-boy; a +pot-pouri of courtesy and companionship only exhibited in England on the +near approach of elections. The reader may think this strange, but we +can assure him that distinctions are strangely maintained; an exclusive +arrogance being observed in private life, while a too frequent and +general resort to bar-rooms has established plebeianism in public. +Voices were sounding at all parts of the counter, and for as many +different voices as many different mixtures were named. The Captain +received a great many introductions, and almost as many invitations to +drink; but the little man, Master George, claimed the exclusive honor, +and keeping an eye wide awake, took the advantage of his own dimensions, +and began working his way through a barricade of bodies and elbows, +until he had reached the counter. His party followed close, at his +heels. Altogether, they called for cocktails, smashes, toddies, +cobblers, juleps, and legitimates. These disposed of, the company +repaired to what is called a “box up-stairs.” Scarcely seated, Master +George rang the bell with such violence that he disjointed the cord and +tassel, and gave such an alarm that three or four darkies came poking +their alarmed countenances through the curtains at once. + +“There's nothing like making the fellows mind; they've got so infernal +independent here, and old Tom thinks so much of his young wife, that his +niggers have begun to imitate him. One's enough at a time!” said Master +George, with all the importance of his character. A “bright boy,” with +his hair nicely parted on the middle of his head, and frizzed for the +occasion, made a polite bow, while the others retired. + +“What have you choice for supper, to-night? We want something ripe for +the palate-none of your leavings, now, you infernal nigger, and don't +tell us none of your lies.” + +“Birds, sir, grouse, woodcock, partridge, canvas-backs, and quails; +meats, venison, and oysters, master-did up in any shape what the +gentlemen wish. Wines, &c., if they want,” replied the servant, without +any of the negro dialect, at the same time making a low bow to Master +George. + +“Name it! name your dishes, gentlemen! Don't be backward. I suppose +his birds are as usual, without age to flavor them. It's perfectly +heathenish to eat birds as they are served here: we never get a bird +here that is sufficiently changed to suit a gentleman o' taste; their +beef's tough, and such steak as they make is only fit for shoemakers and +blacksmiths. I never come into the place but I think of my journey in +France, where they know the style and taste of a gentleman, and things +are served to suit your choice.” Thus our little friend continued +his connoisseur remarks, to give the Captain a particular idea of +his proficiency in the requisite qualities, age, and time of keeping +necessary to make the adjuncts of a supper fit for a gentleman. “D--me! +we don't know when edibles are choice, and the Yankees are perfect +brutes in these things, and have no more taste than a cow. Our folks +ought to all go to France for a year or two, to learn the style of +cooking. It's perfect murder to eat a bird the very day after it's +killed; yes, sir! no man that considers his stomach will do it,” said +George. + +The servant waited impatiently-the Captain rubbed his eyes, and began +to pour out a glass of water; and dryly said he'd no choice, which was +responded to by the rest. It was left to Master George, and he ordered +a bountiful supply of grouse, partridges, oyster, and champagne of +his favourite brand-none other. There was also a billiard-room, +reading-room, a room for more important gambling, and a bar-room, +up-stairs. All these were well filled with very well-dressed and very +noisy people; the latter being a very convenient place, the party sent +to it for tipplers to fill up time. + +“This is but a small portion of what constitutes life in Charleston, +Captain. We live for living's sake, and don't stand upon those blueskin +theories of temperance and religion that Yankees do, and blame the +Father of generations for not making the world better. I never saw +one of them that wasn't worse than we Southerners before he'd been in +Charleston a year, and was perfect death on niggers. Yes, sir, it's +only the extreme goodness of the Southern people's hearts that makes the +niggers like them so. I never saw a Northerner yet that wouldn't work +his niggers to death in two years. D--me, sir, my servants all love +me as if I was a prince. Have you ever been in France, sir?” said he, +suddenly breaking off. The Captain replied in the affirmative. + +“Ah! then you can speak French! the most polished language known to +refined society. I wouldn't part with my French for the world. All +the first families in Charleston are familiar with it. It's the modern +gentleman's curt-blanche to society here. There's no language like +it for beauty and flexibility; but one must go to France and learn to +acquire its grace and ease,” said he, in rapid succession, rolling +out his words in imitation of a London sprig of the Inner Temple, and +working his little mastiff mouth. + +“No, sir,” said the Captain quaintly. “I never stopped long enough in +France to get hold of the lingo.” + +“God bless me, what a misfortune! and can't speak it yet, ah? Why, +Captain, if you wanted to court a petite madmoselle, you'd be in a sad +fix-she wouldn't understand what you were talking about and would take +your love-pledges for gammon.” + +“You're mistaken there, my good fellow. Love grows on trees in France, +and a French woman can see it before you begin to tell her about it!” + retorted the Captain, which brought a “Good! good! hit him again!” from +the whole party. At this, Master George commenced reading the Captain a +disquisition upon the best mode of acquiring the French language. Supper +was brought-in old Tom Baker's best flourish-and the party begun to +discuss its merits with great gusto. What the little, chivalrous fellows +lacked in physical dimension, they made up in patriotic sentiment in +behalf of the grand sovereignty of South Carolina, which they continued +to pour out until a late hour, every man backing his sayings by the +authority of the great and wonderful Calhoun. + +The Captain sat eating away, and seeming more disposed to enjoy the +physical consolation of his supper than to elevate his ideas upon South +Carolina's politics. + +“Now, Captain,” said Master George, in a very serious tone, after he had +been striking his hand upon the marble table for more than an hour to +confirm the points of his reasoning,--“what is your opinion of the great +question at issue between the Federal Government and South Carolina? +And what do you think of the Old Dominion? how will she stand upon the +test-question?” + +The poor Captain looked confounded-took another oyster, and began to get +his mouth in a fix, while little George worked his fingers through +his nice curly hair, and the young bloods awaited the rejoinder with +anxiety. + +“Really, sir, you have the advantage of me in your question. It is +so much beyond my profession that I am entirely ignorant of the +subject-therefore could not give an opinion. In truth, sir, I do +not know the purport of the question. It has given me pleasure and +information to listen to your conversation and the ability you displayed +in argument, but, as a stranger, I could take no part,” replied the +Captain very sincerely. + +Not content with this, Master George wished to be more direct. “It's +the right of secession, Captain-the power to maintain the right by the +constitution.” + +“Probably; but may I expose my ignorance by inquiring what is meant +by secession? and to what it is applied so frequently?” inquired the +Captain. + +“Oh! murder Captain; have you never heard of nullification times! +Well, sir, you must be posted on the affairs of our government.” So +he commenced an analysis of nearly an hour long, and in it gave some +astonishing accounts of the wonderful statesmanship of Calhoun, Butler, +and Rhett, tapering down with a perfect fire-and-thunder account of +the military exploits of General Quattlebum and Captain Blanding. The +Captain began to stretch and gape, for he labored under the fatigue of a +perilous voyage, and repose was the only sovereign remedy. He felt that +the limits of propriety were entirely overstepped, and that he would +have reason to remember the first night spent with little George the +secessionist. + +“But, Captain! my dear fellow. I see you don't understand our position +yet. We've been insulted; yes, most rascally insulted by the Federal +Government, and they keep it up every year. We can't get our rights. Oh! +no, sir, there's no such thing in the knowledge of the Federal officers +as justice for South Carolina; and you must understand, Captain, that +she is the greatest State in the Union, and there a'n't nothing like her +people for bravery. The political power's got North and West, the old +constitution is being dissected to suit the abolitionists, and they're +drawing the cordon around us faster and faster; and they're now out like +a warrior boldly to the conquest, sounding their voices in the halls of +Congress, appealing to human and divine power to protect their nonsense, +and bidding defiance to our constitutional rights, Our slaves are our +property, protected by the law of God-by that inspired and superhuman +wisdom that founded our great and glorious constitution. Yes, sir! +it was an institution entailed upon us by our forefathers, and a wise +providence has provided proper laws by which we shall protect and see +these poor miserable devils of helpless slaves, that can't take care of +themselves, straight through.” + +“But how does this affect you and the Federal Government?” inquired the +Captain. + +“Why, sir, most directly!” replied Master George, screwing his mouth and +giving his head a very learned attitude. “Directly, sir!--the Federal +Government is acquiescing in every abolition scheme that is put forward +by that intriguing Northern compact for the establishment of new +governments in the territories. She is granting unconstitutional +privileges to designing politicians, whose chief aim is to uproot our +domestic institution and destroy the allegiance of the slave to his +master, by which the slaves would be cast upon the world unprotected, +and we disarmed of power to protect them. Ah! sir, I tell you, of all +fruits of the imagination that would be the most damnable, and the slave +would be the sufferer. It would be worse for him, poor fellow; it would +be an abuse of human power without precedent. So far as political power +is concerned, we are nearly disarmed. The influx of population finds +its way into the opened avenues of the North and West. And with opinions +predisposed against our institutions, and the contaminating influence +standing ready with open arms to embrace the great current, what can we +expect? It's the increasing power made by foreign influx that's giving +tone to our government. If our Southern Convention stand firm we are +saved; but I'm fearful there's too many doubtful shadows in it that +won't stand to the gun. That's what's always played the devil with us,” + said George, striking his hand upon the table. “There's no limitation to +their interpositions, and their resolves, and their adjournments; which +don't come up to my principles of making the issue, and standing to the +question with our coffins on our backs. These condescensions of thought +and feeling arise from the misconceived notions of a few, who are always +ready to join, but never willing to march to action, and must not be +taken as a specimen of South Carolina bravery. The Federal Government +has become vicious and even puerile toward South Carolina; and since +the Herculean power of the great Calhoun is gone, it treats us like a +semi-barbarous and secluded people, mistaking our character. But we'll +learn the Federal Government a lesson yet.” + +“Do not your legislators make laws for your government, or how is it +that you express such a restive dissatisfaction? Do not the same laws +which govern you, govern the whole of the slave States?” + +Little George had previously monopolized all the conversation, but at +this juncture five or six voices broke out, each fired with a reply to +the Captain's question; and yet the answer was of the same old stamp: +What South Carolina had done-how she had fought and gained the Mexican +war-how she was interested in slaves, and how she yet feared to strike +the blow because a set of mere adventurers had got the power to vote in +her elections, and cowards through them had got into the legislature. + +“Why, gentlemen, listen to me in this particular. If”-- + +“Your oysters are getting cold, George,” interrupted a blood at his +left, rather facetiously. + +“I claim the respect due a gentleman, sir! A South Carolinian will +transgress no rules of etiquette,” said George, grasping his tumbler +in a passionate manner and smashing it upon the marble slab, causing a +sudden emeute in the camp. “Order! order! order!” was sounded from every +tongue. “You mustn't be afeard, Captain,” said one of the party. “This +is perfectly South Carolinian-just the oscillating of the champagne; it +won't last long.” + +The noise was more loud than ordinary, and brought a score of people +around to hear the trouble. George had got in high dudgeon, and it took +several persons to hold him, while the remainder, not excepting the +Captain, were engaged in a pacification. The scene was very extravagant +in folly; and through the kind interposition of friends, the matter was +settled to the honorable satisfaction of both parties-the question was +called for-the Captain called for a legitimate, rubbed his eyes, and +little George proceeded. “If my friend Thomas Y. Simmons, Jr., had been +elected to the legislature he'd altered the position of things in +South Carolina. All these corruptions would have been exposed, and +the disparity of party would have dwindled into obscurity. Every +true Carolinian voted for him to the hilt, but how was he defeated? +Gentlemen, can you answer? it will be a favor highly gratifying to me to +hear your opinions!” A voice answered, “Because he wasn't big enough!” + “No, sir,” said George, “it was because there was intrigue in the party, +and the Yankee influence went to put him down. The world'll hear from +him yet. He's my particular friend, and will stand in the halls of +Congress as great a statesman as ever lisped a political sentiment.” + +George's account of his particular friend, Thomas Y. S--, Jr., was so +extravagant, and not having heard of him before, the Captain's curiosity +was aroused to know who he was and where he resided. We will not tax the +reader with George's wonderful memoir of his friend, but merely inform +him that “little Tommy Simmons,” as he is usually styled in Charleston, +is an exact pattern of Master George, with the exception of his mouth, +which is straight and regular; and if we may be allowed to condescend +to the extremes, we should say that the cordwainer had done more for +his heels. Otherwise, no daguerreotype could give a counterpart more +correct. Tommy is a very small member of the Charleston bar, who, though +he can seldom be seen when the court is crowded, makes a great deal of +noise without displaying power of elucidation or legal abilities, yet +always acquitting himself cleverly. Tommy was little George in two +particulars-he had studied law, and was a great secessionist; and if +George had never practised, it was only from inclination, which he +asserted arose from a humane feeling which he never could overcome-that +he never wished to oppress anybody. But the greatest contrast that +the reader can picture to himself between mental and physical objects +existed between Tommy's aspirations and the physical man. His mind was +big enough, and so was his self-confidence, to have led the Assyrian +and Chaldean army against the Hebrews. To this end, and to further +the formula of his statesmanship, no sooner was he twenty-one, and +the corner just turned, than he sounded his war-trumpet-secession or +death!--mounted the rostrum and “stump'd it,” to sound the goodness and +greatness of South Carolina, and total annihilation to all unbelievers +in nullification. It was like Jonah and the whale, except the +swallowing, which spunky Tommy promised should be his office, if the +Federal Government didn't toe the mark. Yes, Tommy was a candidate +for the legislature, and for the Southern Congress, (which latter was +exclusively chivalrous;) and the reader must not be surprised when we +tell him that he lacked but a few votes of being elected to the former. +Such was the voice of the Charleston district. + +Supper had been discussed down to the fragments, and all expressed their +satisfaction of the quantity and declined any more; but George called on +another bottle of champagne, and insisted that the party should take +a parting glass. The servant had begun to extinguish the lights-a +sure sign that the success of the bar was ended for the night. George +reprimanded the negro-the sparkling beverage was brought, glasses filled +up, touched, and drunk with the standing toast of South Carolina. +A motion to adjourn was made and seconded, and the party, feeling +satisfied with their evening's recreation, moved off accordingly. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. A FEW POINTS OF THE LAW. + + + +IN Charleston, such an adjournment at a bar-room or an eating-house, +when parties are enjoying what is termed a “pleasant occasion,” does not +mean an adjournment to the domestic fireside; nor are the distinctions +between married and single men regarded, though domestic attachments +may be considered as governing the thoughts and feelings. The practical +definition of such an adjournment means to some place where beauty +secludes itself to waste in shame. + +The party descended into the lower bar-room, which, though rather +thinned, presented a picture of characters stimulated to the tottering +point. A motion had been made and strongly seconded to visit the +voluptuous house of a certain lady, which it is considered a stranger +has not seen Charleston until he has visited. The Captain remonstrated +against this, assuring the party that he must go to the ship and needed +rest. Again and again they insisted, setting forth the charms and beauty +of the denizens, but he as often declined in the most positive manner. +Unable to move him in his resolution, one by one began to give him a +hearty shake of the hand and bid him good-night, leaving little Master +George to the exclusive honor of seeing him home. + +Standing in the centre of the room, surrounded by five or six persons +well-dressed but very weak in the knees, was a portly-looking gentleman; +with very florid countenance, keen dark eyes, and aquiline nose which +he frequently fingered. There was an air of respectability about him, +though his countenance was not marked with any particularly prominent +feature to distinguish him from the ordinary class of respectable men. +He spoke well, yet without taste or discrimination in his language, was +rather bald and gray, with small head and low perceptive powers; and +judging from the particular tone of his voice and the cant terms he +used, we should think he had figured among the Kentucky horse-traders, +or made stump speeches in Arkansas. His dress was inclined to the gaudy. +He wore a flashy brown-colored frock-coat with the collar laid very far +back, a foppish white vest exposing his shirt-bosom nearly down to +the waistbands of his pants, which were of gray stripes. But the more +fanciful portions of his dress were a large and costly fob-chain, which +hung very low and supported an immense seal containing a glistening +stone, which he seemed very fond of dangling with his left hand. +Attached to this was a very prominently displayed black ribbon, +answering the purpose of a guard-chain, and laid with great contrasting +care over the bosom of his shirt. This, with a neckerchief of more +flashy colors than Joseph's coat, and a late style Parisian hat, with +the rim very exquisitely turned upon the sides, make up our man. + +He was discussing politics, with a great many sensible sayings, though +nothing like close reasoning; and strange as it may seem, he was +strongly opposed to the rabid views of several staggering secessionists, +who surrounded him, and advocated the views set forth in convention by +Mr. Butler. We remarked this more particularly, for it was about the +only instance we witnessed of a public man being independent enough to +denounce the fanaticism of secession. A more amusing scene than that +presented by the attitudes-the questions in regard to South Carolina +licking the Federal Government-the strange pomp-ribald gasconade, and +high-sounding chivalry of the worthies, cannot be imagined. They were +in a perfect ecstasy with themselves and South Carolina, and swore, let +whatever come, they were ready to meet it. + +Little Master George seemed very anxious that the Captain should become +acquainted with him, and commenced giving him a monstrous account of his +distinguished abilities. “And that's not all!” said George; “he's not +only one of the greatest characters in Charleston, or perhaps the State, +but he's a right good fellow.” + +We will interrupt, by informing the reader that he was one of the good +fellows-a numerous family in Charleston-who never use fine instruments +when they select their company; and pay a large amount of worthy tribute +to the liquor-dealers. There is no discriminating latitude attached +to the good-fellow family, for its members may be found with alike +gratifying inclinations, from the highest aristocracy to the negro +population. + +“That, sir, is Col. S--e; belongs to one of the first families, sir. He +can beat old Pettigru all hollow; his eloquence is so thrilling that +he always reminds me of Pericles. He can beat little Thomas Y. +Simmons, Jr., all to pieces-make the best stump speech-address a public +assemblage, and rivet all their minds-can make a jury cry quicker than +any other man-can clear the worst criminal that ever committed crime-and +he's good-hearted too-can draw the most astonishing comparisons to +confound the minds of stupid jurors, and make them believe the d--dest +nonsense that ever man invented. Yes, sir-when he makes a speech, +everybody goes to hear him, for he says what he pleases, and old Judge +Withers, whose will is as arbitrary as Julius Caesar's, and has got the +obstinacy of Tom Boyce's mule, dar'n't attempt to control the tenor of +his plea. And he can tell the best invented story of any man in town. +He cleared the villanous Doctor Hines once upon the color of his +pantaloons.” + +George waited impatiently for the end of the political controversy, +determined to introduce his friend to the colonel. He soon had an +opportunity, for the colonel, finding himself beset by a set of +unreasonable secessionists, made a sweeping declaration. “Gentlemen,” + said he, “let me tell you a modest fact: seven-eighths of the secession +fire-eaters don't know what the proper meaning of government is: I +make the charge against my own people-but it is true.” “Traitor! +traitor!--traitor to South Carolina,” was sounded at the top of a dozen +voices. + +“Then, if I am such in your opinions, I'm gratified to know that my +feelings are my own. Good-night!” + +Thus saying, he withdrew from the party, and making his way for the +door, was saluted by George, who introduced him to his friend, the +Captain. The colonel was a very sociable, communicative man; and taking +the Captain's arm, as they walked along, entered into an interesting +conversation about his voyage and first visit to the city, at the same +time displaying his good sense in not trying to force the great things +of South Carolina into his mind. + +We, a few weeks afterward, had the good fortune to hear the legal +abilities of this gentleman displayed in a plea at the bar. There were +many good points in it, which, if not legally pointed, were said well; +yet we should class him as belonging to the loud school. + +The Captain, thinking it a good opportunity to make some inquiries about +his steward, as they proceeded, commenced in the following manner: + +“Your laws are very stringent in South Carolina, I believe, sir!” + +“Well, no sir,” said the colonel, “if we except those which govern the +niggers; they of necessity must be so; we have had so many emeutes with +them, that no law can be made too strict in its bearings. We have so +many bad niggers poured in upon us, that the whole class is becoming +corrupted.” + +“Your laws, of course, make a distinction between good and bad niggers, +and free negroes?” interposed the Captain. + +“We make no distinction between the colors--some are as white as you +are; but the grades are so complex that it would be impossible to make a +sliding-scale law for any fixed complexions. The law which governs +them is distinctive and comprehensive-made in order to shield the white +population from their ignorance of law and evidence. We never could +govern them in their respective spheres, unless the laws were made +stringent in their effect. As for the free niggers, they're the greatest +nuisance we have; it is our policy to get rid of them, and to that end +we tax them severely. The riddance of this class of niggers would be an +essential benefit to our slaves, as upon account of their influence our +negro-laws are made more stringent. And the worst of it is that they +increase faster. But we make it a principal point to get all the free +men we can married to slaves, and the free women run off. You, that are +accustomed to the free institutions of your country, may think some of +these things singular at first; but you would soon become accustomed +to them, and would really admire them when you saw how beautifully they +worked.” + +“Is there no discretionary power left?” inquired the Captain. “It +must be oppressive, if carried out; Good men-whether they be white or +black-are entitled to the advantages due them; but where laws such as +you describe are carried out, a good man's evidence being black, the +intention could not be made white. Now, according to my idea of the +law of nature, a man's merits are in his moral integrity and behaviour; +therefore I should establish the rule that a good black man was better +than a bad white man, and was as much entitled to the respect and +government of law.” + +“Hi!--oh! Captain; it won't do to talk so in South Carolina. Just let a +nigger imagine himself as good as a white man, and all the seven codes +in Christendom wouldn't keep 'em under. Ah! you've got to learn a thing +or two about niggers yet,” interrupted Master George, before the Colonel +had time to speak. + +“I only speak from my observation of human nature; but I may become +better acquainted with your laws, if I remain among you,” said the +Captain. + +“As I have said before sir,” replied the Colonel, “our nigger-laws are +such as to require a strict enforcement. If we allowed the prerogative +of a discretionary power, it would open the way to an endless system of +favoritism, just at the mercy and feelings of those exercising it. As it +is now, the white or black nigger, male or female, gets the same law and +the same penalty. We make no distinction even at the paddle-gallows. The +paddle-gallows is a frame with two uprights, and a wrench screw at +the top. The negro's hands are secured in iron wristlets-similar to +handcuffs; a rope is then attached to an eye in these, and passing over +the wrench, which being turned, the negro is raised in an agonizing +position until the tips of his toes scarcely touch the floor. Thus +suspended, with the skin stretched to its utmost tension, it not +unfrequently parts at the first blow of the paddle. Sometimes the feet +are secured, when the effect of this modern science of demonstrating the +tension of the human body for punishment becomes more painful under the +paddle. South Carolinians deny this mode of punishment generally, and +never allow strangers to witness it. It is not, as some writers have +stated, practised in Georgia, where, we are happy to say, that so far as +punishment is conducted in a legal manner, at the jails and prisons, +it is administered in a humane manner; and instead of turning modern +barbarity into a science, as is, done in South Carolina, a strict +regard for the criminal is observed. I will relate some singular facts +connected with the strictness with which we South Carolinians carry +out our laws. And now that we are on the spot connected with it, its +associations are more forcibly impressed on my mind. It brings with it +many painful remembrances, and, were we differently situated, I should +wish the cause to be removed. But it cannot be, and we must carry out +the law without making allowances, for in these little leniencies all +those evils which threaten the destruction of our peculiar institution +creep in. In fact, Captain, they are points of law upon which all our +domestic quietude stands; and as such, we are bound to strengthen our +means of enforcing them to the strictest letter. Our laws are founded +upon the ancient wisdom of our forefathers, and South Carolina has never +traduced herself or injured her legal purity. We have reduced our system +almost to a practical science, so complete in its bearings and points +of government as to be worthy the highest and noblest purposes of our +country. And at the same time, such is the spirit and magnanimity of our +people, that in framing laws to guard against the dangerous influences +of that wing of our country that spreads its ambitious fallacies--its +tempting attractions-shallow criticisms upon minute and isolated +cases-redundant theories without measure or observation, and making +a standard for the government of slaves upon foolish and capricious +prejudices, we have been careful to preserve a conservative moderation +toward the slave. But, to my remarks.” + +The party had now arrived opposite to what was formerly known as Jones's +Hotel, where the Colonel made a halt to relate the singular case that +had pained his feelings, though he held very tenaciously to the law as +it was, because he believed strongly in the wisdom of the South Carolina +judiciary. + +“Our first and great object is to prevent the interchange of sentiment +between our domestic niggers, whether bond or free, and niggers who +reside abroad or have left our State; To do this, it became imperative +to establish a law prohibiting free negroes from coming into the State, +and those in the State from going out, under penalty of imprisonment and +fine, if they returned. The penalty amounted to sale upon a peon form; +and subjected the offender to the slave system in a manner that he +seldom retrieved himself. You will observe, Captain, the penalty is not +desired by our people, the object being to prevent them from returning, +and as such it must be taken in the spirit of its origin. Another very +wise provision was made by our legislators, and which has prevented a +great deal of suffering on the part of the slave. A few years ago, our +wise legislature made a law to revert the power of emancipation from the +board of magistrates where it had been very much abused, to the House +itself. And such is the law at the present day, that no master can give +his slaves their freedom, except by special act of the legislature, and +that with such a multiplicity of provisions and conditions that few even +attempt it. But I'm about to refer to cases in which some modification +might be said to have been necessary, because in them are embodied the +worst germs for abolition speculation. + +“That, Captain, is Jones's Hotel,” said the Colonel, pointing to an +odd-looking house of antique and mixed architecture, with a large convex +window above the hall-entrance, in the second story. This house is +situated in Broad street, next to the aristocratic St. Michael's Church, +one of the most public places in the city. “In years past, that house +was kept by Jones, a free nigger. Jones was almost white, a fine +portly-looking man, active, enterprising, intelligent, honest to the +letter, and whose integrity and responsibility was never doubted. He +lived in every way like a white man, and, I think, with few exceptions, +never kept company with even bright folks. His house was unquestionably +the best in the city, and had a widespread reputation. Few persons of +note ever visited Charleston without putting up at Jones's, where they +found, not only the comforts of a private house, but a table spread with +every luxury that the county afforded. The Governor always put up at +Jones's; and when you were travelling abroad, strangers would speak +of the sumptuous fare at Jones's in Charleston, and the elegance and +correctness of his house. But if his house and fare were the boast of +Carolinians, and the remark of strangers, his civility and courteous +attention could not be outdone. Jones continued in the popularity of his +house for many years, reared a beautiful, intelligent, and interesting +family; at the same time accumulated about forty thousand dollars. The +most interesting part of his family was three beautiful daughters, the +eldest of whom was married to a person now in New York. She was fairer +than seven-eighths of those ladies who term themselves aristocracy in +Charleston, and promenade King street in the afternoon. + +“She removed to New York with her husband, who now resides in that city, +engaged in lucrative and respectable business. A short time after, her +second sister-not dreaming that the law would be so stringent as to +class her with the lowest nigger, or even lay its painful bearings +at her door; for the family were very high-minded, and would have +considered themselves grossly insulted to have the opprobrious name of +nigger applied to them-paid her a visit. The public became acquainted +with the fact, and to his surprise, Jones was informed by authority +that upon no condition could she be allowed to return-that the law was +imperative, and no consideration could be given to the circumstances, +for such would be virtually destroying its validity, and furnishing a +precedent that would be followed by innumerable cases. In spite of all +the remonstrances which Jones could set forth, and the influence of +several friends of high standing, he was compelled to relinquish all +hope of his daughter's being allowed to return to the family. The +reasoning set forth had every plausibility; but such is our respect for +the law, that we were compelled to forego our hospitality, and maintain +it, even though the case was painful to our feelings. Thus, you see, we +maintain the point and spirit of the law above every thing else. + +“But the end is not here! A few years after this, Jones received +a letter, that his daughter was very sick and not expected to +live-accompanied with a desire to have the last soothing comfort of +seeing her parents. Jones being an affectionate man, and dotingly fond +of his children, without regarding the former admonition, immediately +prepared himself, and left in disguise for New York. Mature +consideration would have convinced him of the error of one so well known +as himself trying to elude recognition. + +“His son-in-law, Lee, a noble fellow, kept the house, and when Jones was +inquired for, it was reported that he was confined to his room. It would +have been well if Jones had kept himself secluded in New York; but he +was recognised by a Charlestonian, and, as such reports have uncommon +wings, the news of it soon reached the authorities; when a mandate was +issued accordingly, and Jones subjected to the fate of his daughter. +There are many painful circumstances connected with the affair, which, +if well told, would make quite a romance,” said the Colonel, all of +which the Captain listened to with profound attention. “His family all +moved to New York, and his affairs were put into the hands of attorneys +here, for settlement, by his son-in-law, who continued the business for +some years.” + +“Of course he got his property restored to him?” interrupted the +Captain. + +“Most certainly, Captain! The spirit of justice is coequal with that of +honorable law, in South Carolina,” said George, anxious to relieve the +Colonel of the answer. + +“It is somewhat difficult to settle a man's business by legal process +when the principal is not present. The law's delay and lawyers' spoils +make time hallowed and costly,” said the Captain. + +“You're right there, Captain,” said the Colonel; “and I doubt-to speak +honestly-whether Jones ever got much of his property. There's a good +many stories told, and a great deal of mystery about it that's got to be +explained to my mind. But you're a stranger, Captain, and it would +not be interesting to the feelings of a Scotchman. I may give you the +details more minutely at some future day.” + +“Why, Colonel!” said George, “you should be considerate in your +statements. Remember the immense difficulty that has attended Jones's +affairs-they're not all settled yet.” + +“True, George; and I'm afraid they never will be;--but there are +some very singular appearances connected with it. I mean no personal +disrespect toward those cousins of yours who have figured in the case. +'Tis bad to call names, but there is a mystery about a certain member of +our profession getting rich, when poor Jones declares he's got nothing, +and Lee has had to give up the house,--I don't say what for.” * * * + +“Yes, strange things must be kept strangely secret in some parts of the +world, and only whispered when there's no wind,” said the Captain. + +“But that's the only case, Captain,” said George; “and the Colonel +was indiscreet in recounting it; for from that you may conceive wrong +impressions of the best institutions and laws in the world. Jones was an +old fool, led away by his nigger-like affections for them gals of his. +He never knew when he was well off, and always wanted to be with white +folk when he was here. 'Twould been a great deal better if he'd let +them youngest gals gone with Pingree and Allston. They'd have made the +tip-top mistresses--been kept like ladies, and not been bothered, +and brought all this trouble upon their heads through these infernal +abolitionists. I really believe the old fool thought some white man +would marry them at one time.” + +“What harm would there've been in that, providing they're as white as +anybody, and got plenty of money, and were handsome? There must be a +singular sensibility, that I don't understand, exerting itself in your +society,” said the Captain laconically. + +“Harm! You'd find out the harm. Just live in South Carolina a year or +two. 'Tisn't the fair complexion-we don't dispute that-but it's the +blood.” + +“Oh! then the legal objection,” said the Captain, “is what is so +revolting to society, eh! It may be sown broadcast in licentiousness, +then, and custom sustains an immoral element that is devouring the +essential bond of society.” + +“Excuse me, Captain,” interrupted the Colonel. “George, you are always +taking me upon suppositions. I only related it to the Captain in order +to show the power and integrity of our law, and how South Carolinians +frequently sacrifice their own interests to maintain it intact. Nothing +could be more fatal to its vitality than to make provisions which would +entail legal preferences. The law in regard to free niggers leaving +the State should be looked upon in the light of protection rather than +alienation, for it is made to protect property and society. Yet where +a case is attended with such circumstances as that of Jones's, some +disposition to accommodate might have been evinced without endangering +the State's sovereignty. And I must also differ with you, George, so far +as the girls maintained their self-respect. It was commendable in them +to get husbands whom they could live with in the bonds of matrimony. +My word for it, George, though I am a Southerner, and may give rein to +improprieties at times, nothing can be more pernicious to our society +than this destructive system of our first people in keeping mistresses. +It's a source of misery at best, depending upon expediency instead of +obligation, and results in bringing forth children and heirs with an +entailed burden upon their lives, to be disowned, cast off from paternal +rights, and left to the tender mercies of the law. We see the curse, yet +countenance it-and while it devours domestic affections and has cankered +the core of social obligations, we look upon it as a flowery garden as +we pass by the wayside.. There may be but a shadow between the rightful +heir and the doubtful son-the former may enjoy the bounty of his +inheritance, but the latter is doomed to know not his sire nor his +kinsman, but to suffer the doubts and fears and the dark gloom which +broods over a bondman's life.” + +“By-je-w-hu! Colonel, what in scissors are you preaching about. You must +a' got a pull too much at Bakers's. You're giving vent to real abolition +sentiments. Exercise your knowledge of the provision that is made for +such children. The Captain will certainly draw incorrect notions about +us,” said George, with anxiety pictured on his countenance. He knew the +Colonel's free, open, and frank manner of expressing himself, and feared +lest the famous name of the chivalry should suffer from his unconscious +disclosures. + +“Provisions! George, you know my feelings concerning that vice which is +so universally practised in our community. If you know of any provision, +it's more than I do. Perhaps you are older and have had more experience. +'Tis the want of such a provision that is just destroying our +institution of slavery!” + +At this juncture the Captain interrupted them, and begging that the +Colonel would finish the story about Jones, said he had a few questions +to ask them after it was through. + +“Well,” said the Colonel, “Jones died, I believe; but his family are as +industrious as ever, and have made money enough to live comfortable; but +the scamps have turned out perfect helpmates of the abolitionists, and +make their intelligence figure at the bottom of many an escape. But +Lee's case is as hard as Jones's. His son went to New York to see his +grandfather, and was debarred by the same statute of limitations. Lee, +however, was a very capable fellow, and after trying for two years, and +finding it would be impossible to return to his father, very shrewdly +set about some kind of business, and is now largely engaged in the +preserve and pickle business. Lee's celebrated pickle and preserve +establishment, New York. The father is now in this city, making a living +for his family at something or other. He has made several efforts to +sell out his little property, but there's some trouble about the +title; and if he leaves it to go and see his son, he knows what the +consequences will be; and to leave it for settlement would be to abandon +it, to the same fate that swallowed up Jones's. Thus the son cannot come +to visit his father, nor the father go to visit the son. This, in my +opinion, is carrying a prohibition to an extreme point; and although +I believe the law should be maintained, I cannot believe that any good +arises from it upon such people as the Jones's and Lee's, from the very +fact that they never associated with niggers. Hence, where there is +no grounds for fear there can be no cause for action,” continued the +Colonel. + +“Just what I wanted to know,” said the Captain. “As I informed you, I am +driven into your port in distress. Charleston, as you are aware, is in +an advantageous latitude for vessels to refit that have met with those +disasters which, are frequent in the gulf and among the Bahamas. Thus I +expected to find good facilities here, without any unkind feeling on the +part of the people”-- + +“Oh! bless me, Captain, you will find us the most hospitable people in +the world,” said the Colonel. + +“But your pilot told me I would have trouble with my steward, and that +the law would make no distinction between his being cast upon your +shores in distress and subject to your sympathy, and his coming in +voluntarily.” + +“What!” said little George. “Is he a nigger, Captain? Old Grimshaw's +just as sure to nab him as you're a white man. He'll buy and sell a +saint for the fees, and gives such an extended construction to the terms +of the act that you need expect no special favor at his hands. The law's +no fiction with him. I'm sorry, Captain: you may judge his conduct as +an index of that of our people, and I know him so well that I fear the +consequences.” + +“No!” said the Captain. “My steward is a Portuguese, a sort of mestino, +and one of the best men that ever stepped foot aboard a vessel. He +is willing, intelligent, always ready to do his duty, and is a great +favorite with his shipmates, and saves his wages like a good man-but he +is olive complexion, like a Spaniard. He has sailed under the British +flag for a great many years, has been 'most all over the world, and is +as much attached to the service as if he was a Londoner, and has got a +register ticket. Nothing would pain my feelings more than to see him +in a prison, for I think he has as proud a notion of honesty as any man +I've seen, and I know he wouldn't commit a crime that would subject him +to imprisonment for the world. The boys have been pestering the poor +fellow, and telling him about some old fellow they heard the pilot speak +about, called Norman Gadsden; they tell him if he catches him they'll +sell him for a slave.” + +“The question is one about which you need give yourself no concern. Our +people are not so inhuman but that they will shelter a castaway sailor, +and extend those comforts which are due from all humane people. The act +under which seamen are imprisoned is the law provided to prohibit free +niggers from entering our port, and, in my opinion, was brought into +life for the sake of the fees. It's no more nor less than a tax and +restriction upon commerce, and I doubt whether it was ever the intention +of the framers that it should be construed in this manner. However, so +far as your steward is con-cerned, the question of how far his color +will make him amenable to the law will never be raised; the mere +circumstance of his being a seaman in distress, thrown upon our +sympathies, will be all you need among our hospitable people. I'm not +aware of a precedent, but I will guaranty his safety from a knowledge +of the feelings of our people. Our merchants are, with few exceptions, +opposed to the law in this sense, but such is the power and control of +a class of inexperienced legislators, prompted by a most trifling clique +of office-holders, that their voice has no weight. I am opposed to this +system of dragging people into courts of law upon every pretext. It is +practised too much in our city for the good of its name.” + +Upon this the Colonel and little George accompanied the Captain to his +ship, and, expressing their heartfelt regrets at her appearance, bid +him good-night-George promising to call upon him in the morning, and the +Colonel charging him to give himself no trouble about his steward, that +he would see Mr. Grimshaw that night, and make all things straight. + +Thus ended the Captain's first night in Charleston, and represented a +picture from which he might have drawn conclusions somewhat different +from the actual result. Alas! that all the good fellowship and pleasant +associations of a people should be disgraced by an absurdity arising +from their fears. + +The Colonel might have given many other instances equally as painful as +that connected with the transportation of Jones and his family, and the +fetters that were placed upon poor Lee. He might have instanced that +of Malcome Brown, a wealthy, industrious, honest, high-minded, and +straightforward man, now living at Aiken, in South Carolina. Brown +conducts a profitable mechanical business, is unquestionably the best +horticulturist in the State, and produces the best fruit brought to the +Charleston market. What has he done to be degraded in the eyes of the +law? Why is he looked upon as a dangerous citizen and his influence +feared? Why is he refused a hearing through those laws which bad white +men take the advantage of? He is compelled to submit to those which +were made to govern the worst slaves! And why is he subjected to that +injustice which gives him no voice in his own behalf when the most +depraved whites are his accusers? Can it be the little crimp that is in +his hair? for he has a fairer skin than those who make laws to oppress +him. If he inhaled the free atmosphere from abroad, can it be that +there is contagion in it, and Malcome Brown is the dreaded medium of its +communication? And if the statement rung in our ears be true, “that +the free colored of the North suffer while the slave is cared for and +comfortable,” why belie ourselves? Malcome's influence is, and always +has been, with the whites, and manifestly good in the preservation of +order and obedience on the part of the slaves. He pursues his avocation +with spirit and enterprise, while he is subjected to menial and +oppressive laws. His father visited New York, and was forbidden to +return. He appealed again and again, set forth his claims and his +integrity to the State and her laws, but all was of no avail. He was +hopelessly banished, as it were, from ever seeing his son again, unless +that son would sacrifice his property and submit to perpetual banishment +from the State. If we reflect upon the many paternal associations that +would gladden the hearts of father and child to meet in happy affection, +we may realize the effect of that law which makes the separation painful +and which denies even the death-bed scene its last cheering consolation. + +We have conversed with poor Brown on many occasions, found him a very +intelligent man, full of humour, and fond of relating incidents in the +history of his family-even proud of his good credit in Charleston. He +frequently speaks of his father and the gratifying hope of meeting him +at some future day, when he can give vent to his feelings in bursts of +affection. He wants his father to return and live with him, because he +says he knows they would be more happy together. “I suppose the law was +made in justice, and it's right for me to submit to it,” he would say +when conversing upon its stringency; and it also seems a sort of comfort +to him that he is not the only sufferer. + +If South Carolina would awake to her own interest, she would find more +to fear from the stringency of her own laws than from the influence of a +few men coming from abroad. + + + + +CHAPTER X. THE PROSPECT DARKENING. + + + +AFTER the Colonel and little George left the Captain, as we have stated +in the foregoing chapter, he descended into the cabin, and found Manuel +sitting upon one of the lockers, apparently in great anxiety. He, +however, waited for the mate to speak before he addressed the +Captain. The mate awoke and informed the Captain that a slender, +dark-complexioned man had been aboard a few minutes after he left, +making particular inquiries about the steward; that he spoke like an +official man, was dressed in black clothes, and wore spectacles. + +“I asked him if we'd have any trouble with Manuel, and tried to make him +understand that he wasn't a black, and that our situation might excuse +us from any annoyance through their peculiar laws. But the old chap +seemed mighty stupid about every thing, and talked just as if he didn't +know any thing about nothing. 'A nigger's a nigger in South Carolina,' +said he dryly, and inquired for a quid of tobacco, which I handed him, +and he took one big enough for six. Said I, 'Mister, do you call a man +a nigger what's a Portugee and a'n't black?' 'It depends on how he was +born,' says he. 'Well, but ye can't make a white man a nigger nohow, +whether it's in South Carolina or Scotland,' says I. 'Well, we don't +stand upon such things here; we can show you niggers as white as you be, +Mr. Mate,' says he. 'But, Mister, what's to do about our steward, that +ye make yer inquiries about him; he ha'n't did nothing,' said I. 'Well, +Mr. Mate; it's contrary to law to bring nigger stewards into our port. +They're a bad set of fellows generally, and we claim the right to lock +'em up to insure their good behavior and keep their bad influence away +from our slaves. 'Tis not my office. I observed your arrival and wrecked +condition, and merely came to take a look,' said he. 'Well now, Mister, +our steward thinks as much of himself as anybody and wouldn't mix with +your niggers on any account. But Mister! won't it make a difference +because we're cast upon your shore in distress,' says I. 'Not a whit! +it's contrary to law, and the law's got nothing to do with wind and +weather. We love the sovereignty of our law too well to make any +discrimination. We're a hospitable people, and always give folks plenty +to eat, but we never allow any favors in the law. I'll call and see you +in the morning,' said he, and away he went.” + +This individual was Mr. Grimshaw, the principal mover of the powers that +be, notwithstanding he asserted that it was not his office, and that he +just walked round to take a look. + +During his visit on board, Manuel was absent on board a Boston bark, +where he met a white steward, who gave him a sad picture of the +Charleston jail and the cruel treatment that was inflicted upon +prisoners there by starvation. He told him that he was once put in for +a trifling offence, and nearly starved to death before he got out. +“You will be sure to go there, Manuel,” said he, “for they make no +distinction; and if a man's a foreigner, and can't speak for himself, +he'll stand no chance at all. I'd give 'em the slip afore I'd suffer +such another punishment,” he continued. + +This so worked upon the poor fellow's mind, that it became a matter of +little moment whether he jumped overboard or remained on the ship. He +waited until the mate had concluded, and commenced appealing to the +Captain in a most pitiful manner. The disgrace of being imprisoned +seemed worse than the punishment; and he did not seem to comprehend +the intention that he should be imprisoned for no crime in the United +States, when he had sailed around the world and visited a majority of +its ports, both barbarous and civilized, without molestation. He wanted +the Captain to pay him off and let him leave by some vessel in the +morning. The Captain endeavored to soothe his fears by assuring him +that there was no danger of his being imprisoned; that the people of +Charleston had too much good feeling in them to be cruel to a distressed +sailor; that the power of the consul was a sufficient guarantee of +protection. “You are not among Patagonians, Manuel,” said he. “There's +no use of working your mind into a fever, you'll be as well taken +care of here and be thought as much of as you would in London.” This +assurance had the effect to soothe his mind, upon which he left the +cabin more at ease, and went into the forecastle to turn in with his +little companion Tommy. Men had been detailed for the pumps as soon as +the flood-tide made, and the Captain retired to his berth. + +It seemed there was a mutual understanding between the pilots and +officers in regard to the arrival of colored stewards; and the pilot, +after leaving the vessel, went directly to Mr. Grimshaw's office and +reported a nut for him to crack: this brought him to the wharf to “look +around.” + +Early in the morning the crew were at their duty. The mate commenced +giving orders to clear away the deck, and Manuel to make preparations +for breakfast. He had scarcely commenced before two men, Messrs. Dunn +and Dusenberry walked up and down the wharf for several minutes, then +they would stand together and gaze as if to watch the approach of some +vessel in the offing. At length, Dusenberry, seeing Manuel come to the +gangway with a bucket in his hand, walked to her side, and, stepping on +board, seized him by the collar, and drawing a paper from his pocket, +said, “You're my prisoner! you must go to jail-come, be quick, sir; you +must not stop to get your things; you must send for them after you're +committed.” + +The mate and several of the crew being near, at once gathered around +him. At the same time Dunn, who was standing at the end of the wharf +awaiting the result, thinking Dusenberry was opposed, came to his +assistance. The officers and crew knew the respect due to the laws too +well to oppose any obstacles to the constables in executing their duty. +The mate, in a very polite manner, asked as a favor that they would +leave the man a few minutes until the Captain came on deck. They yielded +to his solicitation after a great deal of grumbling. The arrest made a +deep feeling among the seamen, but none felt it more than little Tommy; +he heard the noise upon deck, and came running with tears in his eyes, +and cried, “Oh! Manuel, why Manuel, what are they going to take you +away for? Won't I see you again, Manuel?” The little fellow's simplicity +touched the feelings of all present. But the lame officer, Dunn, stood +with a pair of handcuffs in his hand, as unmoved as a stoic, while +Dusenberry expressed his impatience, and began to push the boy away, and +motion to march him off. + +“Hold a bit!” said the mate. “The Captain will be on deck in a few +minutes; he wants a word or two with you.” + +“We can't stop unless we're compensated for our time. 'Tis no use to +delay-'twon't do any good; he's a nigger to all intents and purposes. I +know by the curl in his hair-they can't escape me, I've had too much to +do with them!” said Dunn. “Yes, to be sure, I can tell a nigger by his +ear, if his skin's as white as chalk!” said Dusenberry. “It's all gammon +this bringing bright outlandish men here, and trying to pass them off +for white folks. 'Twon't stick-you must come up and be registered, and +you'll have a good time at the jail, my boy; there's plenty of bright +gals in there, and you can have a wife, if you know how to do the +courting.” + +The Captain now came upon deck; and began to intercede, begging that +they would not take Manuel away until he had seen the British Consul. “I +know I can make every thing straight. There is no occasion to imprison +my steward-he's neither a nigger nor a bad man; and I'll pledge you my +honor that he shall not leave the ship, or even go upon the wharf, if +you will only allow me to see the Consul before you take any further +action,” he continued. + +“That is beyond our power, sir; you must see the sheriff-you'll find him +in his office bright and early. But you might as well put your appeal in +your pocket, or send it to Queen Victoria, for all Consul Mathew can do +for you. He's been kicking up a fuss for two years; but he might as well +whistle agin a brickbat as to talk his nonsense about English niggers to +South Carolina. He'll get tarred and feathered yet, if he a'n't mighty +shy about his movements. Sorry, Captain, we can't accommodate you, but +we're only actin' for the sheriff, and his orders are imperative to +bring him right up. We must lock the fellow up. We don't make the law, +nor we ha'n't the power to control it.” Thus saying, Dunn took a little +key from his pocket and begun to turn it in the handcuffs. + +“What!” said the Captain-“don't attempt to put them things on my man, +upon your peril. Is that the way you treat a poor shipwrecked sailor +in South Carolina, the State of boasted hospitality? No, sir! I will +sacrifice my life before my man shall submit to such a thing,” said the +Captain, with his Scotch energy aroused. + +“Captain!” said Dunn, “we'd not be takin' the advantage of ye because +ye're a stranger, but 'tis the law; and if we accommodates ye, sure +it'll be at our own risk. But anyhow, Captain, ye'd be keepin' meself +an' this gentleman a long time waiting, 'twouldn't be amiss to be giving +us the usual perquisite. You won't miss it, and we've a great deal to do +for small fees, that niver compinsate for the accommodation we be's to +give everybody-an' the loss of time's the loss of money.” + +“Give you a perquisite!--no, indeed; I never pay for such favors. Wait a +few moments; I will accompany you myself, if you will not take my honor +for his good conduct on the way to prison,” continued the Captain. + +“Captain, sure ye needn't trouble yerself anyhow; we'll take yer honor +that he don't run away, and if he does ye'll stand the odds at the +sheriff's. Sure a case would niver pass Mr. Grimshaw s observation; but +to plase ye, and considerin' the wreck, meself and Dusenberry 'll put +him up without,” said Dunn. + +During the conversation, Manuel plead hard to be heard before the +Consul, having a mistaken idea that the Consul could protect him from +all danger; and that if he could get a hearing before him, he was sure +to be released. The Captain shook his hand and told him to be contented +until the Consul's office opened, when he would come to the jail and see +him. Manuel then turned to the crew, and shaking the hands of each, took +his little bundle in one hand, and holding little Tommy by the other, +(who accompanied him to the head of the wharf,) was soon out of sight. + +But will the reader believe what was the practice of these petty +officers? We can assure them that such instances as the one we shall +relate are not only practised in Charleston to an unlimited extent, but +the fact is well known to both magistrates and the public; the former +treat it as moonshine, and the latter rail against it, but never take +proper action. + +Scarcely had little Tommy left them at the head of the wharf, before +they intimated that it would be well to consider a morning dram. To this +end, they walked into a “Dutch corner shop,” and passing into the back +room, gave sundry insinuations that could not be misunderstood. “Well! +come, who pays the shot?” said Dunn, stepping up to the counter, and +crooking his finger upon his nose at a dumpling-faced Dutchman, who +stood behind the counter, waiting for his man to name it. The Dutchman +was very short and very thick, leaving the impression that he had been +very much depressed in his own country when young. He rubbed his +hands and flirted his fingers in motion of anxiety, “Every ting vat de +shentleman vant him--dare notin like to my zin and brondty vat him got +mit ze zity,” said Dutchy. + +“Gentlemen, I should be glad to have you drink with me, if it be proper +to ask,” said Manuel. + +“Oh! yes--certainly, yes!--just what we come for, something to cut +away the cobwebs--'twouldn't do to go out in the morning fog without a +lining,” said Dunn. + +“Name it! name it! shentlemen,” exclaimed the Dutchman, as he rapped his +fingers upon the counter, and seemed impatient to draw forth his filthy +stuff. They named their drinks, each with a different name. Manuel +not being a Charleston graduate in the profession of mixing drinks and +attaching slang names to them, Mr. Dusenberry undertook to instruct +him in a choice. The Dutchman was an adept at mixing, and the “morning +pulls” were soon set out to the extreme satisfaction of Dunn and +Dusenberry. “All right! tip her down, my old fellow; none o' yer +screwed faces over such liquor as that. We drink on the legitimate, in +Charleston, and can put it down until we see stars,” said Dusenberry, +addressing himself to Manuel, who was making a wry face, while straining +to swallow the cut-throat stuff. + +Dusenberry now left Manuel in charge of Dunn, saying he was going out +to attend to some business. Manuel drew from his pocket a quarter of a +Colombian doubloon, and throwing it upon the counter, told the Dutchman +to give him change. The Dutchman picked it up, turned it over several +times, and squinting at it, inquired, in a very unpretending manner, +what its value was. He knew already, yet this was only done to try +Manuel. At the same moment he winked to Dunn, who, stepping up, gave +it a significant toss upon the counter. “The divil a bit more than two +dollars; all right, Swizer,” said he. + +“'Tis four dollar, West Inge-I want my change,” said Manuel, shrugging +his shoulders. “I no want no more than my own; and no man to cheat-e +me.” + +“Don't be bothering with your four dollars-sure ye a'n't in the West +Inges now; and money's plenty in Charleston, and I can't bring up so +much-half so much. Don't be bothering with yer West Inge nonsense. If +ye try to raise a fuss here, I'll make the Captain suffer. Ye must learn +that it won't do for a nigger to dispute a white man in Charleston; we'd +twitch ye up by the same law; we'd put it to our own niggers, and ye'd +git trised up, and about fifty paddles on yer bare butt.” The Dutchman +put down a dollar and seventy cents, but Manuel refused to take it up; +when this fellow, Dunn, pretending to be the friend of Manuel, held out +his hand, and telling the bar-keeper to put another dollar, which he +did, he passed it hurriedly into Manuel's hand, and making a pass, told +him to put it into his pocket. + +It was now about good business time for the Dutchman, and his customers +were coming in with their bottles and pots in great numbers. The place +was a little filthy hole, very black and dirty, about twelve feet long, +and seven feet wide, with a high board counter almost in the centre. The +only stock-in-trade that decorated it, was a few barrels of lager beer; +several kegs, with names to set forth the different qualities of liquors +painted upon them; a bushel basket about half full of onions, and a few +salt fish in a keg that stood by the door. Around the room were +several benches similar to those in guard-houses. Upon two of them were +stretched two ragged and filthy-looking negroes, who looked as if they +had been spending the night in debauchery. Dunn, as if to show his +authority, limped toward them, and commenced fledging their backs +with his hickory stick in a most unmerciful manner, until one poor old +fellow, with a lame hand, cried out for mercy at the top of his voice. + +“It's a bad business keeping these niggers here all night, Swizer-you +know I've done the clean thing with you several times,” said Dunn, +pointing his finger at the Dutchman; who winked, and coming from behind +the counter, slipped something into his hand, and stepping to the door, +assumed some threatning language against the negroes, should they ever +came back to his store. A large portion of those who came for liquor +were negroes, who looked as if they were parting with their last cent +for stimulant, for they were ragged and dirty, and needed bread more +than liquor. Their condition seemed pitiful in the extreme, and yet the +Dutch “corner-shop keeper” actually got rich from their custom, and so +craving was he upon their patronage, that he treated them with much more +courtesy than his white customers. + +These “Dutch corner-shops” are notorious places in Charleston, and +are discountenanced by respectable citizens, because they become the +rendezvous of “niggers,” who get into bad habits and neglect their +masters' or mistresses' business. Yet the keepers exert such an +influence at elections, that the officials not only fear them, but in +order to secure their favors, leave their rascality unmolested. Well +might a writer in the Charleston Courier of August 31, 1852, say-- + +“We were astonished, with many others, at the sweeping charges made in +the resolutions passed at the HUTCHINSON meeting at Hatch's Hall, +and were ready to enlist at once to lend our voice to turn out an +'administration' that for two years permitted 'moral sentiment to +be abandoned,' 'truthfulness disregarded,' 'reverence for religion +obliterated,' 'protection to religious freedom refused,' 'licentiousness +allowed,' 'and a due administration for vice, neglected.'” These charges +stand unrefuted, and with but one or two exceptions, we have never +known one of those unlawful corner shops prosecuted by the present +administration. And those single instances only where they were driven +to notice the most flagrant abuses. + +It is strictly “contrary to law in Charleston,” to sell liquor to a +negro without an order from a white man; the penalty being fine +and imprisonment. Yet, so flagrant has become the abuse, that it +is notorious that hush-money is paid by a certain class of Dutch +liquor-sellers to the officers. In nearly all the streets of Charleston, +where there is a shanty or nook large enough to hold a counter and some +tumblers, these wretches may be found dealing out their poisonous drugs +to a poor, half-starved class of negroes, who resort to all kinds of +dishonest means to get money to spend at their counters. These places +are nearly all kept by foreigners, whose merciless avarice scruples at +nothing, however mean. They soon become possessed of considerable means, +and through their courtesy and subserviency to the negro-for they are +the only class of whites that will beg his pardon, if they have offended +him-carry on a sort of active rivalry with each other for his custom. It +is from these miserable hells that seven-tenths of the crimes arise for +which the poor negro is dragged to the work-house and made to suffer +under the paddle. + +And yet these very men, whose connivance at vice and crime is +disregarded by the law, rise and take position in society-not only +entering into more respectable business-but joining in that phalanx +who are seeking the life-blood of the old Southerner, and like a silent +moth, working upon his decay. There is a deep significance in the answer +so frequently given in Charleston to the interrogatory, “Who lives in +that splendid dwelling-it seems to have been the mansion of a prince, +but is somewhat decayed?” + +“Oh! bless me, yes! It was once the mansion of the So-and-sos, one of +the first families, but they're very poor now. Mr. What-you-may-call-em +owns it now-they say he didn't get it honestly. He kept a little +grog-shop on the Bay, or sold bacon and whisky on the Bay, and made +awful charges against poor So-and-so, and after a long trial in Chancery +he got his house. He's a big fellow; now, I tell you, and is going to +fit the house up for himself!” + +Dunn told Manuel to be seated, that there was no occasion for hurrying; +it would be all right if he got to the sheriffs office at nine o'clock; +and then commenced descanting upon the fine time he would have at the +jail. “There's a right good lot of comrades there, me boy; ye'll have +fiddling and dancing, plenty of gals, and a jolly time; and ye a'n't a +criminal, ye know, so it won't be any thing at all, only keep up a stiff +under-lip. Come, let us take another drink; I feel mighty husky this +morning!” said he. + +Just at this time Dusenberry re-entered, puffing and blowing as if he +had been engaged in a foot-race. “Another bird for old Grimshaw, at +Commercial Wharf! I know'd she had one aboard, 'cause I seed him from +the wharf,” said he, in perfect ecstasy, pulling out a pencil and making +a note in a little book. + +“Don't be a child,” said Dunn. “Come, we have just proposed another +drink; you join of course; ye niver says no,--eh, Duse?” They stepped to +the counter, and Dunn, again, pointing his finger upon his nose at the +Dutchman, who stood with his hands spread upon the counter, called for +gin and bitters, Stoughton light. Turning to Manuel, who was sitting +upon a bench with his head reclined upon his hand, apparently in deep +meditation, he took him by the collar in a rude manner, and dragging him +to the counter, said, “Come, by the pipers, rouse up your spirits, and +don't be sulking, my old Portugee; take another O-be-joyful, and it'll +put ye all right, and ye'll dance a hornpipe like a jim-crack.” + +“Excuse me, sir; I think I have taken enough; do, please, either take me +back to my vessel, or where you are going to. This is no place for me!” + said Manuel. + +“Sure, what signifies; don't be talking your botheration here; a nigger +musn't sauce a white man. Come, there's no use backing out; you must +take a glass of Swizer's lager beer,” said Dunn. + +Manuel looked around him, and then closing up very reluctantly, the +Dutchman filled his glass with frothy beer, and the three touched +glasses and drank. They then retired to a bench and commenced discussing +the propriety of some point of their official privileges, while Manuel +was left standing at the counter. + +“Who pay de drink vat shu get?” inquired the Dutchman, anxious to serve +two little niggers who had just come in with bottles in their hands. + +“It was our friend's treat; come, my good fellow, do the clean thing +according to Southern science. We'll put a good word in for you to the +jailer; you won't lose nothing by it,” said Dusenberry. + +“My friends, I work hard for my money, and have none to spend foolishly. +The small amount is of little consequence, but I would much sooner make +you a present of it, than to be drugged by pretence. I've no desire to +indulge the propensities of others. Whatever you are going to do with +me, do it; and let me know my fate. I am sick and fatigued, and have +need for the doctor. Take me to a prison or where you please. I have +done no crime; I want sleep, not punishment. Next time I shipwrecked, +I get plank and go overboard 'fore I cum to Charleston.” So saying, he +pulled out fifty cents and threw it upon the counter, and the Dutchman +swept it into the drawer, as if it was all right, and “just the change.” + +“Shut up, you black rascal, you; you musn't talk that way in South +Carolina; we'll have you stretched on the frame and paddled for +insolence to a white man. D--n me, if you're in such a hurry for it, +just come along,” said Dusenberry; and reaching his hand over to Dunn, +took the handcuffs from him and attempted to put them on Manuel's +wrists. The poor fellow struggled and begged for more than ten minutes, +and was wellnigh overpowering them, when Dusenberry drew a long +dirk-knife from his bosom, and holding it in a threatening attitude +at his breast, uttered one of those fierce yells such as are common to +slave-hunters, whose business it is to hunt and run down runaway niggers +with bloodhounds. “Submit, you black villain, or I'll have your heart's +blood; bring a rope, and we'll trise him up here. Jump, be quick, +Swizer!” said he, addressing himself to the Dutchman. The Dutchman ran +into the front apartment; brought out a cord similar to a clothes-line; +and commenced to undo it. + +“Do you give up now?” said Dusenberry, still holding the knife pointed +at him. Manuel was in the habit of carrying a poniard when on shore in +foreign countries, and put his hand to his breast-pocket to feel for +it. He remembered that he had left it in his chest, and that resistance +would be useless against a posse giving expression to such hostility to +him. The shackles were put upon his hands with ruffianly force. + +“Oh! am I a man, or am I a brute? What have I done to receive such +treatment? May God look down upon me and forgive me my transgressions; +for in his hands are my rights, and he will give me justice,” said +Manuel, looking his cruel torturers in the face. + +“A man! No, by heavens, you're a nigger; an' it's that we'd he teaching +you! Come, none of yer sermons here, trot off! We'll give you a +handkerchief to cover your hands, if you're so d--d delicate about +walking through the streets,” said Dunn, throwing him an old red +handkerchief, and marching him along through Broad street. Dusenberry +now left him entirely in the charge of Dunn; while, as he said, he went +to Adger's Wharf to keep his eye on another vessel that was approaching +the dock. The tricks of this man Dunn were well known to those, +connected with the police and sheriff's office; but, instead of being +displaced for his many offences, he was looked upon by them as the best +officer upon the rolls; and in fishing for mischievous niggers he was +held as a perfect paragon. In this instance he was not contented with +the outrages he had inflicted upon Manuel at the Dutch grog-shop, which +he had forced him into, but he would stop in the public street to hold +conversation with every cove he met, and keep the poor man standing for +public gaze, like chained innocence awaiting the nod of a villain. The +picture would have been complete, if a monster in human form were placed +in the foreground applying the lash, according to the statute laws of +South Carolina. + + + + +CHAPTER XI. THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. + + + +IT is nine o'clock, on the morning of the 24th March, 1852. Manuel was +marched into the sheriff's office, situated in the court-house, on the +corner of Broad and Meeting streets. A large table stood in the centre +of the room, covered with sundry old papers and an inkstand. At one side +was an old sofa, bearing strong evidence of its being worn out at the +expense of the State. A few pine-wood and painted book-stands, several +tip-staffs, old broken-backed chairs, and last, but not least, a +wood-sawyer's buck-saw, stood here and there in beautiful disorder +around the room; while, as if to display the immense importance of the +office, a “cocked” hat with the judicial sword hung conspicuously above +the old sofa. A door opened upon the left hand, leading into the clerk's +office, where the books and archives of the office were kept. Mr. +Kanapeaux, the incumbent, exhibited a great deal of good feeling, which +it would have lost the sheriff none of his reputation to pattern after, +and kept his office in very respectable order. + +“Come in 'ere, Manwell, or whatever yer name is,” said Dunn, as he led +the way into the presence of Mr. Grimshaw, the lean, haggard-looking man +we have before described. His dark, craven features, as he sat peering +through his glasses at the morning news, gave him the appearance of a +man of whom little was, to be expected by those who had the misfortune +to fall into his hands. + +“Ah! Dunn, you are the best officer in the city; 'pon my soul, these +fellows can't escape you! Where did you pick up that nigger?” said he, +with a look of satisfaction. + +“A fat fee case, Mr. Grimshaw, 'contrary to law;' he's a Portugee +nigger. Never had so much trouble with a nigger in my life; I didn't +know but the fellow was going to preach a sermon. The Captain-he belongs +to a wrecked Englishman-wanted to come the gammon game with him, and +pass him for a white man; but sure he couldn't come that game over +meself and Duse, anyhow,” said Dunn. + +Without saying a word, Manuel stood up before his accusers, upon this +strange charge of “contrary to law.” + +As he looked upon his accusers, he said, “What have I done to suffer a +murderer's fate? Am I to be sold as a slave, because of the visitation +of God? I have done no murder! No!--nor have I stolen in your land! and +why did these men decoy me into”-- + +“Silence! silence! You are in the sheriff's office,” said Dunn, pointing +his finger at his nose. “You can't come your John Bull nigger in South +Carolina.” + +This brought the sheriff's clerk to the door that led into the passage. +“Dunn, I have warned you about these things several times; the public +are getting wind of them; they'll bring this office into disrepute yet. +You ought to know what effect the association of officials with these +'corner-shop keepers' is already having in the community,” said he. + +“How the divil do ye know what yer talking about; sure it's his honor's +bisniss, and not yours at all, at all,” said Dunn, addressing himself to +Mr. Kanapeaux, and then looking at Mr. Grimshaw. + +“Mr. Kanapeaux, you must not interfere with the officers and their +duty; attend to your business, and get, your book ready to register this +nigger-boy,” said Grimshaw. + +“Well, now, my good fellow,” continued Grimshaw, “I dislike this +business very much; it don't pay me enough for all the bother I have +with it. 'Tis just a little filtering of fees, which makes the duty of +my office exceedingly annoying. But we must respect the law. We do these +things to protect our institutions and make them as light as possible. I +might give you a great deal of trouble; I have the power, but I make it +a point to consider men in your case, and we'll make you so comfortable +that you won't think of being imprisoned. You must understand that it is +'contrary to law' to come among our niggers in this way; it gives them +fanciful ideas. There's such an infernal imperfect state of things as +these abolitionists are getting every thing into, behooves us to watch +the communications which are going on between, designing people and our +slaves. We are a hospitable people--the world knows that--and have a +religious respect for our laws, which we enforce without respect to +persons. We'd like to let you go about the city, but then it's 'contrary +to law.' Make up your mind, my good fellow, that you are among humane +people, who will seek to benefit you among men of your class. Make +yourself happy--and look upon me as a friend, and you will never be +deceived. I control the jail, and my prisoners are as much attached to +me as they would be to a father.” + +“It must be humanity that puts these symbols of ignominy upon my hands,” + said Manuel; “that confines me in a dungeon lest I should breathe a word +of liberty to ears that know it only as a fable.” + +Nobody had asked him to sit down, and, feeling the effect of his +sickness and fatigue, he turned around as if to look for something +to rest against. “You must not sit down,--take off your hat!” said +Grimshaw. + +The poor fellow made an effort, but could not effect it with the fetters +on his hands; at which, Dunn stepped up, and snatching it from his head, +flung it upon the floor. “You should learn manners, my good fellow,” + said Grimshaw, “when you come into a sheriff's office. It's a place of +importance, and people always pay respect to it when they come into it; +a few months in Charleston would make you as polite as our niggers.” + +“Had you not better take the irons off the poor fellow's hands?--he +looks as if he was tired out,” said Mr. Kanapeaux, the clerk, who again +came to the door and looked upon Manuel with an air of pity. The words +of sympathy touched his feelings deeply; it was a simple word in his +favour, so different from what he had met since he left the vessel, that +he felt a kind friend had spoken in his behalf, and he gave way to his +feeling in a gush of tears. + +“Good suggestion, Mr. Kanapeaux!” said Grimshaw. “Better take 'em off, +Mr. Dunn; I don't think he'll give you any more difficulty. He seems +like a 'likely fellow,' and knows, if he cuts up any nigger rascality +in Charleston, he'll be snapped up. Now, my good fellow, put on your +best-natured countenance, and stand as straight as a ramrod. Mr. +Kanapeaux, get your book ready to register him,” continued Grimshaw. + +Manuel now stood up under a slide, and his height and general features +were noted in the following manner, in order to appease that sovereign +dignity of South Carolina law, which has so many strange devices to show +its importance:--“Contrary to Law.” Violation of the Act of 1821, as +amended, &c. &c. Manuel Pereira vs. State of South Carolina, Steward on +board British Brig Janson, Captain Thompson. Entered 24th March, 1852. + +Height, 5 feet 8 1/2 inches. + +Complexion, light olive, (bright.) + +Features, sharp and aquiline. + +[Hair and eyes, dark and straight; the former inclined to curl.] + +General remarks:--Age, twenty-nine; Portuguese by birth; speaks rather +broken, but politely; is intelligent, well formed, and good looking. +Fees to Sheriff: + +To arrest, $2--Registry, $2 - $4 00 To Recog. $1.31--Constable. $1 - $2.31 To +Commitment and discharge, $1.00 + +$7.31 + +Jail fees to be added when discharged. + +After these remarks were duly entered, and Mr. Grimshaw read another +lecture to him on the importance of South Carolina law, and the kindness +he would receive at his hands if he made himself con-tented, he was told +that he could go and be committed. The poor fellow had stood up until he +was nearly exhausted; yet, it was not enough to gratify the feelings +of that miserable miscreant, Dunn. Scarcely had he left the sheriff's +office, or passed two squares from the court-house, before he entered +another Dutch grog-shop, a little more respectable in appearance-but +not in character. They entered by a side door, which led into a back +apartment provided with a table and two wooden settees. As Dunn entered, +he was recognised by two negro-fellows, who were playing dominoes at the +table. They arose and ran through the front store, into the street, as +if some evil spirit had descended among them. The Dutchman sprang +for the dominoes, and quickly thrust them into a tin measure which he +secreted under the counter. + +“Ah! Drydez!” said Dunn; “you vagabond, you; up to the old tricks again? +Ye Dutchmen are worse than the divil! It's meself'll make ye put a five +for that. Come, fork it over straight, and don't be muttering yer Dutch +lingo!” + +“Vat zue drink mit me dis morning? Misser Dunz' te best fellow vat comez +in my shop,” said Drydez. + +“Ah! stop yer botheration, and don't be comin' yer Dutch logger over +an Irishman! put down the five dollars, and we'll take the drinks +presently; meself and me friend here'll drink yer health,” said Dunn, +pointing to Manuel, who shook his head as much as to decline. The +Dutchman now opened his drawer, and rolling a bill up in his fingers, +passed it as if unobserved into the hands of Dunn. + +“Now, Drydez,” said Dunn, “if ye want to do the clean thing, put a +couple of brandy smashes-none of your d--d Dutch cut-throat brandy-the +best old stuff. Come, me old chuck, (turning to Manuel and pulling him +by the Whiskers,) cheer up, another good stiff'ner will put you on your +taps again. South Carolina's a great State, and a man what can't +be happy in Charleston, ought to be put through by daylight by the +abolitionists.” + +The Dutchman soon prepared the smashes, and supplying them with straws, +put them upon the table, and seated chairs close at hand. “Excuse me!” + said Manuel, “I've drunk enough already, and should like to lie down. +I am unwell, and feel the effect of what I have already taken. I am +too feeble. Pray tell me how far the prison is from here, and I will go +myself.” + +“Go, is it?--the divil a go ye'll go from this until ye drink the smash. +None of yer Portugee independence here. We larn niggers the politeness +of gintlemen in Charleston, me buck!” and seizing him by the collar, +dragged him to the table, then grasping the tumbler with the other hand, +he held it before his face. “Do you see that? and, bedad, ye'll drink +it, and not be foolin', or I'd put the contents in your phiz,” said he. + +Manuel took the glass, while the Dutchman stood chuckling over the very +nice piece of fun, and the spice of Mr. Dunn's wit, as he called it. +“Vat zu make him vat'e no vants too? You doz make me laugh so ven zu +comes 'ere, I likes to kilt myself,” said Drydez. + +A bright mulatto-fellow was now seen in the front store, making +quizzical signs to the Dutchman; who understanding its signification, +lost no time in slipping into his pocket a tumbler nearly half full of +brandy and water; and stepping behind the division door, passed it slily +to the mulatto, who equally as slily passed it down his throat; and +putting a piece of money into the Dutchman's hand, stepped up to the +counter, as if to wait for his change. “All right!” said the Dutchman, +looking around at his shelves, and then again under the counter. + +“No so!” said the mulatto; “I want fourpence; you done' dat befor' +several times; I wants my money.” + +“Get out of my store, or I'll kick you out,” said the Dutchman, and +catching up a big club, ran from behind the counter and commenced +belaboring the negro over the head in a most unmerciful manner. At this, +the mulatto retreated into the lane, and with a volley of the vilest +epithets, dared the Dutchman to come out, and he would whip him. + +Dunn ran to the scene, and ordered the negro to be off, and not use such +language to a white man, that it was “contrary to law,” and he would +take him to the workhouse. + +“Why, massa, I knows what 'em respect white men what be gemmen like +yersef, but dat Dutchman stand da'h a'n't no gentlem', he done gone +tieffe my money seven time; an' I whip him sure-jus' lef' him come out +here. I doesn't care for true, and God saw me, I be whip at the wukhouse +next minute. He tief, an' lie, an 'e cheat me.” The Dutchman stood at +the door with the big stick in his hand-the negro in the middle of the +lane with his fists in a pugilistic attitude, daring and threatening, +while the limping Dunn stood by the side of the Dutchman, acting as +a mediator. Manuel, taking advantage of the opportunity, emptied his +tumbler down a large opening in the floor. + +It is a notorious fact in Charleston, that although the negro, whether +he be a black or white one, is held in abject obedience to the white man +proper, no matter what his grade may be, yet such is the covetous and +condescending character of these groggery keepers, that they become +courteous to the negro and submit to an equality of sociability. The +negro, taking advantage of this familiarity, will use the most insulting +and abusive language to this class of Dutchmen, who, either through +cowardice, or fear of losing their trade, never resent it. We may say, +in the language of Dunn, when he was asked if negroes had such liberties +with white men in Charleston, “A nigger knows a Dutch shopkeeper better +than he knows himself-a nigger dare not speak that way to anybody else.” + +The Dutchman gets a double profit from the negro, and with it diffuses +a double vice among them, for which they have to suffer the severest +penalty. It is strictly “contrary to law” to purchase any thing from +a negro without a ticket to sell it, from his master. But how is this +regarded? Why, the shopkeeper foregoes the ticket, encourages the +warehouse negro to steal, and purchases his stealings indiscriminately, +at about one-half their value. We might enumerate fifty different modes +practised by “good” legal voting citizens--totally regardless of the +law--and exerting an influence upon the negro tenfold more direful +than that which could possibly arise from the conversation of a few +respectable men belonging to a friendly nation. + +Dunn, after driving the mulatto man from the door and upbraiding the +Dutchman for his cowardice, returned to the table, and patting Manuel +upon the back, drank the balance of his smash, saying, “Come, me good +fellow, we must do the thing up brown, now; we've got the Dutchman +nailed on his own hook. We must have another horn; it's just the stuff +in our climate; the 'Old Jug's' close by, and they'll be makin' a parson +of you when you get there. We've had a right jolly time; and ye can't +wet your whistle when ye're fernint the gates.” + +“I don't ask such favors, and will drink no more,” said Manuel. + +“Fill her up, Drydez! fill her up! two more smashes-best brandy and +no mistake. You must drink another, my old chuck-we'll bring the pious +notions out o' ye in Charleston,” said Dunn, turning around to Manuel. + +The Dutchman filled the glasses, and Dunn, laying his big hickory stick +upon the counter, took one in each hand, and going directly to Manuel, +“There, take it, and drink her off-no humbugging; yer mother niver gave +such milk as that,” said he. + +“Excuse me, sir; I positively will not!” said Manuel, and no sooner had +he lisped the words, than Dunn threw the whole contents in his face. +Enraged at such outrageous conduct, the poor fellow could stand it no +longer, and fetched him a blow that levelled him upon the floor. + +The Dutchman ran to the assistance of Dunn, and succeeded in relieving +him from his unenviable situation. Not satisfied, however, they +succeeded, after a hard struggle, in getting him upon the floor, when +the Dutchman-after calling the assistance of a miserable negro, held +him down while Dunn beat him with his stick. His cries of “Murder” and +“Help” resounded throughout the neighbourhood, and notwithstanding they +attempted to gag him, brought several persons to the spot. Among them +was a well-known master builder, in Charleston-a very muscular and a +very humane man. The rascality of Dunn was no new thing to him, for he +had had practical demonstrations of it upon his own negroes,--who had +been enticed into the “corner shops” for the double purpose of the +Dutchmen getting their money, and the officers getting hush-money from +the owner. + +The moment he saw Dunn, he exclaimed, “Ah! you vagabond!” and springing +with the nimbleness of a cat, struck the Dutchman a blow that sent him +measuring his length, into a corner among a lot of empty boxes; then +seizing Dunn by the collar, he shook him like a puppy, and brought him +a slap with his open hand that double-dyed his red face, and brought a +stream of claret from his nose; while the miserable nigger, who had been +struggling to hold Manuel down, let go his hold, and ran as if his life +was in danger. The scene was disgusting in the extreme. Manuel arose, +with his face cut in several places, his clothes bedaubed with filth +from the floor, and his neck and shirt-bosom covered with blood; while +the aghast features of Dunn, with his red, matted hair, and his glaring, +vicious eyes, bespattered with the combined blood of his victim and his +own nasal organ, gave him the most fiendish look imaginable. + +The gentleman, after reprimanding the Dutchman for keeping up these +miserable practices, which were disgracing the community, and bringing +suffering, starvation, and death upon the slaves, turned to Dunn, and +addressed him. “You are a pretty officer of the law! A villain upon the +highway-a disgrace to your color, and a stain upon those who retain +you in office. A man who has violated the peace and every principle of +honest duty, a man who every day merits the worst criminal punishment, +kept in the favor of the municipal department, to pollute its very name. +If there is a spark of honesty left in the police department, I will use +my influence to stop your conduct. The gallows will be your doom yet. +You must not think because you are leagued in the same traffic.” + +Dunn kept one of the worst and most notorious drinking-shops in +Charleston, but, to reconcile his office with that strict requirement +which never allowed any thing “contrary to law” in Charleston, he made +his wife a “free trader.” This special set of South Carolina may in +effect be classed among its many singular laws. It has an exceedingly +accommodating effect among bankrupt husbands, and acts as a masked +battery for innumerable sins in a business or official line. It so +happens, once in a while, that one of the “fair free dealers” gets +into limbo through the force of some ruthless creditor; and the “Prison +Bounds Act,” being very delicate in its bearings, frequently taxes the +gallantry of the chivalrous gentlemen of the Charleston bar that you are +to go unpunished. And you, Drydez,” said he, turning to the Dutchman, “I +shall enter you upon the information docket, as soon as I go down into +the city.” + +“Zeu may tu vat zeu plas mit me-te mayor bees my friend, an' he knowz +vot me ams. Yuz sees zel no bronty, no zin! Vot yu to mit de fine, ah?” + * * * + +“I'd like to see you do that same agin Mr.--. It wouldn't be savin' +yerself a pace-warrant, and another for assault and battery! Sure +magistrate Gyles is a first-rate friend of me own, and he'd not suffer +me imposed on. The d--d nigger was obstinate and wouldn't go to jail,” + said Dunn in a cowardly, whimpering manner. + +“Oh yez, me heard mit 'im swore, vat he no go to zale!” rejoined the +Dutchman anxiously. + +“Tell me none of your lies,” said he; “you are both the biggest rascals +in town, and carry on your concerted villany as boldly as if you had +the control of the city in your hands.” Manuel was trembling under the +emotions of grief and revenge. His Portuguese blood would have revenged +itself at the poniard's point, but fortunately he had left it in his +chest. He saw that he had a friend at his hand, and with the earnestness +of a child, resigned himself to his charge. + +In a few minutes quiet was produced, and the gentleman expressing a +desire to know how the trouble originated, inquired of Manuel how it +was brought about. But no sooner had he commenced his story, than he was +interrupted by Dunn asserting his right, according to the laws of South +Carolina, to make his declaration, which could not be refuted by the +negro's statement, or even testimony at law; and in another moment +jumped up, and taking Manuel by the collar, commanded him to come along +to jail; and turning to the gentleman, dared him to interfere with his +duty. + +“I know how you take people to jail, very well. I'll now see that you +perform that duty properly, and not torture prisoners from place to +place before you get there. You inflict a worse punishment in taking +poor, helpless people to jail, than they suffer after they get there!” + said he; and immediately joined Manuel and walked to the jail with him. + + + + +CHAPTER XII. THE OLD JAIL. + + + +THERE are three institutions in Charleston-either of which would be +a stain upon the name of civilization-standing as emblems of the +time-established notions of a people, and their cherished love for +the ancestral relics of a gone-by age. Nothing could point with more +unerring aim than these sombre monuments do, to the distance behind the +age that marks the thoughts and actions of the Charlestonians. They are +the poor-house, hospital, and jail; but as the latter only pertains +to our present subject, we prefer to speak of it alone, and leave +the others for another occasion. The workhouse may be said to form an +exception-that being a new building, recently erected upon a European +plan. It is very spacious, with an extravagant exterior, surmounted +by lofty semi-Gothic watch-towers, similar to the old castles upon the +Rhine. So great was the opposition to building this magnificent temple +of a workhouse, and so inconsistent, beyond the progress of the age, +was it viewed by the “manifest ancestry,” that it caused the mayor his +defeat at the following hustings. “Young Charleston” was rebuked for its +daring progress, and the building is marked by the singular cognomen +of “Hutchinson's Folly.” What is somewhat singular, this magnificent +building is exclusively for negroes. One fact will show how progressive +has been the science of law to govern the negro, while those to which +the white man is subjected are such as good old England conferred upon +them some centuries ago. For felonious and burglarious offences, a white +man is confined in the common jail; then dragged to the market-place, +stripped, and whipped, that the negroes may laugh “and go see buckra +catch it;” while a negro is sent to the workhouse, confined in his cell +for a length of time, and then whipped according to modern science,--but +nobody sees it except by special permission. Thus the negro has the +advantage of science and privacy. + +The jail is a sombre-looking building, with every mark of antiquity +standing boldly outlined upon its exterior. It is surrounded by a +high brick wall, and its windows are grated with double rows of bars, +sufficiently strong for a modern penitentiary. Altogether, its dark, +gloomy appearance strikes those who approach it, with the thought and +association of some ancient cruelty. You enter through an iron-barred +door, and on both sides of a narrow portal leading to the right are four +small cells and a filthy-looking kitchen, resembling an old-fashioned +smoke-house. These cells are the debtors'; and as we were passing out, +after visiting a friend, a lame “molatto-fellow” with scarcely rags to +cover his nakedness, and filthy beyond description, stood at what was +called the kitchen door. “That poor dejected object,” said our friend, +“is the cook. He is in for misdemeanor-one of the peculiar shades of +it, for which a nigger is honored with the jail.” “It seems, then, that +cooking is a punishment in Charleston, and the negro is undergoing the +penalty,” said we. “Yes!” said our friend; “but the poor fellow has a +sovereign consolation, which few niggers in Charleston can boast of-and +none of the prisoners here have-he can get enough to eat.” + +The poor fellow held out his hand as we passed him, and said, “Massa, +gin poor Abe a piece o' 'bacca'?” We freely gave him all in our +possession. + +On the left side, after passing the main iron door, are the jailer's +apartments. Passing through another iron door, you ascend a narrow, +crooked stairs and reach the second story; here are some eight or nine +miserable cells-some large and some small-badly ventilated, and entirely +destitute of any kind of furniture: and if they are badly ventilated +for summer, they are equally badly provided with means to warm them in +winter. In one of these rooms were nine or ten persons, when we visited +it; and such was the morbid stench escaping from it, that we were +compelled to put our handkerchiefs to our faces. This floor is +appropriated for such crimes as assault and battery; assault and +battery, with intent to kill; refractory seamen; deserters; violating +the statutes; suspicion of arson and murder; witnesses; all sorts of +crimes, varying from the debtor to the positive murderer, burglar, +and felon. We should have enumerated, among the rest, all stewards, +(colored,) whether foreign or domestic, who are committed on that +singular charge, “contrary to law.” And it should have been added, even +though cast away upon our “hospitable shores.” Among all these different +shades of criminals, there must be some very bad men. And we could +recount three who were pointed out to us, as very dangerous men, yet +were allowed the favor of this floor and its associations. One was +an Irish sailor, who was sentenced to three years and nine months' +imprisonment by the United States court, for revolt and a desperate +attempt to murder the captain of a ship; the next was a German, a +soldier in the United States army, sentenced to one year and eight +months' imprisonment for killing his comrade; and the third was an +English sailor, who killed a woman-but as she happened to be of doubtful +character, the presiding judge of the sessions sentenced him to a light +imprisonment, which the Governor very condescendingly pardoned after a +few weeks. + +The two former acted as attendants, or deputy jailers; with the +exception of turning the key, which privilege the jailer reserved for +himself exclusively. The principle may seem a strange one, that places +men confined upon such grave charges in a superior position over +prisoners; and may be questionable with regard to the discipline itself. + +From this floor, another iron door opened, and a winding passage led +into the third and upper story, where a third iron door opened into a +vestibule, on the right and left of which were grated doors secured with +heavy bolts and bars. These opened into narrow portals with dark, gloomy +cells on each side. In the floor of each of these cells was a large iron +ring-bolt, doubtless intended to chain refractory prisoners to; but we +were informed that such prisoners were kept in close stone cells, in +the yard, which were commonly occupied by negroes and those condemned +to capital punishment. The ominous name of this third story was “Mount +Rascal,” intended, no doubt, as significant of the class of prisoners +it contained. It is said that genius is never idle: the floor of these +cells bore some evidence of the fact in a variety of very fine specimens +of carving and flourish work, done with a knife. Among them was a +well-executed crucifix; with the Redeemer, on Calvary-an emblem of hope, +showing how the man marked the weary moments of his durance. We spoke +with many of the prisoners, and heard their different stories, some of +which were really painful. Their crimes were variously stated, from that +of murder, arson, and picking pockets, down to the felon who had stolen +a pair of shoes to cover his feet; one had stolen a pair of pantaloons, +and a little boy had stolen a few door-keys. Three boys were undergoing +their sentence for murder. A man of genteel appearance, who had been +sentenced to three years imprisonment, and to receive two hundred and +twenty lashes in the market, at different periods, complained bitterly +of the injustice of his case. Some had been flogged in the market, and +were awaiting their time to be flogged again and discharged; and others +were confined on suspicion, and had been kept in this close durance +for more than six months, awaiting trial. We noticed that this worst of +injustice, “the law's delay,” was felt worse by those confined on the +suspicion of some paltry theft, who, even were they found guilty by a +jury, would not have been subjected to more than one week imprisonment. +Yet such was the adherence to that ancient system of English criminal +jurisprudence, that it was almost impossible for the most innocent +person to get a hearing, except at the regular sessions, “which sit +seldom, and with large intervals between.” There is indeed a city +court in Charleston, somewhat more modern in its jurisprudence than the +sessions. It has its city sheriff, and its city officers, and holds its +terms more frequently. Thus is Charleston doubly provided with sheriffs +and officials. Both aspire to a distinct jurisdiction in civil and +criminal cases. Prisoners seem mere shuttlecocks between the sheriffs, +with a decided advantage in favor of the county sheriff, who is autocrat +in rei over the jail; and any criminal who has the good fortune to get +a hearing before the city judge, may consider himself under special +obligation to the county sheriff for the favor. + +We noticed these cells were much cleaner than those below, yet there +was a fetid smell escaping from them. This we found arose from the tubs +being allowed to stand in the rooms, where the criminals were closely +confined, for twenty-four hours, which, with the action of the damp, +heated atmosphere of that climate, was of itself enough to breed +contagion. We spoke of the want of ventilation and the noxious fumes +that seemed almost pestilential, but they seemed to have become +habituated to it, and told us that the rooms on the south side were +lighter and more comfortable. Many of them spoke cheerfully, and +endeavored to restrain their feelings, but the furrows upon their +haggard countenances needed no tongue to utter its tale. + +Hunger was the great grievance of which they complained; and if +their stories were true--and we afterward had strong proofs that they +were--there was a wanton disregard of common humanity, and an abuse of +power the most reprehensible. The allowance per day was a loaf of bad +bread, weighing about nine ounces, and a pint of thin, repulsive soup, +so nauseous that only the most necessitated appetite could be forced +to receive it, merely to sustain animal life. This was served in a +dirty-looking tin pan, without even a spoon to serve it. One man told us +that he had subsisted on bread and water for nearly five weeks-that +he had lain down to sleep in the afternoon and dreamed that he was +devouring some wholesome nourishment to stay the cravings of his +appetite, and awoke to grieve that it was but a dream. In this manner +his appetite was doubly aggravated, yet he could get nothing to appease +its wants until the next morning. To add to this cruelty, we found two +men in close confinement, the most emaciated and abject specimens of +humanity we have ever beheld. We asked ourselves, “Lord God! was it +to be that humanity should descend so low?” The first was a forlorn, +dejected-looking creature, with a downcast countenance, containing +little of the human to mark his features. His face was covered with +hair, and so completely matted with dirt and made fiendish by the tufts +of coarse hair that hung over his forehead, that a thrill of horror +invaded our feelings. He had no shoes on his feet; and a pair of ragged +pantaloons, and the shreds of a striped shirt without sleeves, secured +around the waist with a string, made his only clothing. In truth, he had +scarce enough on to cover his nakedness, and that so filthy and swarming +with vermin, that he kept his shoulders and hands busily employed; while +his skin was so incrusted with dirt as to leave no trace of its original +complexion. In this manner he was kept closely confined, and was more +like a wild beast who saw none but his keepers when they came to throw +him his feed. Whether he was kept in this manner for his dark deeds or +to cover the shame of those who speculated upon his misery, we leave to +the judgment of the reader. + +We asked this poor mortal what he had done to merit such a punishment? +He held his head down, and motioned his fevered lips. “Speak out!” said +we, “perhaps we can get you out.” “I had no shoes, and I took a pair +of boots from the gentleman I worked with,” said he in a low, murmuring +tone, + +“Gracious, man!” said we, “a pair of boots! and is that all you are here +for?” + +“Yes, sir! he lives on the wharf, is very wealthy, and is a good man: +'t wasn't his fault, because he tried to get me out if I'd pay for the +boots, but they wouldn't let him.” + +“And how long have you been thus confined?” said we. + +“Better than five months-but it's because there a'n't room up stairs. +They've been promising me some clothes for a long time, but they don't +come,” he continued. + +“And how much longer have you to stop in this condition?” + +“Well, they say 'at court sets in October; it's somethin' like two +months off; the grand jury'll visit the jail then, and maybe they'll +find a bill' against me, and I'll be tried. I dont't care if they only +don't flog me in that fish-market.” + +“Then you have not been tried yet? Well, may God give that man peace +to enjoy his bounty, who would consign a poor object like thee to such +cruelty!” said we. + +“I was raised in Charleston-can neither read nor write-I have no father, +and my mother is crazy in the poor-house, and I work about the city for +a living, when I'm out!” said he. There was food for reflection in +this poor fellow's simple story, which we found to be correct, as +corroborated by the jailer. + +“Do you get enough to eat?” we asked. + +“Oh no, indeed! I could eat twice as much-that's the worst on't: 't +wouldn't be bad only for that. I git me loaf' in the mornin', and me +soup at twelve, but I don't git nothin' to eat at night, and a feller's +mighty hungry afore it's time to lay down,” said he. + +We looked around the room, and not seeing any thing to sleep upon, +curiosity led us to ask him where he slept. + +“The jail allows us a blanket-that's mine in the corner: I spread it +at night when I wants to go to bed,” he answered, quite contentedly. We +left the poor wretch, for our feelings could withstand it no longer. The +state of society that would thus reduce a human being, needed more pity +than the calloused bones reduced to such a bed. His name was Bergen. + +The other was a young Irishman, who had been dragged to jail in his +shirt, pantaloons, and hat, on suspicion of having stolen seven dollars +from a comrade. He had been in jail very near four months, and in regard +to filth and vermin was a counterpart of the other. A death-like smell, +so offensive that we stopped upon the threshold, escaped from the room +as soon as the door opened, enough to destroy a common constitution, +which his emaciated limbs bore the strongest evidence of. + +The prisoners upon the second story were allowed the privilege of the +yard during certain hours in the day, and the debtors at all hours in +the day; yet, all were subjected to the same fare. In the yard were a +number of very close cells, which, as we have said before, were kept +for negroes, refractory criminals, and those condemned to capital +punishment. These cells seemed to be held as a terror over the +criminals, and well they might, for we never witnessed any thing more +dismal for the tenement of man. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII. HOW IT IS. + + + +IT is our object to show the reader how many gross abuses of power exist +in Charleston, and to point him to the source. In doing this, the task +becomes a delicate one, for there are so many things we could wish were +not so, because we know there are many good men in the community whose +feelings are enlisted in the right, but their power is not coequal; and +if it were, it is checked by an opposite influence. + +The more intelligent of the lower classes look upon the subject of +politics in its proper light--they see the crashing effect the doctrine +of nullification has upon their interests; yet, though their numbers +are not few, their voice is small, and cannot sound through the channels +that make popular influence. Thus all castes of society are governed by +impracticable abstractions. + +The jail belongs to the county--the municipal authorities have no voice +in it; and the State, in its legislative benevolence, has provided +thirty cents a day for the maintenance of each prisoner. This small sum, +in the State of South Carolina, where provision is extremely high, may +be considered as a paltry pittance; but more especially so when the +magnificent pretensions of South Carolina are taken into consideration, +and a comparison is made between this meagre allowance and that of other +States. Even Georgia, her sister State, and one whose plain modesty is +really worthy of her enterprising citizens, takes a more enlightened +view of a criminal's circumstances-allows forty-four cents a day for his +maintenance, and treats him as if he was really a human being. But +for this disparity and the wanton neglect of humane feelings South +Carolinians excuse themselves upon the ground that they have no +penitentiary; nor do they believe in that system of punishment, +contending that it creates an improper competition with the honest +mechanic, and gives countenance to crime, because it attempts to improve +criminals. The common jail is made the place of confinement, while the +whipping-post and starvation supply the correctives. + +The sheriff being created an absolute functionary, with unlimited +powers to control the jail in all its varied functions, without either +commissioners or jail-committee, what state of management may be +expected? The court gives no specific direction as to the apartment or +mode of confinement when sentencing a criminal; consequently, it becomes +an established fact that the legislative confidence deposed in the +sheriff is used as a medium of favors, to be dispensed as best suits the +feelings or interests of the incumbent. Such power in the hands of an +arbitrary, vindictive, or avaricious man, affords unlimited means of +abuse, and without fear of exposure. + +It may be inferred from what we have said that the jailer was relax in +his duty. This is not the case, for we have good authority that a more +kind-hearted and benevolent man never filled the office. But his power +was so restricted by those in absolute control, that his office became a +mere turnkey's duty, for which he was paid the pittance of five hundred +dollars a year or thereabouts. Thus he discharged his duty according to +the instructions of the sheriff, who, it was well known, looked upon +the jail as a means of speculation; and in carrying out his purposes, he +would give very benevolent instructions in words, and at the same time +withhold the means of carrying them out, like the very good man who +always preached but never practised. + +Now, how is it? What is the regimen of this jail-prison and how is it +provided? We will say nothing of that arduous duty which the jailer +performs for his small sum; nor the report that the sheriff's office +is worth fourteen thousand dollars a year: these things are too well +established. But the law provides thirty cents a day for the prisoner's +maintenance, which shall be received by the sheriff, who is to procure +one pound of good bread, and one pound of good beef per day for each +man. Now this provision is capable of a very elastic construction. The +poor criminal is given a loaf of bad bread, costing about three cents, +and a pound of meat, the most unwholesome and sickly in its appearance, +costing five cents. Allowing a margin, however, and we may say the +incumbent has a very nice profit of from eighteen to twenty cents +per day on each prisoner. But, as no provision is made against the +possibility of the criminal eating his meat raw, he is very delicately +forced to an alternative which has another profitable issue for the +sheriff; that of taking a pint of diluted water, very improperly called +soup. Thus is carried out that ancient law of England which even she +is now ashamed to own. Our feelings are naturally roused against the +perpetration of such abuses upon suffering humanity. We struggle between +a wish to speak well of her whose power it is to practise them, and an +imperative duty that commands us to speak for those who cannot speak for +themselves. + +These things could not exist if the public mind was properly +enlightened. It is unnecessary to spend many words in exposing +such palpable abuses, or to trace the cause of their existence and +continuance. One cause of this is the wilful blindness and silly +gasconade of some of those who lead and form public opinion. With South +Carolinians, nothing is done in South Carolina that is not greater than +ever was done in the United States-no battles were ever fought that +South Carolina did not win-no statesman was ever equal to Mr. Calhoun-no +confederacy would be equal to the Southern, with South Carolina at its +head-no political doctrines contain so much vital element as secession, +and no society in the Union is equal to South Carolina for caste and +elegance-not excepting the worthy and learned aristocracy of Boston. + +A will to do as it pleases and act as it pleases, without national +restraint, is the great drawback under which South Carolina sends forth +her groaning tale of political distress. Let her look upon her dubious +glory in its proper light-let her observe the rights of others, and +found her acts in justice!--annihilate her grasping spirit, and she will +find a power adequate to her own preservation. She can then show to the +world that she gives encouragement to the masses, and is determined to +persevere in that moderate and forbearing policy which creates its own +protection, merits admiration abroad, instead of rebuke, and which +needs no gorgeous military display to marshal peace at the point of the +bayonet. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV. MANUEL PEREIRA COMMITTED. + + + +IT was nearly eleven o'clock as they ascended the jail steps and rang +the bell for admittance. The jailer, a stout, rough-looking man, opened +the iron door, and as Manuel was about to step over the stone sill, Dunn +gave him a sudden push that sent him headlong upon the floor. “Heavens! +what now?” inquired the jailer with a look of astonishment, and at the +next moment Dunn raised his foot to kick Manuel in the face. + +“You infernal beast!” said the jailer, “you are more like a savage than +a man-you are drunk now, you vagabond,” and jumped in between them to +save him from the effect of the blow. As he did this, the gentleman who +accompanied them from the “corner-shop,” as a protection against Dunn's +cruelty, fetched Dunn a blow on the back of the neck that made him +stagger against a door, and created such confusion as to arouse the +whole jail. Turning to Manuel, he, with the assistance of the jailer, +raised him from the ground and led him into the jail-office. “Mister +jailer,” said Dunn, “the prisoner is mine until such times as you +receipt the commitment, and I demand protection from you against this +man. He has committed two violent assaults upon me, when I'd be doing me +duty.” + +“You have violated all duty, and are more like an incarnate fiend. You +first decoy men into rum-shops, and then you plunder and abuse them, +because you think they are black and can get no redress. You abused that +man unmercifully, because you knew his evidence was not valid against +you!” said the gentleman, turning to the jailer, and giving him the +particulars of what he saw in the “corner-shop,” and what cruelties he +had seen practised by Dunn on former occasions. + +The jailer looked upon Manuel with commiseration, and handed him a chair +to sit down on. The poor fellow was excited and fatigued, for he had +eaten nothing that day, and been treated more like a brute than a human +being from the time, he left the ship until he arrived at the jail. He +readily accepted the kind offer, and commenced to tell the story of his +treatment. + +“You need' not tell me,--I know too much of that man already. It has +long been a mystery to me why he is retained in office.”-- + +Here Dunn interrupted. “Sure it's yer master I'd obey and not yerself, +an' I'd do what I'd plase with prisoners, and, it's his business and not +yeers. If ye had yer way, sure you'd be makin' white men of every nigger +that ye turned a key upon.” + +“Give me none of your insolence,” said the jailer. “You have no +authority beyond my door. Your brutal treatment to prisoners has caused +me an immense deal of trouble-more than my paltry pay would induce me +to stay for. Suppose you were indicted for these outrages? What would be +the result?” asked the jailer. + +“Sure it's meself could answer for the sheriff, without yer bothering +yerself. I'd not work for yer, but for him; and he's yer master anyhow, +and knows all about it. Give me the receipt, and that's all I'd ax yer. +When a nigger don't mind me, I just makes him feel the delight of a +hickory stick.” + +“Yes, if you had the shame of a man in you, you'd not make a beast of +yourself with liquor, and treat these poor stewards as if they were +dogs,” said the jailer. + +“Indeed, ye might learn a thing or two if ye was a politician like +meself, and belonged to the secession party. An' if his honor the +sheriff-for he's a dacent man-knew ye'd be preachin' in that shape, ye +wouldn't keep the jail f'nent the morning. Be letting me out, and make +much of the nigger; ye have him there.” + +The jailer unlocked the door and allowed him to pass out, with a +pertinent rebuke. This was but a trifling affair in Dunn's ear, for he +knew his master's feelings too well, and was backed by him in his most +intolerable proceedings. Returning to the office, he looked at the +commitment, and then again at Manuel. “This is a 'contrary to law' case, +I see, Mr. Manuel; you are a likely fellow too, to come within that,” + said he. + +“Yes. If I understand him right, he's a shipwrecked sailor, belonging +to a foreign vessel that was driven in here in distress,” said the +man. “It's a hard law that imprisons a colored seaman who comes here +voluntarily; but it seems beyond all manner of precedent to imprison +a shipwrecked man like this, especially when he seems so respectable. +There are no circumstances to warrant the enforcement of such a law.” + Thus saying, he left the jail. + +Be it said of the jailer, to his honor, so far as personal kindness +went, he did his utmost--brought him water to wash himself, and gave +him some clean clothes. After which, he was registered upon the criminal +calendar as follows:-- + +“March 24, 1852.--Manuel Peirire.--[Committed by] Sheriff--Sheriff. +Crime--Contrary to law.” + +Now the jailer had done his duty, so far as his feelings were concerned; +but, such were the stern requirements of the law, and his functions +so restricted by Mr. Grimshaw, that he dare not make distinctions. He +called Daley, one of the criminal assistants, and ordered him to show +the prisoner his room. + +“Here, my boy, take yer blanket,” said Daley; and throwing him a coarse, +filthy-looking blanket, told him to roll it up and follow him. “It's on +the second floor we'll put ye, among the stewards; there's a nice lot +on 'em to keep yer company, and ye'll have a jolly time, my boy.” Manuel +followed through the second iron door until he came to a large door +secured with heavy bolts and bars, which Daley began to withdraw and +unlock. “Don't be takin' it amiss; it's a right good crib, savin' the' +bed, an' it's that's the worst of it. Bad luck to old Grimshaw, an' +himself thinks everybody's bones be's as tuf as his own,” said Daley, +and threw open the heavy doors, sending forth those ominous prison +sounds. “All here? Ah! yer a pretty set of lambs, as the British consul +calls yees. Have ye ever a drop to spare?” At this, three or four +respectable-looking black men came to the door and greeted Manuel. +“Come, talk her out, for th' auld man'll be on the scent.” At this, one +of the confined stewards, a tall, good-looking mulatto man, ran his hand +into a large opening in the wall, and drew forth a little soda-bottle +filled with Monongahela whisky. Without giving reasonable time for +politeness, Daley seized the bottle, and putting it to his mouth, gauged +about half its contents into his homony dept, smacked his lips, +wiped his mouth with his cuff, and, passing the balance back, shut and +rebolted the door, after saying, “Good luck till yees, an' I wish yees +a merry time.” The reader may imagine what provision the State or the +sheriff had made for the comfort of these poor men, one of whom was +imprisoned because it was “contrary to law” to be driven into the port +of Charleston in distress, and the rest, peaceable, unoffending citizens +belonging to distant States and countries, and guilty of no crime, when +we describe the room and regimen to which they were subjected. The room +was about twenty-six feet long and ten feet wide. The brick walls were +plastered and colored with some kind of blue wash, which, however, was +so nearly obliterated with dirt and the damp of a southern climate, as +to leave but little to show what its original color was. The walls were +covered with the condensed moisture of the atmosphere, spiders hung +their festooned network overhead, and cockroaches and ants, those +domesticated pests of South Carolina, were running about the floor in +swarms, and holding all legal rights to rations in superlative contempt. +Two small apertures in the wall, about fourteen inches square, and +double-barred with heavy flat iron, served to admit light and air. The +reader may thus judge of its gloomy appearance, and what a miserable +unhealthy cell it must have been in which to place men just arrived from +sea. There was not the first vestige of furniture in the room, not; +even a bench to sit upon, for the State, with its gracious hospitality, +forgot that men in jail ever sit down; but it was in keeping with all +other things that the State left to the control of its officials. + +“Am I to be punished in this miserable place? Why, I cannot see where +I'm going; and have I nothing to lay down upon but the floor, and that +creeping with live creatures?” inquired Manuel of those who were already +inured to the hardship. + +“Nothing! nothing! Bring your mind to realize the worst, and forget the +cruelty while you are suffering it; they let us out a part of the day. +We are locked up to-day because one of the assistants stole my friend's +liquor, and he dared to accuse him of the theft, because he was a white +man,” said a tall, fine-looking mulatto man by the name of James Redman, +who was steward on board a Thomastown (Maine) ship, and declared that he +had visited Charleston on a former occasion, and by paying five dollars +to one of the officers, remained on board of the ship unmolested. + +“And how long shall I have to suffer in this manner?” inquired Manuel. +“Can I not have my own bed and clothing?” + +“Oh, yes,” said Redman; “you can have them, but if you bring them here, +they'll not be worth anything when you leave; and the prisoners upon +this floor are so starved and destitute, that necessity forces them +to steal whatever comes in their way; and the assistants are as much +implicated as the prisoners. You'll fare hard; but just do as we do in +a calm, wait for the wind to blow, and pray for the best. If you say any +thing, or grumble about it, the sheriff will order you locked, up on the +third story, and that's worse than death itself. The first thing you do, +make preparations for something to eat. We pay for it here, but don't +get it; and you'd starve afore you'd eat what they give them poor white +prisoners. They suffer worse than we do, only they have cleaner rooms.” + +“I pray for my deliverance from such a place as this.” + +His manners and appearance at once enlisted the respect of those +present, and they immediately set to work, with all the means at hand, +to make him comfortable. Joseph Jociquei, a young man who had been taken +from a vessel just arrived from Rio, and was more fortunate than the +rest, in having a mattrass, seeing Manuel's weak condition, immediately +removed it from its place, and spreading it upon the floor, invited him +to lay down. The invitation was as acceptable as it was kind on the +part of Jociquei, and the poor fellow laid his weary limbs upon it, and +almost simultaneously fell into a profound sleep. Manuel continued to +sleep. His face and head were scarred in several places; which were +dressed and covered with pieces of plaster that the jailer had supplied. +His companions, for such we shall call those who were confined with him, +sat around him, discussing the circumstances that brought him there, and +the manner in which they could best relieve his suffering. “It's just +as I was sarved,” said Redman. “And I'll bet that red-headed constable, +Dunn, brought him up: and abused him in all them Dutch shops. I didn't +know the law, and he made me give him three dollars not to put the +handcuffs upon me, and then I had to treat him in every grog-shop we +came to. Yes, and the last shop we were in, he throw'd liquor in me +face, cursed the Dutchman that kept the shop, kick'd me, and tried every +way in the world to raise a fuss. If I hadn't know'd the law here too +well, I'd whipt him sure. I have suffered the want of that three dollars +since I bin here. 'Twould sarved me for coffee. We have neither coffee +nor bread to-night, for we gave our allowance of bad bread to the white +prisoners, but we must do something to make the poor fellow comfortable. +I know the constable has kept him all day coming up, and he'll be hungry +as soon as he awakes.” + +“Won't he receive his allowance to-day like another prisoner?” inquired +Copeland, a thick-set, well made, dark-skinned negro steward, who had +formerly conducted a barber shop in Fleet street, Boston, but was now +attached to the schooner Oscar Jones, Kellogg, master. + +“Oh! no, sir,” said Redman, “that's against the rules of the jail-every +thing is done by rule here, even to paying for what we don't get, and +starving the prisoners. A man that don't come in before eleven o'clock +gets no ration until the next morning. I know, because I had a fuss with +the jailer about it, the first day I was brought in; but he gin me a +loaf out of his own house. The old sheriff never allows any thing done +outside the rules, for he's tighter than a mantrap. 'T a'n't what ye +suffers in this cell, but it's what ye don't get to eat; and if that +poor feller a'n't got money, he'll wish himself alongside the caboose +again 'fore he gets out.” The poor fellows were driven to the extreme of +providing sustenance to sustain life. They mustered their little means +together, and by giving a sum to the sheriff's black boy, (a man more +intelligent, gentlemanly, and generous-hearted than his master,) had a +measure of coffee, sugar, and bread brought in. Necessity was the mother +of invention with them, for they had procured a barrel for twenty-five +cents, and made it supply the place of a table. With a few chips that +were brought to them by a kind-hearted colored woman that did their +washing, and bestowed many little acts of kindness, they made a fire, +endured the annoyance of a dense smoke from the old fire-place, and +prepared their little supper. As soon as it was upon the table, they +awoke Manuel, and invited him to join in their humble fare. The poor +fellow arose, and looking around the gloomy, cavern-like place, heaved a +deep sigh. “It's hard to be brought to this for nothing!” said he; “and +my bones are so sore that I can scarcely move. I must see the Captain +and consul.” + +“That won't do any good; you might as well keep quiet and drink your +coffee. A prisoner that says the least in this jail is best off,” + returned Redman. + +Manuel took his bowl of coffee and a piece of bread, eating it with a +good appetite, and asking what time they got breakfast. “It's the first +time I was abused in a foreign country. I'm Portuguese, but a citizen of +Great Britain, and got my protection.-When it won't save me, I'll never +come to South Carolina again, nor sail where a flag won't protect me. +When I go among Patagonians, I know what they do; but when I sail +to United States or be cast away on them, I don't know what they do, +because I expect good people.” * * * + +“Never mind, my good fellow,” said Redman; “cheer up, take it as a good +sailor would a storm, and in the morning you'll get a small loaf of sour +bread and a bucket of water for breakfast, if you go to the pump for it. +Be careful to moderate your appetite when you breakfast according to the +State's rules; for you must save enough to last you during the day, and +if you can keep “banyan day,” as the Bluenose calls it, you're just the +man for this institution, and no mistake. Come, I see you're hungry; +drink another bowl of coffee, and eat plenty of bread; then you'll be +all right for another good sleep.” + +“Yes, but I don't expect to be in here long. But tell me, do we get +nothing more than a loaf? didn't the jail give us this supper?” he +inquired with surprise. + +“Supper, indeed!--it's against the rules for prisoners to have coffee; +that's our private fixings; but you'll get a pound of bloody neck-bone, +they call beef, in the morning. I have twice thrown mine to the dog, +but he doesn't seem to thank me for it; so I told the cook he needn't +trouble his steelyards for me again.” + +Redman's conversation was interrupted by a noise that seemed to be a +ring of the prison bell, and an anxious expression which Manuel gave +utterance to, indicated that he expected somebody would come to see him. +He was not disappointed, for a few minutes after, the bolts were heard +to withdraw and the heavy door swung back. There, true to his charge, +was little Tommy, in his nicest blue rig, tipped off a la man-o'-war +touch, with his palmetto-braid hat,--a long black ribbon displayed over +the rim,--his hair combed so slick, and his little round face and red +cheeks so plump and full of the sailor-boy pertness, with his blue, +braided shirt-collar laid over his jacket, and set off around the neck, +with a black India handkerchief, secured at the throat with the joint +of a shark's backbone. He looked the very picture and pattern of a +Simon-Pure salt. He had wended his way through strange streets and +lanes, with a big haversack under his arm, which Daley had relieved +him of at the door, and brought into the room under his arm. As soon as +Manuel caught a glimpse of him, he rose and clasped the little fellow +in his arms with a fond embrace. No greeting could be more affecting. +Manuel exulted at seeing his little companion; but Tommy looked grieved, +and asked, “But what has scarred your face so, Manuel? You didn't look +that way when you left the brig. We have had a site o' folks down to see +us to-day.” + +“Oh, that's nothing!--just a little fall I got; don't tell the Captain: +it'll all be well to-morrow.” + +“Here, Jack, take your knapsack; did yer bring ever a drop o' liquor for +the steward?” said Daley, addressing himself to Tommy, and putting the +package upon the floor. + +“Yes, Manuel!” said Tommy, “the Captain sent you some nice bread and +ham, some oranges and raisins, and a bottle of nice claret,--for he was +told by the consul that they didn't give 'em nothing to eat at the +jail. And I had a tug with 'em, I tell you. I got lost once, and got a +good-natured black boy to pilot me for a Victoria threepence,--but he +did not like to carry the bundle to the jail, for fear of his master. +Captain 'll be up first thing in the morning, if he can get away from +business,” said the little tar, opening the haversack and pulling out +its contents to tempt the hungry appetites of those around him. + +Daley very coolly took the bottle of claret by the neck, and holding it +between himself and the light, took a lunar squint at it, as if doubting +its contents; and then, putting it down, exclaimed, “Ah! the divil a red +I'd give you for your claret. Sure, why didn't ye bring a token of +good old hardware?” “Hardware! what is hardware?” inquired Manuel. “Ah! +botheration to the bunch of yees--a drap of old whiskey, that 'd make +the delight cum f'nent. Have ye ne'er a drap among the whole o' yees?” + Receiving an answer in the negative, he turned about with a Kilkenny, +“It don't signify,” and toddled for the door, which he left open, to +await Tommy's return. Redman knew Daley's propensity too well, and +having ocular proof that he had wet t'other eye until it required +more than ordinary effort to make either one stay open, he declined +recognising his very significant hint. + +As soon as Daley withdrew, Manuel invited his companions to partake of +the Captain's present, which they did with general satisfaction. + + + + +CHAPTER XV. THE LAW'S INTRICACY. + + + +WHILE the scenes we have described in the foregoing chapter were being +performed, several very interesting ones were going through the course +of performance at the consul's office and other places, which we must +describe. The British Government, in its instructions to Mr. Mathew, +impressed upon him the necessity of being very cautious lest he should +in any manner prejudice the interests of the local institutions within +his consular jurisdiction; to make no requests that were incompatible +with the local laws; but to pursue a judicious course in bringing the +matter of Her Majesty's subjects properly to the consideration of +the legal authorities, and to point to the true grievance; and as it +involved a question of right affecting the interests and liberties of +her citizens, to ask the exercise of that judicial power from which it +had a right to expect justice. The main object was to test the question +whether this peculiar construction given to that local law which +prohibits free colored men from coming within the limits of the State, +was legal in its application to those who come into its ports connected +with the shipping interests, pursuing an honest vocation, and intending +to leave whenever their ship was ready. The consul was censured by the +press in several of the slaveholding States, because he dared to bring +the matter before the local legislature. We are bound to say that Consul +Mathew, knowing the predominant prejudices of the Carolinians, acted +wisely in so doing. First, he knew the tenacious value they put upon +courtesy; secondly, the point at issue between South Carolina and the +Federal Government, (and, as a learned friend in Georgia once said, +“Whether South Carolina belonged to the United States, or the United +States to South Carolina;”) and thirdly, the right of State sovereignty, +which South Carolina held to be of the first importance. To disregard +the first, would have been considered an insult to the feelings of +her people; and if the question had first been mooted with the Federal +Government, the ire of South Carolinians would have been fired; the +slur in placing her in a secondary position would have sounded the +war-trumpet of Abolition encroachments, while the latter would have been +considered a breach of confidence, and an unwarrantable disregard of her +assertion of State rights. The Executive transmitted the documents to +the Assembly, that body referred them to special committees, and the +Messrs. Mazyck and McCready, reported as everybody in South Carolina +expected, virtually giving the British consul a very significant +invitation to keep his petitions in his pocket for the future, and his +“black lambs” out of the State, or it might disturb their domesticated +ideas. Thus was the right clearly reserved to themselves, and the +question settled, so far as the State Legislature was concerned. The +next course for Mr. Mathew was to appeal to the Judiciary, and should +redress be denied, make it the medium of bringing the matter, before the +Federal courts. + +We cannot forbear to say, that the strenuous opposition waged against +this appeal of common humanity arose from political influence, supported +by a set of ultra partisans, whose theoretical restrictions, assisted +by the voice of the press, catered to the war-spirit of the +abstractionists. + +The British consul, as the representative of his government, knowing the +personal suffering to which the subjects of his country were subjected +by the wretched state of the Charleston prison, and its management, +sought to remove no restriction that might be necessary for protecting +their dangerous institutions, but to relieve that suffering. He had +pointed the authorities to the wretched state of the prison, and the +inhuman regimen which existed within it; but, whether through that +superlative carelessness which has become so materialized in the spirit +of society--that callousness to misfortune so strongly manifested by the +rich toward the industrious poor and the slaves-or, a contempt for +his opinions, because he had followed out the instructions of his +government, things went on in the same neglected manner and no attention +was paid to them. + +Now, we dare assert that a large, portion of the excitement which the +question has caused has arisen from personal suffering, consequent upon +that wretched state of jail provisions which exists in South Carolina, +and which, to say the least, is degrading to the spirit and character of +a proud people. If a plea could be made, for excuse, upon the shattered +finances of the State, we might tolerate something of the abuse. But +this is not the case; and when its privileges become reposed in men who +make suffering the means to serve their own interests, its existence +becomes an outrage. + +A stronger evidence of the cause of these remonstrances on the part +of the British Government, is shown by the manner in which it has been +submitted to in Georgia. The British consul of the port of Savannah, a +gentleman whose intelligence and humane feelings are no less remarkable +than Mr. Mathew's, has never had occasion to call the attention of +the Executive of Georgia to the abuse of power consequent upon the +imprisonment of colored seamen belonging to the ships of Great Britain +in that port. The seaman was imprisoned, consequently deprived of his +liberty; but there was no suffering attendant beyond the loss of liberty +during the stay of the vessel; for the imprisonment itself was a nominal +thing; the imprisoned was well cared for; he had good, comfortable +apartments, cleanly and well ordered, away from the criminals, and +plenty of good, wholesome food to eat. There was even a satisfaction in +this, for the man got what he paid for, and was treated as if he were +really a human being. Thus, with the exception of the restriction on the +man's liberty, and that evil, which those interested in commerce would +reflect upon as a tax upon the marine interests of the port to support a +municipal police, because it imposes a tax and burdensome annoyance upon +owners for that which they have no interest in and can derive no benefit +from, the observance of the law had more penalty in mental anxiety than +bodily suffering. We have sometimes been at a loss to account for the +restriction, even as it existed in Georgia, and especially when +we consider the character of those controlling and developing the +enterprising commercial affairs of Savannah. + +But we must return to South Carolina. If we view this law as a police +regulation, it only gives us broader latitude. If a community has that +within itself which is dangerous to its well-being, it becomes pertinent +to inquire whether there is not an imperfect state of society existing, +and whether this policy is not injurious to the well-being of the State. +The evil, though it be a mortifying fact, we are bound to say, arises +from a strange notion of caste and color, which measures sympathy +according to complexion. There is no proof that can possibly be adduced, +showing that colored seamen have made any infections among the slaves, +or sought to increase the dangers of her peculiar institution. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI. PLEA OF JUST CONSIDERATION AND MISTAKEN CONSTANCY OF THE +LAWS. + + + +THE consul's office opened at nine o'clock,--the Captain, with his +register-case and shipping papers under his arm, presented himself to +Mr. Mathew, handed him his papers, and reported his condition. That +gentleman immediately set about rendering every facility to relieve his +immediate wants and further his business. The consul was a man of plain, +unassuming manners, frank in his expressions, and strongly imbued with +a sense of his rights, and the faith of his Government,--willing to take +an active part in obtaining justice, and, a deadly opponent to wrong, +regardless of the active hostility that surrounded him. After relating +the incidents of his voyage, and the circumstances connected with +Manuel's being dragged to prison,--“Can it be possible that the law is +to be carried to such an extreme?” said he, giving vent to his feelings. + +“Your people seem to have a strange manner of exhibiting their +hospitality,” said the Captain, in reply. + +“That is true; but it will not do to appeal to the officials.” Thus +saying, the consul prepared the certificate, and putting on his hat, +repaired to the jail. Here he questioned Manuel upon the circumstances +of his arrest, his birthplace, and several other things. “I am not sure +that I can get you out, Manuel, but I will do my best; the circumstances +of your being driven in here in distress will warrant some consideration +in your case; yet the feeling is not favorable, and we cannot expect +much.” + +From thence he proceeded to the office of Mr. Grimshaw, where he met +that functionary, seated in all the dignity of his office. + +“Good morning, Mr. Consul. Another of your darkies in my place, this +morning,” said Mr. Grimshaw. + +“Yes; it is upon that business I have called to see you. I think you +could not have considered the condition of this man, nor his rights, +or you would not have imprisoned him. Is there no way by which I can +relieve him?” inquired the consul, expecting little at his hands, but +venturing the effort. + +“Sir! I never do any thing inconsistent with my office. The law gives +me power in these cases, and I exercise it according to my judgment. It +makes no exceptions for shipwrecks, and I feel that you have no right to +question me in the premises. It's contrary to law to bring niggers here; +and if you can show that he is a white man, there's the law; but you +must await its process.” + +“But do you not make exceptions?” inquired the consul. “I do not wish +to seek his relief by process of law; that would increase expense and +delay. I have made the request as a favor; if you cannot consider it in +that light, I can only say my expectations are disappointed. But how is +it that the man was abused by your officers before he was committed?” + +“Those are things I've nothing to do with; they are between the officers +and your niggers. If they are stubborn, the officers must use force, +and we have a right to iron the whole of them. Your niggers give more +trouble than our own, and are a set of unruly fellows. We give 'em +advantages which they don't deserve, in allowing them the yard at +certain hours of the day. You Englishmen are never satisfied with any +thing we do,” returned Mr. Grimshaw, with indifference, appearing to +satisfy himself that the law gave him the right to do what he pleased in +the premises. There seemed but one idea in his head, so far as niggers +were concerned, nor could any mode of reasoning arouse him: to a +consideration of any extenuating circumstances. A nigger was a nigger +with him, whether white or black-a creature for hog, homony, and +servitude. + +“I expected little and got nothing. I might have anticipated it, knowing +the fees you make by imprisonment. I shall seek relief for the man +through a higher tribunal, and I shall seek redress for the repeated +abuses inflicted upon these men by your officers,” said the consul, +turning to the door. + +“You can do that, sir,” said Mr. Grimshaw; “but you must remember that +it will require white evidence to substantiate the charge. We don't take +the testimony of your niggers.” + +Just as the consul left the office, he met Colonel S--entering. The +colonel always manifested a readiness to relieve the many cases of +oppression and persecution arising from bad laws and abused official +duty. He had called upon Mr. Grimshaw on the morning of the arrest, and +received from him an assurance that the case would be considered, the +most favorable construction given to it, and every thing done for +the man that was in his power. Notwithstanding this to show how far +confidence could be put in such assurances, we have only to inform the +reader that he had despatched the officers an hour previously. + +The colonel knew his man, and felt no hesitation at speaking his mind. +Stepping up to him, “Mr. Grimshaw,” said he, “how do you reconcile +your statement and assurances to me this morning with your subsequent +conduct?” + +“That's my business. I act for the State, and not for you. Are you +counsel for these niggers, that you are so anxious to set them at +liberty among our slaves? You seem to have more interest in it than that +interfering consul. Just let these Yankee niggers and British niggers +out to-night, and we'd have another insurrection before morning; it's +better to prevent than cure,” said Grimshaw. + +“The only insurrection would have been in your heart, for the loss of +fees. If you did not intend what you said, why did you deceive me with +such statements? I know the feelings of our people, as well as I do +yours for caging people within that jail. Upon that, I intimated to the +Captain what I thought would be the probable result, and this morning I +proceeded to his vessel to reassure him, upon your statement. Imagine my +mortification when he informed me that his steward had been dragged +off to jail early in the morning, and that those two ruffians whom you +disgrace the community with, behaved in the most outrageous manner. It +is in your power to relieve this man, and I ask it as a favor, and on +behalf of what I know to be the feelings of the citizens of Charleston.” + +“Your request, colonel,” said Mr. Grimshaw, with a little more +complacency, “is too much in the shape of a demand. There's no +discretion left me by the State, and if you have a power superior to +that, you better pay the expenses of the nigger, and take the management +into your own hands. I never allow this trifling philanthropy about +niggers to disturb me. I could never follow out the laws of the State +and practise it; and you better not burden yourself with it, or your +successors may suffer for adequate means to support themselves. Now, +sir, take my advice. It's contrary to law for them niggers to come +here; you know our laws cannot be violated. South Carolina has a great +interest at stake in maintaining the reputation of her laws. Don't +excite the nigger's anxiety, and he'll be better off in jail than he +would running about among the wenches. He won't have luxuries, but we'll +make him comfortable, and he must suit his habits to our way of living. +We must not set a bad example before our own niggers; the whiter they +are the worse they are. They struggle for their existence now, and think +they're above observing our nigger laws. We want to get rid of them, and +you know it,” returned Grimshaw. + +“Yes; I know it too well, for I have had too many cases to protect them +from being 'run off' and sold in the New Orleans market. But when you +speak of white niggers, I suppose you mean our brightest; I dispute your +assertion, and point you to my proof in the many men of wealth among +them now pursuing their occupations in our city. Can you set an example +more praiseworthy? And notwithstanding they are imposed upon by taxes, +and many of our whites take the advantage of law to withhold the payment +of debts contracted with them, they make no complaint. They are subject +to the same law that restricts the blackest slave. Where is the white +man that would not have yielded under such inequality? No! Mr. Grimshaw, +I am as true a Southerner-born and bred-as you are; but I have the +interests of these men at heart, because I know they are with us, and +their interests and feelings are identical with our own. They are Native +Americans by birth and blood, and we have no right to dispossess them +by law of what we have given them by blood. We destroy their feelings by +despoiling them of their rights, and by it we weaken our own cause. Give +them the same rights and privileges that we extend to that miserable +class of foreigners who are spreading pestilence and death over our +social institutions, and we would have nothing to fear from them, but +rather find them our strongest protectors. I want to see a law taking +from that class of men the power to lord it over and abuse them.” + +A friend, who has resided several years in Charleston, strong in his +feelings of Southern rights, and whose keen observation could not fail +to detect the working of different phases of the slave institution, +informed us that he had conversed with a great many very intelligent +and enterprising men belonging to that large class of “bright” men in +Charleston, and that which appeared to pain them most was the manner +they were treated by foreigners of the lowest class; that rights which +they had inherited by birth and blood were taken away from them; that, +being subjected to the same law which governed the most abject slave, +every construction of it went to degrade them, while it gave supreme +power to the most degraded white to impose upon them, and exercise his +vindictive feelings toward them; that no consideration being given to +circumstances, the least deviation from the police regulations made to +govern negroes, was taken advantage of by the petty guardmen, who either +extorted a fee to release them, or dragged them to the police-office, +where their oath was nothing, even if supported by testimony of their +own color; but the guardman's word was taken as positive proof. Thus the +laws of South Carolina forced them to be what their feelings revolted +at. And I want to see another making it a penal offence for those men +holding slaves for breeding purposes. Another, which humanity calls +for louder than any other, is one to regulate their food, punish +these grievous cases of starvation, and make the offender suffer for +withholding proper rations. + +“Well-pretty well!” said Grimshaw, snapping his fingers very +significantly. “You seem to enjoy the independence of your own opinion, +colonel. Just prove this nigger's a white, and I'll give you a release +for him, after paying the fees. You better move to Massachusetts, and +preach that doctrine to William Lloyd Garrison and Abby Kelly.” + +“Give me none of your impudence, or your low insults. You may protect +yourself from personal danger by your own consciousness that you are +beneath the laws of honor; but that will not save you from what you +deserve, if you repeat your language. Our moderation is our protection, +while such unwise restrictions as you would enforce, fan the flame of +danger to our own households,” said the colonel, evidently yielding +to his impulses; while Mr. Grimshaw sat trembling, and began to make a +slender apology, saying that the language was forced upon him, because +the colonel had overstepped the bounds of propriety in his demands. + +“I'm somewhat astonished at your demand, colonel, for you don't seem +to comprehend the law, and the imperative manner in which I'm bound +to carry it out. Shipowners should get white stewards, if they want to +avoid all this difficulty. I know the nature of the case, but we can't +be accountable for storms, shipwrecks, old vessels, and all these +things. I'll go and see the fellow to-morrow, and tell the jailer-he's +a pattern of kindness, and that's why I got him for jailer-to give him +good rations and keep his room clean,” said Grimshaw, getting up and +looking among some old books that lay on a dusty shelf. At length he +found the one, and drawing it forth, commenced brushing the dust from it +with a dust-brush, and turning his tobacco-quid. After brushing the +old book for a length of time, he gave it a scientific wipe with his +coat-sleeve, again sat down, and commenced turning over its pages. + +“It's in here, somewhere,” said he, wetting his finger and thumb at +every turn. + +“What's in there, pray? You don't think I've practised at the Charleston +bar all my life without knowing a law which has called up so many +questions?” inquired the colonel. + +“Why, the act and the amendments. I believe this is the right one. I +a'n't practised so long, that I reckon I've lost the run of the appendix +and everything else,” adding another stream of tobacco-spit to the +puddle on the floor. + +“That's better thought than said. Perhaps you'd better get a schoolboy +to keep his finger on it,” continued the colonel, laconically. + +“Well, well; but I must find it and refresh your memory. Ah! here it is, +and it's just as binding on me as it can be. There's no mistake about +it-it's genuine South Carolina, perfectly aboveboard.” Thus saying, +he commenced reading to the colonel as if he was about to instruct +a schoolboy in his rudiments. “Here it is-a very pretty specimen of +enlightened legislation-born in the lap of freedom, cradled in a land of +universal rights, and enforced by the strong arm of South Carolina.” + +“An Act for the better regulation and government of free negroes and +persons of color, and for other purposes,” &c. &c. &c., Mr. Grimshaw +read; but as the two first sections are really a disgrace to the +delegated powers of man, in their aim to oppress the man of color, +we prefer to pass to the third section, and follow Mr. Grimshaw as he +reads:-- + +“That if any vessel shall come into any port or harbor of this State, +(South Carolina,) from any other State or foreign port, having on board +any free negroes or persons of color, as cooks, stewards, or mariners, +or in any other employment on board said vessel, such free negroes or +persons of color shall be liable to be seized and confined in jail until +said vessel shall clear out and depart from this State; and that when +said vessel is ready to sail, the captain of said vessel shall be +bound to carry away the said free negro or person of color, and pay the +expenses of detention; and in case of his refusal or neglect to do so, +he shall be liable to be indicted, and, on conviction thereof, shall be +fined in a sum not less than one thousand dollars, and imprisoned not +less than two months; and such free negroes or persons of color shall +be deemed and taken as absolute slaves, and sold in conformity to the +provisions of the act passed on the twentieth day of December, one +thousand eight hundred and twenty aforesaid.'” + +Mr. Grimshaw's coolness in the matter became so intolerable, that the +colonel could stand it no longer; so, getting up while Mr. Grimshaw was +reading the law, he left the office, perfectly satisfied that further +endeavors at that source would be fruitless. + +After Mr. Grimshaw had concluded, he looked up, perfectly amazed to find +that he was enjoying the reading of the act to himself. “Had I not given +it all the consideration of my power, and seen the correctness of the +law, I should not have given so much importance to my opinion. But there +it is, all in that section of the Act, and they can't find no convention +in the world to control the Legislature of South Carolina. There's my +principles, and all the Englishmen and Abolitionists in Christendom +wouldn't change me. Now, I've the power, and let 'em get the nigger out +of my place, if they can,” said Grimshaw, shutting the book, kicking +a good-sized, peaceable-looking dog that lay under the table, and +deliberately taking his hat and walking into the street. + +Here is an Act, bearing on its face the arrogant will of South Carolina, +setting aside all constitutional rights, and denying the validity of +stipulations made by the United States in her general commercial laws. +She asserts her right to disregard citizenship, to make criminals of +colored men, because they are colored, and to sell them for slaves to +pay the expenses which she had incurred to make them such. And what is +still worse, is, that the exercise of this misconceived and unjust law +is so unrelentingly enforced, and so abused by those who carry it out. + +During this time the consul had been unremitting in his endeavors to +procure the man's release. The mayor had no power in the premises; the +attorney-general was not positive in regard to the extent of his power +in such a case, though he admitted the case to be an aggravated one; the +judges could only recognise him as a nigger, consequently must govern +their proceedings by legislative acts. Upon the whole, he found that +he was wasting his time, for while they all talked sympathy, they +acted tyranny. Cold, measured words about niggers, “contrary to law,” + constitutional rights, inviolable laws, State sovereignty and secession, +the necessary police regulations to protect a peculiar institution, +and their right to enforce them, everywhere greeted his ears. There was +about as much in it to relieve Manuel, as there would have been had a +little bird perched upon the prison-wall and warbled its song of love to +him while strongly secured in his cell-more tantalizing because he could +hear the notes, but not see the songster. + +Notwithstanding the commendable energy of the consul, he had the +satisfaction of knowing that several very improbable reports touching +his course, and construing it into an interference with the institution +of slavery, had been widely circulated, and were creating a feeling +against him among a certain class of “fire-eating” secessionists. He was +too well aware of the source from which they originated to awaken any +fears, and instead of daunting his energy they only increased it, and +brought to his aid the valuable services of the Hon. James L. Petigru, a +gentleman of whom it is said, (notwithstanding his eminence at the +bar,) that had it not been for his purity of character, his opinions +in opposition to the State would have long since consigned him to a +traitor's exile. The truth was-and much against Mr. Petigru's popularity +in his own State-that he was a man of sound logic, practical judgment, +and legal discrimination. Thus endowed with the requisite qualities of +a good statesman, and pursuing a true course to create a conservative +influence in the State, he failed to become popular beyond his legal +sphere. Had he espoused that most popular of all doctrines in South +Carolina-nullification and secession-and carried abstraction to +distraction, James L. Petigru would have added another “Roman name” to +that which has already passed from South Carolina's field of action. + +The consul did his duty, but effected nothing; and such was the +opposition manifested by the officials who were interested in the spoils +of law, and politicians who could not see any thing important beyond +secession, that there was no prospect of it. And, as the last resort, +he appealed to the Judiciary through the “habeas corpus,” the result of +which we shall show in a subsequent chapter. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII. LITTLE GEORGE, THE CAPTAIN, AND MR. GRIMSHAW. + + + +THE consul had returned to his office rather discomfited at not being +able to relieve Manuel, yet satisfied that he had placed matters in +their proper light before the public. The Captain reported and left his +manifest at the custom-house, after entering his protest and making the +necessary arrangements for survey, &c. &c. And Colonel S--became so well +satisfied of the affectation of law protectors, and that his services +in behalf of humanity were like straws contending against a foaming +current, that, acknowledging his regrets to the Captain, he preferred to +make up in attention what he could not do for Manuel through the law. + +Little George paid his respects to the Janson between ten and eleven +o'clock, duly dressed. “Mr. Mate, where's your skipper?” he inquired, +with an air of consequence that put an extra pucker on his little +twisting mouth. + +“Gone to jail, or to see Doctor Jones, I expect, not giving ye an ill +answer,” replied the old mate, gruffly. + +“Perhaps you don't know who I am, sir. Your answer's not polite. You +must remember, sir, you're in South Carolina, the sunny city of the +South,” said the little secessionist. + +“I al'a's make my answer to suit myself. I study hard work and honesty, +but never was known to carry a grammar in my pocket. But, my taut +friend, I should know'd I was in South Carolina if you hadn't said a +word about it, for no other nation under the sky would a dragged a poor +cast-away sailor to prison because he had the misfortune to have a tawny +hide. It's a ten-to-one, my hearty, if you don't find the skipper in +jail, and all the rest of us, before we leave. I'm lookin' now to see +some body-grabber coming down with a pair of handcuffs,” continued the +mate. + +“What! do you mean to insult me again, Mr. Mate? Explain yourself! I'm +not accustomed to this ironical talk!” + +“Well, it's something like your laws. They dragged our steward off +to jail this morning, without judge or jury, and with about as much +ceremony as a Smithfield policeman would a pickpocket.” + +“What! you don't say. Well, I was afraid of that. Our officers are +mighty quick, but I'd hoped differently. But, sir, give my compliments +to the Captain. Tell him I'll make the matter all right; my influence, +sir, and my father's--he is one of the first men in the city--tells +mightily here. I have promised my services to the Captain, and I'll see +him through. Just pledging my word to Grimshaw will be enough to satisfy +the judicial requisites of the law,” said George, switching his little +cane on his trowsers. + +“My good fellow,” said the mate, “if you can get our steward out a +limbo, you'll be doing us all a good turn, and we'll remember you as +long as we pull a brace.” + +“You may reckon on me, Mister Mate; and if I a'n't down before six +o'clock, my father will certainly take the matter in hand; and he and +Mazyck belong to the secession party, and control things just as they +please at Columbia.” So saying, George bid the old mate good morning, +and bent his course for the head of the wharf. + +“There,” said the old mate, “it's just what I thought all along; I knew +my presentiment would come true. I'll wager a crown they treat Manuel +like a dog in that old prison, and don't get him out until he is +mildewed; or perhaps they'll sell him for a slave a'cos he's got curly +black hair and a yellow skin. Now I'm a hardy sailor, but I've sailed +around the world about three times, and know something of nature. Now ye +may note it as clear as the north star, prisons in slave countries a'n't +fit for dogs. They may tell about their fine, fat, slick, saucy niggers, +but a slave's a slave--his master's property, a piece of merchandise, +his chattel, or his football-thankful for what his master may please to +give him, and inured to suffer the want of what he withholds. Yes, +he must have his thinking stopped by law, and his back lashed at his +master's will, if he don't toe the mark in work. Men's habits and +associations form their feelings and character, and it's just so with +them fellers; they've become so accustomed to looking upon a nigger as +a mere tool of labor--lordin' it over him, starving him, and lashing +him-that they associate the exercise of the same feelings and actions +with every thing connected with labor, without paying any respect to a +poor white man's feelings,” continued the mate, addressing himself to +his second, as they sat upon the companion, waiting for the Captain to +come on board and give further orders. + +Never were words spoken with more truth. The negro is reduced to the +lowest and worst restrictions, even by those who are considered wealthy +planters and good masters. We say nothing of those whose abuse of their +negroes by starvation and punishment forms the theme of complaint among +slaveholders themselves. His food is not only the coarsest that can, be +procured, but inadequate to support the system for the amount of labor +required. Recourse to other means becomes necessary. This is supplied by +giving the slave his task, which, so far as our observation extends, is +quite sufficient for any common, laborer's day's-work. This done, his +master is served; and as an act of kindness, (which Sambo is taught to +appreciate as such,) he is allowed to work on his own little cultivated +patch to raise a few things, which mass'r (in many cases) very +condescendingly sells in the market, and returns those little comforts, +which are so much appreciated by slaves on a plantation-tea, molasses, +coffee, and tobacco-and now and then a little wet of whiskey. This is +the allowance of a good man doing a good week's work, and getting two +pounds of bacon and a peck of corn as his compensation. But, in grateful +consideration, his good master allows him to work nights and Sundays to +maintain himself. In this way was “Bob's bale of cotton” raised, which +that anxious child of popular favor, the editor of the “Savannah Morning +News,” so struggled to herald to the world as something magnificent on +the part of the Southern slave-masters. At best, it was but a speck. If +the many extra hours of toil that poor Bob had spent, and the hours +of night that he had watched and nursed his plants, were taken into +account, there would be a dark picture connected with “Bob's bale of +cotton,” which the editor forgot to disclose. + +Every form of labor becomes so associated with servitude, that we may +excuse the Southerner for those feelings which condemn those devoted +to mechanical pursuits as beneath his caste and dignity. Arrogance and +idleness foster extravagance, while his pride induces him to keep up a +style of life which his means are inadequate to support. This induces +him to subsist his slaves on the coarsest fare, and becoming hampered, +embarrassed, and fretted in his fast-decaying circumstances, his slaves, +one by one, suffer the penalty of his extravagance, and finally he +himself is reduced to such a condition that he is unable to do justice +to himself or his children any longer; his slaves are dragged from him, +sold to the terrors of a distant sugar-plantation, and he turned out of +doors a miserable man. + +We see this result every day in South Carolina; we hear the comments +in the broadways and public places, while the attorney and bailiff's +offices and notices tell the sad tale of poverty's wasting struggle. + +George, in passing from the wharf into the bay, met the Captain, who was +shaping his course for the brig. He immediately ran up to him, and shook +his hands with an appearance of friendship. “Captain, I'm right sorry +to hear about your nigger. I was not prepared for such a decision on the +part of Mr. Grimshaw, but I'm determined to have him out,” said he. + +“Well!” said the Captain, “I'm sorry to say, I find things very +different from what I anticipated. My steward is imprisoned, for +nothing, except that he is a Portuguese, and everybody insists that he's +a nigger. Everybody talks very fine, yet nobody can do any thing; and +every thing is left to the will of one man.” + +“Why, Captain, we've the best system in the world for doing business; +you'd appreciate it after you understood it! Just come with me, and let +me introduce you to my father. If he don't put you right, I'll stand +convicted,” said little George. + +Accepting the invitation, they walked back to the “old man's” + counting-room. George had given the Captain such an extended account of +his father's business and estates, that the latter had made up his +mind to be introduced to an “India Palace' counting-room. Judge of +his surprise, then, when George led the way into an old, dirty-looking +counting-room, very small and dingy, containing two dilapidated high +desks, standing against the wall. They were made of pitch pine, painted +and grained, but so scarred and whittled as to have the appearance +of long use and abuse. In one corner was an old-fashioned low desk, +provided with an ink-stand, sundry pieces of blotting-paper, the +pigeon-holes filled with loose invoices, letters, and bills of lading, +very promiscuously huddled together; while hanging suspended on a +large nail, driven in the side, and exposed to view, was an enormous +dust-brush. A venerable-looking subject of some foreign country stood +writing at one desk, a little boy at the other, and George's veritable +“old man” at the low desk. Here and there around the floor were baskets +and papers containing samples of sea-island and upland cotton. George +introduced the Captain to his father with the suavity of a courtier. He +was a grave-looking man, well dressed, and spoke in a tone that at once +enlisted respect. Unlike George, he was a tall, well-formed man, with +bland, yet marked features, and very gray hair. He received the Captain +in a cold, yet dignified manner-inquired about his voyage, and who +he had consigned to, and what steps he had taken to proceed with +his business,--all of which the Captain answered according to the +circumstances. + +“What! then you have consigned already, have you?” said little George, +with surprise. + +“Oh yes,” returned the Captain, “I have left my business in the hands +of the consul, and shall follow his directions. It's according to my +sailing orders. But there's so much difficulty, I shouldn't wonder if I +had to leave the port, yet!” + +“Not so, Captain; I'll take care of that!” said George, giving his +father a statement of the Captain's trouble about Manuel's imprisonment, +and begging that he would bestow his influence in behalf of his +friend the Captain. Although George coupled his request with a seeming +sincerity, it was evident that he felt somewhat disappointed at the +consignment. The old gentleman looked very wise upon the subject, lifted +his gold-framed spectacles upon his forehead, gratified his olfactory +nerves with a pinch of snuff, and then said in a cold, measured tone, +“Well, if he's a nigger, I see no alternative,--the circumstances may +give a coloring of severity to the law; but my opinion has always been, +that the construction of the law was right; and the act being +founded upon necessity, I see no reason why we should meddle with its +prerogative. I think the interference of the consul unwarrantable, and +pressed upon mere technical grounds. These stories about the bad state +of our jail, and the sufferings of criminals confined in it, arise, I +must think, from the reports of bad prisoners. I have never been in it. +Our people are opposed to vice, and seldom visit such a place; but the +sheriff tells me it is comfortable enough for anybody. If this be so, +and I have no reason to doubt his word, we can exercise our sympathy and +kindness for his shipwrecked circumstances, and make him as comfortable +there as we could anywhere else. There are many different opinions, I +admit, touching the effect of this law; but I'm among those who support +stringent measures for better protection. His color can form no excuse, +Captain, so long as there is symptoms of the negro about him. We +might open a wide field for metaphysical investigation, if we admitted +exceptions upon grades of complexion; for many of our own slaves are +as white ar the brightest woman. Consequently, when we shut the gates +entirely, we save ourselves boundless perplexity. Nor would it be safe +to grant an issue upon the score of intelligence, for experience has +taught us that the most intelligent 'bright fellows' are the worst +scamps in creating discontent among the slaves. I only speak of these +things, Captain, in a general sense. Your man may be very good, noble, +generous, and intelligent; and, more than all, not inclined to meddle +with our peculiar institution,--but it would be a false principle +to make him an exception, setting an example that would be entirely +incompatible with our greatest interests. So far as my word will affect +the sheriff, and enlist his better feelings in making him comfortable, I +will use it,” said the 'old man,' again adjusting his specs. + +Little George seemed dumbfounded with mortification, and the Captain +felt as though he would give a guinea to be on board his brig. It was no +use for him to enter into the extenuating circumstance of his voyage, or +the character of the man, Manuel. The same cold opinions about the +law, and the faith and importance of South Carolina and her peculiar +institutions, met his ears wherever he went. The Captain arose, took +his hat, and bidding the old gentleman good morning, again left for his +brig. + +“Don't be worried about it-I'll do what I can for you,” said the old +man, as the Captain was leaving. George followed him into the street, +and made a great many apologies for his father's opinions and seeming +indifference, promising to do himself what his father did not seem +inclined to undertake. The Captain saw no more of him during his stay in +Charleston, and if his influence was exerted in Manuel's behalf, he did +not feel its benefits. + +Business had so occupied the Captain's attention during the day, that +he had no time to visit Manuel at the jail; and when he returned to the +vessel, a message awaited him from the British consul. One of the seamen +had been detailed to fill Manuel's place, who, with his dinner all +prepared, reminded the Captain that it was awaiting him. He sat down, +took dinner, and left to answer the consul's call. Arriving at the +office, he found the consul had left for his hotel, and would not return +until four o'clock. As he passed the post-office, a knot of men stood +in front of it, apparantly in anxious discussion. Feeling that their +conversation might be interesting to him, or have some connection with +his case, he walked slowly back, and as he approached them, observed +that the conversation had become more excited. The principals were Mr. +Grimshaw, and a factor on the bay, deeply interested in shipping. + +“A man acting in your capacity,” said the factor, “should never make use +of such expressions-never give encouragement to mob law. It's not only +disgraceful to any city, but ruinous to its interests. Officials never +should set or encourage the example. Want of order is already in the +ascendant, and if the populace is to be led on to riot by the officials, +what check have we? God save us from the direful effects!” + +“Well, perhaps I went too far,” said Mr. Grimshaw, “for I think as much +of the name of our fair city as you do. But we ought to teach him that +he can't pursue this open, bold, and daring course, endangering our +institutions, because he's consul for Great Britain. I would, at all +events, treat him as we did the Yankee HOAR from Massachusetts, and let +the invitation be given outside of official character, to save the name; +then, if he did not move off, I'd go for serving him as they did the +Spanish consul, in New Orleans. These English niggers and Yankee niggers +are fast destroying the peace of Charleston.” + +“You would, would you?” said another. “Then you would incite the fury +of an ungovernable mob to endanger the man's life for carrying out the +instructions of his government.” + +“That don't begin to be all that he does, for he's meddling with every +thing, and continually making remarks about our society,” said Grimshaw, +evidently intending to create ill feeling against the consul, and to +make the matter as bad as possible. + +“Now, Mr. Grimshaw,” said the factor, “you know your jail is not fit to +put any kind of human beings into, much less respectable men. It's +an old Revolutionary concern, tumbling down with decay, swarming with +insects and vermin; the rooms are damp and unhealthy, and without means +to ventilate them; the mildew and horrible stench is enough to strike +disease into the strongest constitution; and you aggravate men's +appetites with food that's both insufficient and unwholesome, I know, +because I visited a friend who was put in there on 'mesne process.'” + +“There is little confidence to be placed in the stories of prisoners; +they all think they must be treated like princes, instead of considering +that they are put there for cause, and that a jail was intended for +punishment,” interrupted Grimshaw, anxious to change the subject of +conversation, and displaying an habitual coldness to misfortune which +never can see the gentleman in a prisoner. + +“Yes, but you must not measure men by that standard. Circumstances which +bring them there are as different as their natures. I've known many +good, honest, and respectable, citizens, who once enjoyed affluence in +our community, put in there, month after month, and year after year, +suffering the persecution of creditors and the effects of bad laws. Now +these men would not all complain if there was no cause, and they all +loved you, as you state. But tell me, Mr. Grimshaw, would it not be even +safer for our institutions to make a restriction confining them to the +wharf, which could be easily done, and with but small expense to the +city? Niggers on the wharves could have no communication with them, +because each is occupied in his business, and ours are too closely +watched and driven during working hours. As soon as those hours end, +they are bound to leave, and the danger ends. Again, those niggers who +work on the wharves are generally good niggers, while, on the other +hand, bad niggers are put into jail; and during the hours these stewards +are allowed the privilege of the yard, they mix with them without +discrimination or restraint. Their feelings, naturally excited by +imprisonment, find relief in discoursing upon their wrongs with those of +their own color, and making the contamination greater,” said the factor, +who seemed inclined to view the matter in its proper light. + +“Oh! what sir? That would never do. You mistake a nigger's feelings +entirely. Privileges never create respect with them. Just make a law to +leave 'em upon the wharf, and five hundred policemen wouldn't keep 'em +from spoiling every nigger in town, just destroying the sovereignty of +the law, and yielding a supreme right that we have always contended +for. It's 'contrary to law,' and we must carry out the law,” replied +Grimshaw. + +“Pshaw! Talk such stuff to me! Just take away the sixteen hundred or +two thousand dollars that you make by the law; and you'd curse it for +a nuisance. It would become obsolete, and the poor devils of stewards +would do what they pleased; you'd never trouble your head about +them. Now, Grimshaw, be honest for once; tell us what you would do if +circumstances compelled the Captain to leave that nigger boy here?” + +“Carry out the letter of the law; there's no alternative. But the +Captain swears he's a white man, and that would give him an opportunity +to prove it.” + +“How is he to prove it, Grimshaw? We take away the power, and then ask +him to do what we make impossible. Then, of course, you would carry out +the letter of the law and sell him for a slave. * * * Well, I should +like to see the issue upon a question of that kind carried out upon an +English nigger. It would be more of a curse upon our slave institution +than every thing else that could be raised,” said the factor. + +“Gentlemen, you might as well preach abolition at once, and then the +public would know what your sentiments were, and how to guard against +you. I must bid you good-by.” So saying, Mr. Grimshaw twisted his +whip, took a large quid of tobacco, and left the company to discuss the +question among themselves. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. LITTLE TOMMY AND THE POLICE. + + + +WE must take the reader back to the old jail, and continue our scene +from where we left little Tommy spreading the Captain's present before +the imprisoned stewards, whose grateful thanks were showered upon the +head of the bestower. Kindness, be it ever so small, to a man in prison, +is like the golden rays of the rising sun lighting up the opening day. +They all partook of the refreshments provided for them with grateful +spirits. + +It was near ten o'clock when Daley came to announce that it was time to +close the prison, and all strangers must withdraw. Tommy had insisted +upon stopping with Manuel during the night. + +This man Daley was a proverbial drunkard, a tyrant in the exercise of +his “little brief authority,” and a notorious--. Singular as it may +seem, considering his position, he would quarrel with the men for a +glass of whiskey, had given the jailer more trouble than any other man, +and been several times confined in the cells for his incorrigible vices. +If any thing more was wanting to confirm our note, we could refer to +Colonel Condy, the very gentlemanly United States marshal in a very rude +manner, told him it was against the rules, and putting his hand to +his back, pushed him out of the cell and secured the bolts. The little +fellow felt his way through the passage and down the stairs in the dark +until he reached the corridor, where the jailer stood awaiting to +let him pass the outer iron-gate. “You've made a long stay, my little +fellow. You'll have a heap o' trouble to find the wharf, at this time o' +night. I'd o' let you stopped all night, but it's strictly against the +sheriff's orders,” said the jailer, as, he passed into the street, at +the same time giving him a list of imperfect directions about the course +to proceed. + +The jail is in a distant and obscure part of the city, surrounded by +narrow streets and lanes, imperfectly laid out and undefined. In leaving +the walls of the prison, he mistook his direction, and the night being +very dark, with a light, drizzling rain, which commenced while he was in +the prison, the whole aspect of things seemed reversed. After travelling +about for some time, he found himself upon a narrow strip of land that +crossed a basin of water and led to Chisholm's mill. The different +appearance of things here convinced him of his error. Bewildered, +and not knowing which way to proceed, he approached a cross road, and +sitting down upon a log, wept bitterly. He soon heard a footstep, and as +it approached, his cares lightened. It proved to be a negro man from the +mill. + +These mills are worked all night, and the poor negroes, wishing to +follow an example which massa sets on a grand scale, save that they +have an excuse in the fatigue of labor, will delegate some shrewd one of +their number to proceed to a Dutch “corner-shop” in the suburbs, run the +gauntlet of the police, and get a bottle of whiskey, When interrogated, +they are always “going for a bottle of molasses.” They keep a keen watch +for the police, and their cunning modes of eluding their vigilance forms +many amusing anecdotes. They are bound to have a pass from master, or +some white man; but if they can reach the shop in safety, the Dutchman +will always furnish them with one to return. It not unfrequently happens +that the guard-men are much more ignorant than the slaves. The latter +knowing this, will endeavor to find their station and approach by it, +taking with them either an old pass or a forged one, which the +guard-man makes a wonderful piece of importance about examining and +countersigning, though he can neither read nor write. Thus Sambo passes +on to get his molasses, laughing in his sleeve to think how he “fool +ignorant buckra.” A change of guard often forms a trap for Sambo, when +he is lugged to the guard-house, kept all night, his master informed in +the morning, and requested to step up and pay a fine, or Sambo's +back catches thirty-nine, thus noting a depression of value upon the +property. Sometimes his master pays the municipal fine, and administers +a domestic castigation less lacerating bound into the city on the usual +errand of procuring a little of molasses. When he first discovered +Tommy, he started back a few paces, as if in fear; but on being told by +Tommy that he was lost, and wanted to find his way to the wharves, he +approached and recovering, confidence readily, volunteered to see him to +the corner of Broad street. So, taking him by the hand, they proceeded +together until they reached the termination of the Causeway, and were +about to enter Tradd street, when suddenly a guard-man sprang from +behind an old shed. The negro, recognising his white belt and tap-stick, +made the best of his time, and set off at full speed down a narrow lane. +The watchman proceeded close at his heels, springing his rattle at every +step, and pouring out a volley of vile imprecations. Tommy stood for a +few moments, but soon the cries of the negro and the beating of clubs +broke upon his ear; he became terrified, and ran at the top of his speed +in an opposite direction. Again he had lost his way, and seemed in a +worse dilemma than before; he was weary and frightened, and hearing so +many stories among the sailors about selling white children for slaves, +and knowing the imprisonment of Manuel, which he did not comprehend, +his feelings were excited to the highest degree. After running for a few +minutes, he stopped to see if he could recognize his position. The first +thing that caught his eye was the old jail, looming its sombre walls in +the gloomy contrast of night. He followed the walls until he reached the +main gate, and then, taking an opposite direction from his former route, +proceeded along the street until he came to a lantern, shedding its +feeble light upon the murky objects at the corner of a narrow lane. +Here he stood for several minutes, not knowing which way to proceed: the +street he was in continued but a few steps farther, and turn which ever +way he would, darkness and obstacles rose to impede his progress. At +length he turned down the lane, and proceeded until he came to another +junction of streets; taking one which he thought would lead him in the +right direction, he wandered through it and into a narrow, circuitous +street, full of little, wretched-looking houses. A light glimmered from +one of them, and he saw a female passing to and fro before the window. +He approached and rapped gently upon the door. Almost simultaneously +the light was extinguished. He stood for a few minutes, and again rapped +louder than before; all was silent for some minutes. A drenching shower +had commenced, adding to the already gloomy picture; and the rustling +leaves on a tree that stood near gave an ominous sound to the excited +feelings of the child. He listened at the door with anxiety and fear, as +he heard whispers within; and as he was about to repeat his rapping, +a window on the right hand was slowly raised. The female who had been +pacing the floor protruded her head with a caution that bespoke alarm. +Her long, black hair hanging about her shoulders, and her tawny, Indian +countenance, with her ghost-like figure dressed in a white habiliment, +struck him with a sort of terror that wellnigh made him run. + +“Who is that, at this time of night?” inquired the woman, in a low +voice. + +“It's only me. I'm lost, and can't find my way to our vessel,” said +Tommy, in a half-crying tone. + +“Mother,” said the woman, shutting the window, “it's only a little +sailor-boy, a stranger, and he's wet through.” + +She immediately unbarred and opened the door, and invited him to come +in. Stepping beyond the threshold, she closed the door against the +storm, and placing a chair at the fire, told him to sit down and +warm himself. They were mulatto half-breeds, retaining all the +Indian features which that remnant of the tribe now in Charleston +are distinguished by a family well known in the city, yet under the +strictest surveillance of the police. Every thing around the little room +denoted poverty and neatness. The withered remnant of an aged Indian +mother lay stretched upon a bed of sickness, and the daughter, about +nineteen years old, had been watching over her, and administering those +comforts, which her condition required. “Why, mother, it's a'most twelve +o'clock. I don't believe he'll come to-night.” + +She awaited her friend, or rather he whose mistress she had condescended +to be, after passing from several lords. The history of this female +remnant of beautiful Indian girls now left in Charleston, is a mournful +one. The recollection of their noble sires, when contrasted with their +present unhappy associations, affords a sad subject for reflection and +“this little boy can stop till morning in our room up-stairs,” said she, +looking up at an old Connecticut clock that adorned the mantel-piece. + +“Oh! I could not stay all night. The mate would be uneasy about me, and +might send the crew to look for me. I'm just as thankful, but I couldn't +stop,” said Tommy. + +“But you never can find the bay on such a night as this; and I've no +pass, or I would show you into Broad street, and then you could find the +way. I am afraid of the guardmen, and if they caught me and took me to +the station, my friend would abuse me awfully,” said Angeline, for +such was her name; and she laid her hand upon his arm to feel his wet +clothes. + +He now arose from the chair, and putting on his hat, she followed him to +the door and directed him how to proceed to find Broad street. + +He proceeded according to her directions, and soon found it. Now, he +thought, he was all right; but the wind had increased to a gale, and +having a full sweep through the street, it was as much as he could do to +resist it. He had scarcely reached half the distance of the street when +it came in such sudden gusts that he was forced to seek a refuge against +its fury in the recess of a door. He sat down upon a step, and buttoning +his little jacket around him, rested his head upon his knees, and +while waiting for the storm to abate, fell into a deep sleep. From this +situation he was suddenly aroused by a guardman, who seized him by the +collar, and giving him an unmerciful twitch, brought, him headlong upon +the sidewalk. + +“What are you at here? Ah! another miserable vagrant, I suppose. We'll +take care of such rascals as you; come with me. We'll larn ye to be +round stealing at this time o' night.” + +“No, sir! no, sir! I didn't do nothing”-- + +“Shut up! None of your lyin' to a policeman, you young rascal. I don't +want to hear, nor I won't stand your infernal lies.” + +“Oh do, mister, let me tell you all about it, and I know you won't hurt +me. I'm only going to the vessel, if you'll show me the way,” said the +little fellow imploringly. + +“Stop yer noise, ye lying young thief, you. Ye wouldn't be prowling +about at this time o' night if ye belonged to a vessel. 'Pon me soul, +I believe yer a nigger. Come to the light,” said the guardman, dragging +him up to a lamp near by. “Well, you a'n't a nigger, I reckon, but yer a +strolling vagrant, and that's worse,” he continued, after examining his +face very minutely. So, dragging him to the guardhouse as he would a +dog, and thrusting him into a sort of barrack-room, the captain of the +guard and several officials soon gathered around him to inquire the +difficulty. The officers listened to the guardman's story, with perfect +confidence in every thing he said, but refused to allow the little +fellow to reply in his own behalf. “I watched him for a long time, saw +him fumbling about people's doors, and then go to sleep in Mr. T--'s +recess. These boys are gettin' to be the very mischief-most dangerous +fellows we have to deal with,” said the policeman. + +“Oh, no! I was only goin' to the brig, and got turned round. I've been +more than two hours trying to find my way in the storm. I'm sure I a'n't +done no harm. If ye'll only let me tell my story,” said Tommy. + +“Shut up! We want no stories till morning. The mayor will settle your +hash to-morrow; and if you belong to a ship, you can tell him all about +it; but you'll have the costs to pay anyhow. Just lay down upon that +bench, and you can sleep there till morning; that's better than +loafing about the streets,” said the captain of the guard, a large, +portly-looking man, as he pointed Tommy to a long bench similar to those +used in barrack-rooms. + +The little fellow saw it was no use to attempt a hearing, and going +quietly to the bench, he pulled off his man-a-war hat, and laying it +upon a chair, stretched himself out upon it, putting his little hands +under his head to ease it from the hard boards. + +But he was not destined to sleep long in this position, for a loud, +groaning noise at the door, broke upon their ears though the pelting +fury of the storm, like one in agonizing distress. + +“Heavens! what is that!” said the captain of the guard, suddenly +starting from his seat, and running for the door, followed by the +whole posse. The groans grew louder and more death-like in their +sound, accompanied by strange voices, giving utterance to horrible +imprecations, and a dragging upon the floor. The large door opened, and +what a sight presented itself! Three huge monsters, with side-arms on, +dragged in the poor negro who proffered to show Tommy into Broad street. +His clothes were nearly torn from his back, besmeared with mud, from +head to foot, and his face cut and mangled in the most shocking manner. +His head, neck, and shoulders, were covered with a gore of blood, and +still it kept oozing from his mouth and the cuts on his head. They +dragged him in as if he was a dying dog that had been beaten with a +club, and threw him into a corner, upon the floor, with just about as +much unconcern. + +“Oh! massa! massa! kill me, massa, den 'em stop sufferin'!” said the +poor fellow, in a painful murmur, raising his shackled hands to his +head, and grasping the heavy chain that secured his neck, in the agony +of pain. + +“What has he done?” inquired the officer. + +“Resisted the guard, and ran when we told him to stop!” responded a trio +of voices. “Yes, and attempted to get into a house. Ah! you vagabond +you; that's the way we serve niggers like you!--Attempt to run again, +will you? I'll knock your infernal daylights out, you nigger you,” said +one of the party. + +“It does seem tome that you might have taken him, and brought him up +with less severity,” said the officer. + +“What else could we do, sure? Didn't we catch him prowling about with +a white fellow, and he runn'd till we couldn't get him. Indeed it was +nothing good they were after, and it's the like o' them that bees doing +all the mischief beyant the city.” + +“An' 'imself, too, struck Muldown two pokes, 'efore he lave de hancuffs +be pat upon him, at all!” said another of the guardmen; and then turning +around, caught a glimpse of poor little Tommy, who had been standing up +near a desk, during the scene, nearly “frightened out of his wits.” + +“By the pipers,--what! and is't here ye are? The same that was with +himself beyant! Come here, you spalpeen you. Wasn't ye the same what +runn'd whin we bees spaken to that nigger?” said the same guardman, +taking hold of Tommy's arm, and drawing him nearer the light. + +“Yes, he was coming along with me, to show me”-- + +“Stop!--you know you are going to lie already. Better lock 'em both up +for the night, and let them be sent up in the morning,” said another. + +“Then you won't let me speak for myself--” + +“Hush, sir!” interrupted the officer; “you can tell your story in the +morning! but take care you are not a vagrant. If it's proved that +you were with that nigger at the improper hour, you'll get your back +scarred. Come, you have owned it, and I must lock you up.” + +Without attempting to wash the blood off the negro, or dress his wounds, +they unlocked the handcuffs, and loosened the chain from his neck, +handling him with less feeling than they would a dumb brute. Relieved of +his chains, they ordered him to get up. + +The poor creature looked up imploringly, as if to beg them to spare his +life, for he was too weak to speak. He held up his hands, drenched with +blood, while beneath his head was a pool of gore that had streamed from +his mounds. “None of your infernal humbuggery-you could run fast enough. +Just get up, and be spry about it, or I'll help you with the cowhide,” + said the officer, calling to one of the guardmen to bring it to him. He +now made an effort, and had got upon his knees, when the guardman that +seemed foremost in his brutality fetched him a kick with his heavy boots +in the side, that again felled him to the ground with a deep groan. + +“Oh-tut! that will not do. You mus'n't kill the nigger; his master will +come for him in the morning,” said the officer, stooping down and taking +hold of his arm with his left hand, while holding a cowhide in his +right. “Come, my boy, you must get up and go into the lock-up,” he +continued. + +“Massa! oh, good massa, do-don't! I's most dead now, wha'for ye no +lef me whare a be?” said he in a whining manner; and making a second +attempt, fell back upon the floor, at which two of them seized him by +the shoulders, and dragging him into a long, dark, cell-like room, threw +him violently upon the floor. Then returning to the room, the officer +took Tommy by the arm, and marching him into the same room, shut the +door to smother his cries. The little fellow was so frightened, that he +burst into an excitement of tears. The room was dark, and as gloomy as +a cavern. He could neither lie down, sleep, nor console himself. He +thought of Manuel, only to envy his lot, and would gladly have shared +his imprisonment, to be relieved from such a horrible situation. Morning +was to bring, perhaps, worse terrors. He thought of the happy scenes +of his rustic home in Dunakade, and his poor parents, but nothing could +relieve the anguish of his feelings. And then, how could he get word to +his Captain? If they were so cruel to him now, he could not expect them +to be less so in the morning. In this manner, he sat down upon the floor +with the poor negro, and, if he could do nothing more, sympathized with +his feelings. The poor negro murmured and groaned in a manner that would +have enlisted the feelings of a Patagonian; and in this way he continued +until about three o'clock in the morning, when his moaning became so +loud and pitiful, that the officer of the guard came to the door with an +attendant, and unbolting it, entered with a lantern in his hand. He held +the light toward his face, and inquired what he was making such a noise +about? “Oh! good massa, good massa, do send for docta; ma head got a +pile o' cuts on him,” said he, putting his hand to his head. The officer +passed the lantern to his attendant, and after putting a pair of gloves +on his hands, began to feel his head, turn aside his torn clothes, and +wipe the dirt from the places where the blood seemed to be clotted. +“Good gracious! I didn't conjecture that you were cut so bad. Here, my +good fellow, (addressing himself to Tommy,) hold the lantern. Michael, +go get a pail of water, and some cloths,” said he, very suddenly +becoming awakened to the real condition of the man, after he had +exhibited a coldness that bordered on brutality. + +Water and cloths were soon brought. The attendant, Michael, commenced +to strip his clothes off, but the poor fellow was so sore that he +screeched, in the greatest agony, every time he attempted to touch him. +“Be easy,” said the officer, “he's hurt pretty badly. He must a' been +mighty refractory, or they'd never beaten him in this manner,” he +continued, opening a roll of adhesive plaster, and cutting it into +strips. After washing, him with water and whiskey, they dressed +his wounds with the plaster, and bound his head with an old silk +handkerchief which they found in his pocket, after which they left the +light burning and retired. + +After they retired, Tommy inquired of the negro how they came to keep +him so long, before they brought him to the guard-house? It proved, that +as soon as they came up with him, the first one knocked him down with a +club; and they all at once commenced beating him with their bludgeons, +and continued until they had satisfied their mad fury. And while he lay +groaning in the streets, they left one of their number in charge, while +the others proceeded to get handcuffs and chains, in which they bound +him, and dragged him, as it were, the distance of four squares to the +guard-house. What a sublime picture for the meditations of a people who +boast of their bravery and generosity! + + + + +CHAPTER XIX. THE NEXT MORNING, AND THE MAYOR'S VERDICT. + + + +SHORTLY after daylight, Tommy fell into a dozing sleep, from which he +was awakened by the mustering of the prisoners who had been brought up +during the night, and were to appear before the mayor at nine o'clock. +A few minutes before eight o'clock, an officer opened the cell-door, and +they were ordered to march out into a long room. In this room they found +all the prisoners gathered. There were three blacks and five whites, +who had been arrested on different charges; and as the mayor's court was +merely a tribunal of commitment-not judgment-if the charges upon which +the prisoners were brought up were sustained-which they generally were, +because the policeman who made the arrest was the important witness, +they were committed to await the tardy process of the law. + +Considerable uneasiness had been felt on board of the Janson for Tommy, +and the Captain suggested that he might have got astray among the dark +lanes of the city, and that the mate had better send some of the crew +to look for him. The mate, better acquainted with Tommy's feelings and +attachment for Manuel than he was with the rules of the prison and Mr. +Grimshaw's arbitrary orders, assured the Captain that such a course +would be entirely unnecessary, for he knew when he left that he would +stop all night with Manuel. This quieted the Captain's apprehensions, +and he said no more about it until he sat down to breakfast. “I miss +Tommy amazingly,” said the Captain. “If he stopped all night, he should +be here by this time. I think some one had better be sent to the jail +to inquire for him.” Just as he arose from the table, one of the crew +announced at the companion that a person on deck wished to see the +Captain. On going up, he found a policeman, who informed him that a +little boy had been arrested as a vagrant in the street, last night, and +when brought before the mayor a few minutes ago, stated that he belonged +to his vessel, and the mayor had despatched him to notify the master. +“Circumstances are suspicious; he was seen in company with a negro of +very bad habits; but if you can identify the boy, you had better come +quick, or he'll be sent to jail, and you'll have some trouble to get him +out,” said the messenger, giving the Captain a description of the boy. + +“Oh yes!” said the Captain, “that's my Tommy. I verily believe they'll +have us all in jail before we get away from the port.” Numerous +appointments engrossed his time, and he had promised to meet the consul +at an early hour that morning. Notwithstanding this, he gave a few +orders to the mate about getting the hatches ready and receiving +the port-wardens, and then immediately repaired to the all-important +guard-house. He was just in time to receive the mortifying intelligence +that the mayor's court had concluded its sitting, and to see little +Tommy, with a pair of handcuffs on his hand, in the act of being +committed to jail by a Dutch constable. He stopped the constable, and +being told that his honor was yet in the room, put a couple of dollars +into his hand to await his intercession. Another fortunate circumstance +favored him; just as he stopped the constable, he saw his friend, +Colonel S--, approaching. The colonel saw there was trouble, and with +his usual, characteristic kindness, hastened up and volunteered his +services. + +We must now return to the arraignment, as it proceeded after the +messenger had been despatched. + +The negro confined with Tommy presented a wretched picture when brought +into the light room among the other prisoners. His head was so swollen +that no trace of feature was left in his face. Cuts and gashes were +marked with plaster all over his neck and face; his head tied up with +an old red handkerchief; his eyes, what could be seen of them, more like +balls of blood than organs of sight; while the whiskey and water with +which his head had been washed, had mixed with the blood upon his +clothes, and only served to make its appearance more disgusting. +Altogether, a more pitiful object never was presented to human sight. + +Some minutes before the clock struck nine, an intelligent-looking +gentleman, very well dressed, and portly in his appearance, entered +the room. He was evidently kindly disposed, but one of those men whose +feelings prompt them to get through business with despatch, rather +than inquire into the circumstances of aggravated cases. He held a +consultation with the officer for some minutes with reference to the +prisoners. After which he mounted a little tribune, and addressing a +few words to the white prisoners, (a person who acted the part of clerk +announced court by rapping upon a desk with a little mallet,) inquired +whether the officers had notified the owners of the negroes. Being +informed that they had, he proceeded with the negroes first. One, by +some good fortune, was taken away by his master, who paid the usual +fee to swell the city treasury; another was sentenced to receive twenty +paddles on the frame at the workhouse; and the third, the man we have +described, being brought forward, weak with the loss of blood, leaned +his hand upon the back of a chair. “Stand up straight!” said the +officer, in a commanding tone. + +“Now, my boy, this is twice you have been before this court. Your master +has left you to the mercy of the law, and given strict orders to the +police in the event that you were caught a third time. Your crime is +worse now, for you were caught in company with that white boy-probably +on some errand of villany, prowling about the streets after drum-beat. +I shall, in consideration of the facts here stated by the police, whose +evidence I am bound to recognise, sentence you to nineteen paddles on +the frame, and to be committed to jail, in accordance with your master's +orders, there to await his further directions. + +“Arraign the white prisoners according to the roll, Mr.--. Have you sent +a message to the Captain about that boy?” inquired the mayor. + +“No, yer honor; but I will send at once,” said the officer, stepping +into the passage and calling an attendant. + +The little fellow was arraigned first. He stood up before the mayor +while the ruffianly policeman who arrested him preferred the charges +and swore to them, adding as much to give coloring as possible. “Now, my +man, let me hear what you have got to say for yourself. I have sent for +your captain,” said the mayor, looking as if he really felt pity for the +little fellow. + +He commenced to tell his simple story, but soon became so convulsed with +tears that he could proceed no further. “I only went to the jail to see +Manuel, the steward, and I got lost, and begged the black man to show me +the way”--said he, sobbing. + +“Well, I have heard enough,” said the mayor, interrupting him. “You +could not have been at the jail at that time o' night-impossible. It +was after hours-contrary to rules-and only makes the matter worse for +yourself. You can stand aside, and if the Captain comes before court +is through, we will see further; if not, you must be committed as a +vagrant. I'm afraid of you young strollers.” + +The officer of the guard, as if the poor boy's feelings were not already +sufficiently harassed, took him by the arm, and pushing him into a +corner, said, “There, you young scamp, sit down. You'll get your deserts +when you get to the jail.” + +He sat down, but could not restrain his feelings. The presence of the +Captain was his only hope. He saw the prisoners arraigned one by one, +and join him as they were ordered for committal. He was handcuffed like +the rest, and delivered to the constable. The reader can imagine the +smile of gladness that welcomed the Captain's timely appearance. The +latter's exhibition of feeling, and the simple exclamation of the +child's joy, formed a striking picture of that fondness which a loving +child manifests when meeting its parents after a long absence. + +“Take the irons off that child,” said the colonel to the constable. “A +man like you should not put such symbols of ignominy upon a youth like +that.” + +“I would do any thing to oblige you, colonel; but I cannot without +orders from the mayor,” returned the man, very civilly. + +“I'll see that you do, very quick,” rejoined the colonel, impatiently; +and taking the little fellow by the arm in a compassionate manner, led +him back into the presence of the mayor, followed by the Captain. + +“I want to know what you are committing this lad for,” said the colonel, +setting his hat upon the table, while his face flushed with indignation. + +“Vagrancy, and caught prowling about the streets with a negro at +midnight. That is the charge, colonel,” replied the mayor, with +particular condescension and suavity. + +“Was there any proof adduced to substantiate that fact?” + +“None but the policeman's; you know we are bound to take that as prima +facie.” + +“Then it was entirely ex parte. But you know the character of these +policemen, and the many aggravated circumstances that have arisen from +their false testimony. I wish to cast no disrespect, your honor; but +really they will swear to any thing for a fee, while their unscrupulous +bribery has become so glaring, that it is a disgrace to our police +system. Have you heard the boy's story?” said the colonel. + +“Well, he began to tell a crooked story, so full of admissions, and then +made such a blubbering about it, that I couldn't make head or tail of +it.” + +“Well, here is the Captain of his vessel, a friend of mine, whom I +esteem a gentleman-for all captains ought to be gentlemen, not excepting +Georgia captains and majors,” said the colonel, jocosely, turning round +and introducing the Captain to his honor. “Now, your honor, you will +indulge me by listening to the little fellow's story, which will be +corroborated in its material points by the statements of the Captain, +which, I trust, will be sufficient; if not, we shall recur to the +jailer.” + +“It will be sufficient. I am only sorry there has been so much trouble +about it,” said the mayor. + +The boy now commenced to tell his story, which the mayor listened +to with all learned attention. No sooner had Tommy finished, and the +Captain arose to confirm his statements, than the mayor declared himself +satisfied, apologized for the trouble it had caused, and discharged the +boy upon paying the costs, the amount of which the colonel took from his +pocket and threw upon the table. Thus was Tommy's joy complete; not +so the poor negro whose ill luck he shared. This high-sounding mayor's +court was like Caesar's court, with the exceptions in Caesar's favor. + + + + +CHAPTER XX. EMEUTE AMONG THE STEWARDS. + + + +SEVERAL days had passed ere we again introduce the reader to the cell of +the imprisoned stewards. The captain of the Janson had been assured by +Mr. Grimshaw that every thing was comfortable at the jail, and Manuel +would be well cared for. Confiding in this, the activity of the consul +to bring the matter before the proper authorities-and the manner +in which his own time was engrossed with his business-left him no +opportunity to visit Manuel at the jail. Tommy and one of the sailors +had carried him his hammock, and a few things from the ship's stores; +and with this exception, they had but little to eat for several days. +Copeland had but a few days more to remain, and, together with those who +were with him, had exhausted their means, in providing from day to +day, during their imprisonment. The poor woman who did their washing, +a generous-hearted mulatto, had brought them many things, for which she +asked no compensation. Her name was Jane Bee, and when the rules of the +jail made every man his own washerwoman, she frequently washed for those +who had nothing to pay her. But her means were small, and she worked +hard for a small pittance, and had nothing to bring them for several +days. They were forced to take the allowance of bread, but could not +muster resolution to eat the sickly meat. + +Those who had suffered from it before, took it as a natural consequence, +looking to the time of their release, as if it was to bring a happy +change in their lives. But Manuel felt that it was an unprecedented +outrage upon his feelings, and was determined to remonstrate against +it. He knocked loudly at the door, and some of the prisoners hearing it, +reported to the jailer, who sent Daley to answer it. As soon as the door +was opened, he rushed past, and succeeded in gaining the iron door that +opened into the vestibule, where he could converse with the Jailer, +through the grating, before Daley could stop him. + +The jailer seeing him at the grating, anticipated his complaint. “Well, +Pereira,--what's the matter up-stairs?” said he. + +“For God's sake, jailer, what am I put in here for-to starve? We cannot +eat the meat you send us, and we have had little else than bread and +water for three days. Do give us something to eat, and charge it to +consul, or Captain, an' I'll pay it from my wages when I get out, if I +ever do,” said he. + +“My dear fellow!” said the jailer, “no one knows your case better than +I do; but I am poor, and the restrictions which I am under allow me +no privileges. You had all better take your meat in the morning-if you +won't take soup-and try to cook it, or get Jane to do it for you. I +will give you some coffee and bread from my own table, to-night, and you +better say as little about it as possible, for if Grimshaw hears it, he +may lock you up.” + +“Do, I shall be very thankful, for we are really suffering from hunger, +in our cell, and I pay you when I get money from Captain,” said Manuel, +manifesting his thankfulness at the jailer's kindness. + +“I will send it up in a few minutes, but you needn't trouble yourself +about pay-I wouldn't accept it!” said the jailer; and as good as his +word, he sent them up a nice bowl of coffee for each, and some bread, +butter, and cheese. They partook of the humble fare, with many thanks to +the donor. Having despatched it, they seated themselves upon the +floor, around the faint glimmer of a tin lamp, while Copeland read +the twentieth and twenty-first chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. +Copeland was a pious negro, and his behaviour during his imprisonment +enlisted the respect of every one in jail. Singular as the taste may +seem, he had his corner in the cell decorated with little framed +prints. Among them we noticed one of the crucifixion, and another of the +Madonna. After reading the chapters, they retired to their hard beds. +About nine o'clock the next morning, Daley came to the door with a piece +of neck meat, so tainted and bloody that its smell and looks more than +satisfied the stomach. + +“Here it is, boys,” said he; “yer four pound, but ye's better take soup, +cos ye'll niver cook that bone, anyhow.” + +“Do you think we're like dogs, to eat such filth as that? No! I'd rather +starve!” said Manuel. + +“Indeed, an' ye'll larn to ate any thing win ye'd be here a month. But +be dad, if ye don't watch number one about here, ye's won't get much +nohow,” replied Daley, dropping the bloody neck upon the floor, and +walking out. + +“Better take it,” said Copeland. “There's no choice, and hunger don't +stand for dainties, especially in this jail, where everybody is famished +for punishment. If we don't eat it, we can give it to some of the poor +prisoners up-stairs.” + +“While I have good ship-owners, and a good Captain, I never will eat +such stuff as that; oh! no,” returned Manuel. + +The meat was laid in a corner for the benefit of the flies; and when +dinner time arrived, the same hard extreme arrived with it-bread and +water. And nobody seemed to have any anxieties on their behalf; for two +of them had written notes to their Captains, on the day previous, but +they remained in the office for want of a messenger to carry them. +Fortunately, Jane called upon them in the afternoon, and brought a nice +dish of rice and another of homony. + +We will here insert a letter we received from a very worthy friend, who, +though he had done much for the Charleston people, and been repaid +in persecutions, was thrown into jail for a paltry debt by a ruthless +creditor. Cleared by a jury of twelve men, he was held in confinement +through the wretched imperfection of South Carolina law, to await nearly +twelve months for the sitting of the “Appeal Court,” more to appease the +vindictiveness of his enemies than to satisfy justice, for it was well +understood that he did not owe the debt. His letter speaks for itself. +Charleston Jail, March 31, '52. + +MY DEAR FRIEND,--I could not account for your absence during the last +few days, until this morning, when Mr. F***** called upon me for a few +moments, and from him I learnt that you had been quite unwell. If you +are about to-morrow, do call upon me; for a more dreary place, or one +where less regard is paid to the calls of humanity, cannot be found +among the nations of the earth. + +Such is the ordinary condition of suffering within this establishment, +that men, and even women, are forced to all kinds of extremes to +sustain life; and, to speak what experience has taught me, crime is more +increased than reduced by this wretched system. There seems to be little +distinction among the prisoners, and no means to observe it, except in +what is called Mount Rascal on the third story. Pilfering is so common, +that you cannot leave your room without locking your door. The jailer +is a good, kind-hearted old man, very often giving from his own table to +relieve the wants of debtors, many of whom repay him with ingratitude. I +have suffered many privations from shipwreck and cold, but never until +I came to South Carolina was I compelled to endure imprisonment and +subsist several days upon bread and water. + +Talk about chivalry and hospitality! How many men could join with me and +ask, “Where is it?” But why should I demur, when I see those abroad who +have been driven from this State to seek bread; when I hear the many +voices without tell of struggling to live, for want of system in +mechanical employment, and when I look upon several within these sombre +walls who are even worse than me. Here is a physician, with a wife +and large family, committed for a debt which he was unable to pay. +His father's name stands among the foremost of the State--a General of +distinction, who offered his life for her in time of war, and whose name +honors her triumphs, and has since graced the councils of state. + +General Hammond, whose name occupies such a conspicuous place in the +military history of South Carolina. The father's enthusiasm for his +country's cause led him to sacrifice his all, and by it he entailed +misfortune upon his descendants. When I consider the case of Shannon, +whose eleven years and seven months' imprisonment for debt, as it +was called, but which eventually proved to be a question turning upon +technicalities of law, gave him, body and soul, to the vindictiveness of +a persecutor, whose unrelenting malignity was kept up during that long +space of time. It was merely a breach of limitation between merchants, +the rights of which should be governed by commercial custom. Shannon +had, amassed about twenty thousand dollars by hard industry; his health +was waning, and he resolved to retire with it to his native county. +The gem proved too glaring for the lynx eye of a “true Carolinian,” + who persuaded him to invest his money in cotton. Moved by flattering +inducements, he authorized a factor to purchase for him upon certain +restrictions, which, unfortunately for himself, were not drawn up with +regard to legal enforcement-one of those singular instruments between a +merchant and an inexperienced man which a professional quibbler can +take advantage of. Cotton was at the tip-top, and very soon Shannon +was presented with an account of purchase, and draft so far beyond his +limits, that he demurred, and rejected the purchase entirely; but some +plot should be laid to entrap him. The factor undertook the force +game, notified him that the cotton was held subject to his order, and +protested the draft for the appearance of straightforwardness. Cotton +shortly fell to the other extreme, the lot was “shoved up” for sale on +Shannon's account, Shannon was sued for the balance, held to bail, and +in default committed to prison. His confinement and endurance of it +would form a strange chapter in the history of imprisonment for debt. +Carrying his money with him, he closed the door of his cell, and neither +went out nor would allow any one but the priest to enter for more than +three years; and for eleven years and seven months he paced the room +upon a diagonal line from corner to corner, until he wore the first +flooring, of two-and-a-quarter-inch pine, entirely through. + +I might go on and tell of many others, whose poverty was well known, +and yet suffered years of imprisonment for debt; but I find I have +digressed. I must relate an amusing affair which took place this morning +between Manuel Pereira, the steward of the English brig Janson, which +put into this port in distress, and the jailer. He is the man about whom +so much talk and little feeling has been enlisted--a fine, well-made, +generous-hearted Portuguese. He is olive-complexioned--as light as many +of the Carolinians--intelligent and obliging, and evidently unaccustomed +to such treatment as he receives here. + +Manuel appeared before the jailer's office this morning with two junks +of disgusting-looking meat, the neck-bones, tainted and bloody, in each +hand. His Portuguese ire was up. “Mister Poulnot, what you call dis? In +South Carolina you feed man on him, ah? In my country, ah yes! we feed +him to dog. What you call him? May-be somethin' what me no know him. In +South Carolina, prison sailor when he shipwreck, starve him on nosin', +den tell him eat this, ah! I sails 'round ze world, but never savage man +gives me like zat to eat! No, I starve 'fore I eat him, be gar! Zar, +you take him,” said he, throwing the pieces of meat upon the floor in +disdain. + +“Meat! Yes, it's what's sent here for us. You mustn't grumble at me; +enter your complaints to the sheriff, when he comes,” said the jailer, +with an expression of mortification on his countenance. + +“Meat, ah! You call dat meat in South Carolina? I call him bull-neck, +not fit for dog in my country. I see, when Capitan come, vat he do,” + said Manuel, turning about and going to his room in a great excitement. + +“You'd better be careful how you talk, or you may get locked up when the +sheriff comes.” + +It seems that the Captain had received a note from him, addressed by one +of the white prisoners on the same floor, and reached the jail just as +Manuel had ascended the stairs. He rang the bell and requested to see +Manuel. + +“Manuel Pereira?” inquired the jailer. + +“Yes,” said the Captain, “he is my steward.” + +He heard the Captain's voice, and immediately returned to the lobby. The +tears ran down his cheeks as soon as he saw his old protector. “Well, +Manuel, I am glad to see you, but sorry that it is in imprisonment. +Tell me what is the matter. Don't they use you well here?” inquired the +Captain. + +Stepping within the office door, he caught up the pieces of meat, and +bringing them out in his hands, held them up. “There, Capitan, that +no fit for man, is it?” said he. “Law send me prison, but law no give +not'ing to eat. What I do dat people treat me so? Ah, Capitan, bull +neck, by gar, yes-bull born in South Carolina, wid two neck. Ils sont +reduits l'extremit,” said he, concluding with broken French. + +“That cannot be; it's against the law to kill bulls in South Carolina,” + interrupted the jailer jocosely. + +“Must be. I swear he bull-neck, 'cas he cum every day just like him. +Bull born wid one neck no cum so many. What I get for breakfast, +Capitan, ah?--piece bad bread. What I get for dinner, ah?--bull-neck. +Yes, what I get for supper, too?--piece bread and bucket o' water. +May-be he bad, may be he good, just so he come. You think I live on dat, +Capitan?” said he, in reply to the Captain's questions. + +The Captain felt incensed at such treatment, and excused himself for not +calling before; yet he could not suppress a smile that stole upon his +countenance in consequence of Manuel's quaint earnestness. + +“That is certainly strange fare for a human being; but the supper +seems rather a comical one. Did you drink the bucket of water, Manuel?” + inquired the Captain, retaining a sober face. + +“Capitan, you know me too well for dat. I not ask 'em nozin' what he no +get, but I want my coffee for suppe'. I no eat him like zat,” throwing +the putrid meat upon the floor again. + +“Hi, hi! That won't do in this jail. You're dirtying up all my floor,” + said the jailer, calling a negro boy and ordering him to carry the +bull-necks, as Manuel called them, into the kitchen. + +“You call him dirt, ah, Miser Jailer? Capitan, just come my room; I +shown him,” said Manuel, leading the way up-stairs, and the Captain +followed. A sight at the cell was enough, while the sickly stench forbid +him to enter beyond the threshold. He promised Manuel that he would +provide for him in future, and turning about suddenly, retreated into +the lower lobby. + +“Jailer, what does all this mean? Do you allow men to starve in a land +of plenty, and to suffer in a cell like that?” asked the Captain in a +peremptory tone. + +“I feel for the men, but you must enter your complaints to the +sheriff-the ration of the jail is entirely in his hands.” + +“But have you no voice in it, by which you can alleviate their +situation?” + +“Not the least! My duty is to keep every thing-every thing to rights, +as far as people are committed. You will find the sheriff in his office, +any time between this and two o'clock,” said the jailer. And the Captain +left as suddenly as he came. + +You will think I have written you an essay, instead of a letter inviting +you to come and see me. Accept it for its intention, and excuse the +circumstances. Your obedient servant, + + + + +CHAPTER XXI. THE CAPTAIN'S INTERVIEW WITH MR. GRIMSHAW. + + + +THE appearance of things at the jail was forlorn in the extreme. +The Captain knew the integrity of Manuel, and not only believed his +statement, but saw the positive proofs to confirm them. He repaired to +the sheriff's office, and inquiring for that functionary, was pointed to +Mr. Grimshaw, who sat in his large chair, with his feet upon the table, +puffing the fumes of a very fine-flavored Havana, as unconcerned as +if he was lord in sovereignty over every thing about the city. “I am +captain of the Janson, and have called to inquire about my steward?” + said the Captain. + +“Ah! yes,--you have a nigger fellow in jail. Oh! by-the-by, that's the +one there was so much fuss about, isn't it?” said Mr. Grimshaw, looking +up. + +“It is an imperative duty on me to seek the comfort of my officers +and crew,” said the Captain. “I received a note from my steward, this +morning,--here it is, (handing him the note,) you can read it. He +requested me to call upon him at the jail, where I lost no time in +going, and found what he stated there to be too true. How is it! From +the great liberality of tone which everywhere met my ears when I first +arrived, I was led to believe that he would be made comfortable; and +that the mere confinement was the only feature of the law that was a +grievance. Now I find that to be the only tolerable part of it. When a +man has committed no crime, and is imprisoned to satisfy a caprice +of public feeling, it should be accompanied with the most favoring +attendants. To couple it with the most disgraceful abuses, as are shown +here, makes it exceedingly repugnant. If we pay for confining these men, +and for their living while they are confined, in God's name let us get +what we pay for!” + +The reader will observe that Mr. Grimshaw was a man of coarse manners +and vulgar mind, with all their traces preserved on the outer man. He +looked up at the Captain with a presumptuous frown, and then said, “Why, +Mr. Captain, how you talk! But that kind o' talk won't do here in +South Carolina. That nigger o' yourn gives us a mighty site of trouble, +Captain. He doesn't seem to understand that he must be contented in +jail, and live as the other prisoners do. He gets what the law requires, +and if he gives us any further trouble, we shall lock him up in the +third story.” + +“You cannot expect him to be contented, when you furnish the means of +discontent. But I did not come here to argue with you, nor to ask any +thing as a favour, but as a right. My steward has been left to suffer! +Am I to pay for what he does not get? Or am I to pay you for the +pretence, and still be compelled to supply him on account of the owners? +You must excuse my feelings, for I have had enough to provoke them!” + returned the Captain. + +“That business is entirely my own! He gets what the State allows, and I +provide. Your steward never wrote that note; it was dictated by some of +them miserable white prisoners. I can hear no complaints upon such cases +as them. If I were to listen to all these nonsensical complaints, it +would waste all my time. I wish the devil had all the nigger stewards +and their complaints; the jail's in a fuss with them all the time. I can +hear nothing further, sir-nothing further!” said Grimshaw emphatically, +interrupting the Captain as he attempted to speak; at which the Captain +became so deeply incensed, that he relieved his feelings in that sort of +plain English which a Scotchman can best bestow in telling a man what he +thinks of his character. + +“You must remember, sir, you are in the office of the sheriff of the +county-parish, I mean,--and I am, sir, entitled to proper respect. +Begone!--avaunt! you have no right to come here and traduce my character +in that way. You musn't take me for a parish beadle,” said Grimshaw, +contorting the unmeaning features of his visage, and letting fly a +stream of tobacco juice in his excitement. + +“If you have no laws to give me justice, you have my opinion of your +wrongs,” returned the Captain, and taking his hat, left the office with +the intention of returning to the jail. On reflection, he concluded +to call upon Colonel S--, which he did, and finding him in his office, +stated the circumstances to him. + +“These things are the fruits of imbecility; but I am sorry to say there +is no relief from them. We are a curious people, and do a great many +curious things according to law, and leave a great many things undone +that the law and lawmakers ought to do. But I will go with you to the +jail, and whatever my influence will effect is at your service,” said +the Colonel, putting on his hat, and accompanying the Captain to the +jail. + +Mr. Grimshaw had forestalled them, and after having given the jailer +particular instructions to lock Manuel up if he made any further +complaint, and to carry out his orders upon the peril of his situation, +met them a few steps from the outer gate, on his return. “There, +Captain!” said Grimshaw, making a sort of halt, “I have given the jailer +particular orders in regard to your grumbling nigger!” + +Neither the Captain nor Colonel S--took any notice of his remarks, and +passed on into the jail. Colonel S--interceded for the man, explaining +the circumstances which had unfortunately brought him there, and begged +the jailer's kind consideration in his behalf. The jailer told them what +his orders had been, but promised to do as far as was in his power, and +to see any thing that was sent to him safely delivered. + +After leaving the jail, Colonel S--proposed a walk, and they proceeded +along a street running at right angles with the jail, until they came +to a corner where a large brick building was in process of erection. +The location was not in what might strictly be called “the heart of the +city,” nor was it in the suburbs. Carpenters and masons, both black and +white, were busily employed in their avocations, and from the distance +all seemed fair and moving with despatch. As they approached nearer, +cries and moans sounded upon the air, and rose high above the clatter of +the artisans' work. The Captain quickened his pace, but the colonel, +as if from a consciousness of the effect, halted, and would fain have +retraced his steps. “Come!” said the Captain, “let us hasten-they are +killing somebody!” They approached the building, and entered by an open +door in the basement. The passage, or entry-way, was filled with all +sorts of building materials; and on the left, another door opened into +a long basement apartment, with loose boards laid upon the floor-joists +overhead. Here in this dark apartment was the suffering object whose +moans had attracted their attention. A large billet of wood, about six +feet long and three feet square, which had the appearance of being used +for a chopping-block, laid near. A poor negro man, apparently advanced +in years, was stripped naked and bent over the block, in the shape of a +horse-shoe, with his hands and feet closely pinioned to stakes, driven +in the ground on each side. His feet were kept close together, and close +up to the log, while he was drawn over, tight by the hands, which were +spread open. Thus, with a rope around his neck, tied in a knot at +the throat, with each end carried to the pinion where his hands were +secured, his head and neck were drawn down to the tightest point. The +very position was enough to have killed an ordinary human being in less +than six hours. His master, a large, robust man, with a strong Irish +brogue, started at their appearance, as if alarmed at the presence +of intruders, while holding his hand in the attitude of administering +another blow. “There! you infernal nigger; steal again, will you?” + said he, frothing at the mouth with rage--with his coat off, his +shirt-sleeves rolled up, and his face, hands, arms and shirt-bosom so +bespattered with blood, that a thrill of horror ran through the Captain. +On the ground lay several pieces of hoop, broken and covered with blood, +while he held in his hand another piece, (which he had torn from a +lime-cask,) reeking with blood, presenting the picture of a murderer +bestained with the blood of his victim. But the poor sufferer's +punishment had wasted his strength,--his moans had become so faint as to +be scarcely perceptible. His posteriors were so cut and mangled that we +could compare them to nothing but a piece of bullock's-liver, with its +tenacity torn by craven dogs. His body was in a profuse perspiration, +the sweat running from his neck and shoulders, while the blood streamed +from his bruises, down his legs, and upon some shavings on the ground. +Just at this moment a boy brought a pail of water, and set it down close +by the tyrant's feet. “Go away, boy!” said he, and the boy left as +quick as possible. The Captain stood dismayed at the bloody picture. + +“Unmerciful man!” said the colonel in a peremptory tone; “what have you +been doing here? You fiend of hell, let the man up! You own slaves to +bring disgrace upon us in this manner! Epithets of contempt and disgust +are too good for you. It is such beasts as you who are creating a +popular hatred against us, and souring the feelings of our countrymen. +Let the man up instantly; the very position you have him in is enough to +kill him, and, if I'm not mistaken, you've killed him already.” + +“Indeed, he's me own property, and it's yerself won't lose a ha'penny if +he's kilt. An' I'll warrant ye he's cur't of stalin' better than the man +beyant at the wurk'o'se would be doin' if. Bad luck to the nager, +an' it's the second time he'd be doin' that same thing,” said he, as +unconcernedly as if he had just been killing a calf. + +“I'll 'your own' you, you miserable wretch! Your abuse and cruel +treatment of your slaves is becoming a public thing; and if you a'n't +very careful, something will be done about it before council. If +they are your own, you must not treat them worse than dogs; they have +feeling, if you have no compassion. Be quick! release him at once!” + demanded the colonel, feeling the man's wrist and head. + +The tyrant vent deliberately to work, unloosing the cords. This provoked +the colonel still more, and taking his knife from his pocket, he severed +the cords that bound his hands and feet, while as suddenly the Captain +sprang with his knife and severed those that bound his hands and +neck. “Stop, Captain, stop! take no part,” said the colonel, with a +significant look. + +“Gintlemen, I wish yes wouldn't interfere with my own business,” said +the master. + +“Take him up, you villanous wretch! I speak to you as you deserve, +without restraint or respect,” again the colonel repeated. + +He called to the boy who was bringing the pail of water when they +entered. He came forward, and taking the poor fellow by the shoulders, +this beast in human form cried out, “Get up now, ye miserable thief, +ye.” The poor fellow made a struggle, but as the black man raised his +head-which seemed to hang as a dead weight-exhaustion had left him +without strength, and he fell back among the bloody shavings like a +mutilated mass of lifeless flesh. + +“None of your humbugging; yer worth a dozen dead niggers anyhow,” said +he, taking up the pail of water and throwing nearly half of it over him; +then passing the bucket to the black man and ordering him to get more +water and wash him down; then to get some saltpetre and a sponge to sop +his flesh. + +“Well,” said the colonel, “I have seen a good deal of cruelty to slaves, +but this is the most beastly I have ever beheld. If you don't send for +a doctor at once, I shall report you. That man will die, to a moral +certainty. Now, you may depend upon what I say-if that man dies, you'll +feel the consequences, and I shall watch you closely.” + +“Sure I always takes care of me own niggers, an' it's himself that won't +be asked to do a stroke of work for a week, but have the same to git +well in,” said the tyrant as the colonel and Captain were leaving. + +“God be merciful to us, and spare us from the savages of mankind. That +scene, with its bloody accompaniment, will haunt me through life. Do +your laws allow such things?” said the Captain, evidently excited. + +“To tell the truth, Captain,” said the colonel, “our laws do not reach +them. These men own a few negroes, which, being property, they exercise +absolute control over; a negro's testimony being invalid, gives them an +unlimited power to abuse and inflict punishment; while, if a white man +attempts to report such things, the cry of 'abolitionist' is raised +against him, and so many stand ready to second the cry, that he must +have a peculiar position if he does not prejudice his own interests +and safety. I am sorry it is so; but it is too true, and while it +stigmatizes the system, it works against ourselves. The evil is in the +defects of the system, but the remedy is a problem with diverse and +intricate workings, which, I own, are beyond my comprehension to solve. +The reason why I spoke to you as I did when you cut the pinions from the +man's hands, was to give you a word of precaution. That is a bad man. +Negroes would rather be sold to a sugar plantation in Louisiana any +time than be sold to him. He soon works them down; in two years, fine, +healthy fellows become lame, infirm, and sickly under him; he never +gives them a holiday, and seldom a Sunday, and half-starves them at +that. If his feelings had been in a peculiar mood at the instant you +cut that cord, and he had not labored under the fear of my presence, he +would have raised a gang of his stamp, and with the circumstance of your +being a stranger, the only alternative for your safety would have been +in your leaving the city.” + +“That vagabond has beaten the poor creature so that he will die; it +can't be otherwise,” said the Captain. + +“Well, no; I think not, if he is well taken care of for a week or so; +but it's a chance if that brute gives him a week to get well. When +proud-flesh sets in, it is very tedious; that is the reason, so far +as the law is concerned, that the lash was abolished and the paddle +substituted--the former mangled in the manner you saw just now, while +the latter is more acute and bruises less. I have seen a nigger taken +from the paddle-frame apparently motionless and lifeless, very little +bruised, and not much blood drawn; but he would come to and go to work +in three or four days,” said the colonel as they passed along together. + +We would print the name of this brute in human form, that the world +might read it, were it not for an amiable wife and interesting family, +whose feelings we respect. We heard the cause of this cruel torture a +short time after, which was simply that he had stolen a few pounds +of nails, and this fomented the demon's rage. In the manner we have +described, this ferocious creature had kept his victim for more than two +hours, beating him with the knotty hoops taken from lime-casks. His rage +would move at intervals, like gusts of wind during a gale. Thus, while +his feelings raged highest, he would vent them upon the flesh of the +poor pinioned wretch; then he would stop, rest his arm, and pace the +ground from wall to wall, and as soon as his passion stormed, commence +again and strike the blows with all his power, at the same time keeping +the black boy standing with a bucket of water in his hand ready to pour +upon the wretch whenever signs of fainting appeared. Several times, when +the copious shower came over him, it filled his mouth, so that his cries +resounded with a gurgling, death-like noise, that made every sensation +chill to hear it. During this space of time, he inflicted more than +three hundred blows. Our information is from the man who did his +master's bidding--poured the water--and dared not say, “Good massa, +spare poor Jacob.” We visited the place about a month afterward, on +a pretext of examining the basement of the building, and saw the +unmistakable evidences of civilized torture yet remaining in the ground +and upon the shavings that were scattered around. + +“Captain, you must not judge the institution of slavery by what you +saw there; that is only one of those isolated cases so injurious in +themselves, but for which the general character of the institution +should not be held answerable,” said the colonel. + +“A system so imperfect should be revised, lest innocent men be made to +suffer its wrongs,” said the Captain. + +They continued their walk through several very pretty parts of the city, +where fine flowering gardens and well-trimmed hedges were nicely laid +out; these, however, were not the habitations of the “old families.” + They occupied parts of the city designated by massive-looking old +mansions, exhibiting an antiqueness and mixed architecture, with +dilapidated court-yards and weather-stained walls, showing how steadfast +was the work of decay. + +The colonel pointed out the many military advantages of the city, which +would be used against Uncle Sam if he meddled with South Carolina. He +spoke of them ironically, for he was not possessed of the secession +monomania. He had been a personal friend of Mr. Calhoun, and knew his +abstractions. He knew Mr. McDuffie; Hamilton, (the transcendant, of +South Carolina fame;) Butler, of good component parts-eloquent, but +moved by fancied wrongs; Rhett, renouncer of that vulgar name of Smith, +who hated man because he spoke, yet would not fight because he feared +his God; and betwixt them, a host of worthies who made revenge a motto; +and last, but not least, great Quattlebum, whose strength and +spirit knows no bound, and brought the champion Commander, with his +enthusiastic devotion, to lead unfaltering forlorn hopes. But he knew +there was deception in the political dealings of this circle of great +names. + +Returning to the market, they took a social glass at Baker's, where the +colonel took leave of the Captain; and the latter, intending to repair +to his vessel, followed the course of the market almost to its lowest +extreme. In one of the most public places of the market, the Captain's +attention was attracted by a singular object of mechanism. It seemed +so undefined in its application, that he was reminded of the old saying +among sailors when they fall in with any indescribable thing at sea, +that it was a “fidge-fadge, to pry the sun up with in cloudy weather.” + It was a large pedestal about six feet high, with a sort of platform at +the base for persons to stand upon, supplied with two heavy rings about +eight inches apart. It was surmounted by an apex, containing an iron +shackle long enough for a sloop-of-war's best bower chain, and just, +beneath it was a nicely-turned moulding. About three feet from the +ground, and twelve inches from the pedestal, were two pieces of timber +one above the other, with a space of some ten inches between them, the +upper one set about five inches nearest the pedestal, also containing +two rings, and both supported by posts in the ground. Above the whole +was a framework, with two projecting timbers supplied with rings, and +standing about fourteen inches in a diagonal direction above the big +ring in the apex of the shaft. It was altogether a curious instrument, +but it designated the civilization of the age, upon the same principle +that a certain voyager who, on landing in a distant country, discovered +traces of civilization in the decaying remains of an old gallows. + +He viewed the curious instrument for some time, and then turning to an +old ragged negro, whose head and beard were whitened with the flour of +age, said, “Well, old man, what do you call that?” + +“Why, massa, him great t'ing dat-what big old massa judge send +buckra-man to get whip, so color foke laugh when 'e ketch 'im on de +back, ca' bim; an' massa wid de cock-up hat on 'e head put on big vip +jus' so,” said the old negro. + +It was the whipping-post, where white men, for small thefts, were +branded with ignominy and shame. + +“Are you a slave, old man?” inquired the Captain. + +The old man turned his head aside and pulled his ragged garments, as if +shame had stung his feelings. + +“Do, good massa-old Simon know ye don'e belong here-give him piece of +'bacca,” replied the hoary-headed veteran evidently intending to evade +the question. The Captain divided his “plug” with him, and gave him a +quarter to get more, but not to buy whiskey. “Tank-e, massa, tank-e; he +gone wid ole Simon long time.” + +“But you haven't answered my question; I asked you if you were a slave.” + +“Ah! massa, ye don'e know him how he is, ah ha! ha! I done gone now. +Massa Pringle own 'im once, but 'im so old now, nobody say I own 'im, +an' ole Simon a'n't no massa what say I his fo' bacon. I don't woff +nofin' nohow now, 'cos I ole. When Simon young-great time 'go-den massa +say Simon his; woff touzan' dollars; den me do eve' ting fo' massa just +so. I prime nigga den, massa; now I woff nosin', no corn and bacon 'cept +what 'im git from Suke-e. She free; good massa make her free,” said he. + +“How old are you, old man?” inquired the Captain. + +“Ah, Massa Stranger, ye got ole Simon da! If me know dat, den 'im +know somefin' long time ago, what buckra-man don' larn. I con'try-born +nigger, massa, but I know yonder Massa Pringle house fo' he built 'im.” + Just at this moment several pieces of cannon and other ordnance were +being drawn past on long, low-wheeled drays. “Ah, massa, ye don'e know +what 'em be,” said the old negro, pointing to them. “Dem wa' Massa South +Ca'lina gwan to whip de 'Nited States wid Massa Goberna' order 'em last +year, an 'e jus' come. Good masse gwan' to fight fo' we wid 'em.” The +poor old man seemed to take a great interest in the pieces of ordnance +as they passed along, and to have inherited all the pompous ideas of +his master. The negroes about Charleston have a natural inclination for +military tactics, and hundreds of ragged urchins, as well as old daddies +and mammies, may be seen following the fife and drum on parade days. + +“Then I suppose you've a home anywhere, and a master nowhere, old man?” + said the Captain, shaking him by the hand, as one who had worn out his +slavery to be disowned in the winter of life. + + + + +CHAPTER XXII. COPELAND'S RELEASE, AND MANUEL'S CLOSE CONFINEMENT. + + + +THE Captain of the Janson, finding that no dependence was to be placed +upon the statements of the officials, after returning to his vessel, +gave orders that Tommy should be sent to the jail every day with +provisions for Manuel. The task was a desirable one for Tommy, and +every day about ten o'clock he might be seen trudging to the jail with a +haversack under his arm. There were five stewards confined in the cell, +and for some days previous to this attention on the part of the Captain +they had been reduced to the last stage of necessity. The quantity may +be considered as meagre when divided among so many, but added to the +little things brought in by Jane, and presents from several of the crew +of the Janson, they got along. Still it was a dependence upon chance and +charity, which any casual circumstance might affect. For several days +they made themselves as contented and happy as the circumstances would +admit; and always being anxious to enjoy the privilege of their time +in the yard, they would leave their cell together, and mix with the +prisoners of their own color under the stoop. + +After a few days, they found that their cell had been entered, and +nearly all their provisions stolen. Not contented with this, the act was +repeated for several days, and all the means they provided to detect the +thief proved fruitless. The jailer made several searches through +their remonstrances, but without effecting any thing. They kept their +provisions in a little box, which they locked with a padlock; but as +Daley had the keys of the cell, they had no means of locking the door. +At length Manuel set a trap that proved effectual. One morning Tommy +came puffing into the jail with a satchel over his back. “I guess Manuel +won't feel downhearted when he sees this--do you think he will?” said +the little fellow, as he put the satchel upon the floor and looked up +at the jailer. “An' I've got some cigars, too, the Captain sent, in +my pocket,” said he, nodding his head; and putting his hand into a +side-pocket, pulled out one and handed it to the jailer. + +“Ah! you are a good little fellow-worth a dozen of our boys. Sit down +and rest yourself,” said the jailer, and called a monstrous negro wench +to bring a chair and take the satchel up to the cell. Then turning +to the back-door, he called Manuel; and, as if conscious of Tommy's +arrival, the rest of the stewards followed. He sprang from the chair +as soon as he saw Manuel, and running toward him, commenced telling him +what he had got in the satchel and at the same time pulled out a handful +of segars that the Captain had sent for himself. Manuel led the way +up-stairs, followed by Tommy and the train of stewards. Tommy opened the +satchel, while Manuel laid the contents, one by one, on the table which +necessity had found in the head of a barrel. + +“Now eat, my friends, eat just as much as you want, and then I'll catch +the thief that breaks my lock and steals my meat. I catch him,” said +Manuel. After they had all done, he locked the balance up in his box, +and sent everybody down-stairs into the yard, first covering himself +with two mattrasses, and giving orders to Copeland to lock the door +after him. Every thing was ready to move at the word. In this position +he remained for nearly half an hour. At length he heard a footstep +approach the door, and then the lock clink. The door opened slowly, and +the veritable Mr. Daley limped in, and taking a key from his pocket, +unlocked the little box, and filling his tin pan, locked it, and was +walking off as independent as a wood-sawyer, making a slight whistle to +a watch that was stationed at the end of the passage. “It's you, is it?” + said Manuel, suddenly springing up and giving him a blow on the side of +the head that sent him and the contents of the pan into a promiscuous +pile on the floor. Daley gathered himself up and made an attempt to +reach the door, but Manuel, fearing what might be the consequence if +the other prisoners came to his assistance, shut the door before him and +fastened it on the inside. + +“Bad luck to yer infernal eyes, will ye strike a white man, ye nager ye, +in a country like this same?” said Daley, as he was gathering himself +up. This incensed Manuel's feelings still more. To have insult added to +injury, and a worthless drunkard and thief abuse him, was more than he +could bear. He commenced according to a sailor's rule of science, and +gave Daley a systematic threshing, which, although against the rules of +the jail, was declared by several of the prisoners to be no more than +he had long deserved. As may have been expected, Daley cried lustily for +help, adding the very convenient item of murder, to make his case more +alarming. Several persons had crowded around the door, but none could +gain admittance. The jailer had no sooner reached the door, than (most +unfortunately for Manuel) he was called back to the outer door, to admit +Mr. Grimshaw, who had just rung the bell. The moment he entered, Daley's +noise was loudest, and reached his ears before he had gained the outside +gate. He rushed up-stairs, followed by the jailer, and demanded entrance +at the cell door, swearing at the top of his voice that he would break +it in with an axe if the command was not instantly obeyed. + +The door opened, and Manuel stood with his left hand extended at Daley. +“Come in, gentlemen, I catch him, one rascal, what steal my provision +every day, and I punish him, what he remember when I leave.” + +Daley stood trembling against the wall, bearing the marks of serious +injury upon his face and eyes. “At it again, Daley? Ah! I thought you +had left off them tricks!” said the jailer. + +Daley began to tell a three-cornered story, and to give as many possible +excuses, with equally as many characteristic bulls in them. “I don't +want to hear your story, Daley,” said Mr. Grimshaw. “But, Mr. Jailer, I +command you to lock that man up in the third story,” pointing to Manuel. +“I don't care what the circumstances are. He's given us more trouble +than he's worth. He tried to pass himself off for a white man, but he +couldn't come that, and now he's had the impudence to strike a white +man; lock him up! lock him up!! and keep him locked up until further +orders from me. I'll teach him a lesson that he never learnt before he +came to South Carolina; and then let Consul Mathew sweat over him, and +raise another fuss if he can.” + +“If he's guilty of violating the rules of the jail, Daley is guilty of +misdemeanour, and the thieving has been aggravatingly continued. If we +put one, we must put both up,” said the jailer. + +“Just obey my orders, Mr. Jailer. I will reprimand Daley to-morrow. I +shall just go to the extent of the law with that feller,” said Grimshaw +peremptorily. + +“You may lock me up in a dungeon, do with me as you will, if the power +is yours; but my feelings are my own, and you cannot crush them. I look +to my consul, and the country that has protected me around the world, +and can protect me still,” said Manuel, resigning himself to the jailer, +whose intentions he knew to be good. + +Poor little Tommy stood begging and crying for his friend and companion, +for he heard Mr. Grimshaw give an imperative order to the jailer not +to allow visitors into his cell. “Never mind, Tommy, we shall soon meet +again, and sail companions for the old owners. Don't cry; the jailer +will let you see me to-morrow,” said Manuel. + +“No, I can't do that; you heard my orders; I must obey them. I should +like to do it, but it's out of my power,” returned the jailer, awaiting +with a bunch of keys in his hand. + +Manuel turned to the little fellow, and kissing him as he would an +affectionate child, bade him adieu, and ascended, the steps leading to +the third story (Mount Rascal) in advance of the jailer, to be confined +in a dark, unhealthy cell, there to await the caprice of one man. +To describe this miserable hole would be a task too harrowing to +our feelings. We pass it for those who will come after us. He little +thought, when he shook the hand of his little companion, that it was the +last time he should meet him for many months, and then only to take a +last parting look, under the most painful circumstances. But such is the +course of life! + +Copeland had received notice to hold himself in readiness, as his vessel +would be ready for sea the next morning. He was not long in getting his +few things in order, and when morning came he was on hand, prepared to +bound from the iron confines of the Charleston jail, like a stag from a +thicket. As he bade good-by to his fellow-prisoners in the morning, +he said, “This is my last imprisonment in Charleston. I have been +imprisoned in Savannah, but there I had plenty to eat, comfortable +apartments, and every thing I asked for, except my liberty. Never, so +long as I sail the water, shall I ship for such a port as this again.” + He requested to see Manuel, but being refused, upon the restraint of +orders, he left the jail. It was contrary to law; and thus in pursuing +his vocation within the limits of South-Carolina, his owners were +made to pay the following sum, for which neither they nor the man who +suffered the imprisonment received any compensation. “Contrary to Law.” + Schooner “Oscar Jones,” Captain Kelly, For William H. Copeland, Colored +Seaman. To Sheriff of Charleston District. 1852, + +To Arrest, $2; Registry, $2, $4.00 To Recog. $1.31; Constable, $1, 2.31 +To Commitment and Discharge, 1.00 To 15 Days' Jail Maintenance of Wm. H. +Copeland, at 80 cts. per day, 4.50 Received payment, $11.81 J. D--, Per +Charles E. Kanapeaux, Clerk. + +God save the sovereignty of South Carolina, and let her mercy and +hospitality be known on earth! + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. IMPRISONMENT OF JOHN PAUL, AND JOHN BAPTISTE PAMERLIE. + + + +IN order to complete the four characters, as we designed in the outset, +we must here introduce the persons whose names fill the caption. The +time of their imprisonment was some two months later than Manuel's +release; but we introduce them here for the purpose of furnishing a +clear understanding of the scenes connected with Manuel's release. + +John Paul was a fine-looking French negro, very dark, with +well-developed features, and very intelligent,--what would be called in +South Carolina, “a very prime feller.” He was steward on board of the +French bark Senegal, Captain--. He spoke excellent French and Spanish, +and read Latin very well,--was a Catholic, and paid particular respect +to devotional exercises,--but unfortunately he could not speak or +understand a word of English. In all our observation of different +characters of colored men, we do not remember to have seen one whose +pleasant manner, intelligence, and civility, attracted more general +attention. But he could not comprehend the meaning of the law +imprisoning a peaceable man without crime, and why the authorities +should fear him, when he could not speak their language. He wanted to +see the city-what sort of people were in it-if they bore any analogy to +their good old forefathers in France; and whether they had inherited the +same capricious feelings as the descendants of the same generation +on the other side of the water. There could be no harm in that; and +although he knew something of French socialism, he was ignorant of +Carolina's peculiar institutions, her politics, and her fears of +abolition, as a “Georgia cracker” + +A sort of semi-civilized native, wearing a peculiar homespun dress; with +a native dialect strongly resembling many of the Yorkshire phrases. They +are generally found located in the poorer parishes and districts, where +their primitive-looking cabins are easily designated from that of the +more enterprising agriculturist. But few of them can read or write,--and +preferring the coarsest mode of life, their habits are extremely +dissolute. Now and then one may be found owning a negro or two,--but +a negro would rather be sold to the torments of hell, or a Louisiana +sugar-planter, than to a Georgia cracker. You will see them approaching +the city on market-days, with their travelling-cart, which is a +curiosity in itself. It is a two-wheeled vehicle of the most primitive +description, with long, rough poles for shafts or thills. Sometimes it +is covered with a blanket, and sometimes with a white rag, under which +are a few things for market, and the good wife, with sometimes one +or two wee-yans; for the liege lord never fails to bring his wife to +market, that she may see the things of the city. The dejected-looking +frame of some scrub-breed horse or a half-starved mule is tied (for we +can't call it harnessed) between the thills, with a few pieces of rope +and withes; and, provided with a piece of wool-tanned sheep-skin, the +lord of the family, with peculiar dress, a drab slouched hat over his +eyes, and a big whip in his hand, mounts on the back of the poor animal, +and placing his feet upon the thills to keep them down, tortures it +through a heavy, sandy road. The horses are loaded so much beyond their +strength, that they will stop to blow, every ten or fifteen minutes, +while the man will sit upon their backs with perfect unconcern. +Remonstrate with them in regard to the sufficient draught added to +the insupportable weight upon their backs, and they will immediately +commence demonstrating how he can draw easier when there is an immense +weight upon his back. The husband generally exchanges his things for +whiskey, rice, and tobacco, while the wife buys calico and knick-knacks. +Sometimes they get “a right smart chance o' things” together, and have a +“party at home,” which means a blow-out among themselves. Sometimes they +have a shucking, which is a great affair, even among the little farmers +in Upper Georgia, where, only, corn-shuckings are kept up with all the +spice of old custom, and invitations are extended to those at a distance +of ten or fifteen miles, who repay the compliment with their presence, +and join in the revelry. There are two classes of the cracker in +Georgia, according to our observation, differing somewhat in their +dialect, but not in their habits. One is the upper, and the other the +low country, or rather what some call the “co-u-n-try-b-o-r-n” cracker. +The up-country cracker gives more attention to farming, inhabits what's +known as the Cherokee country and its vicinity, and is designated by the +sobriquet of “wire-grass man.” would be of Greek. Like his predecessors +in confinement, he fell into the hands of the veritable Dunn, without +the assistance of his friend Duse, as he called him; but had it not been +for the timely appearance of a clerk in the French consul's office, who +explained the nature of the arrest, in his native tongue, Mr. Dunn would +have found some trouble in making the arrest. Already had the officers +and crew of the bark gathered around him, making grimaces, and gibbering +away like a flock of blackbirds surrounding a hawk, and just ready to +pounce. “Don't I'se be tellin' yees what I wants wid 'im, and the divil +a bit ye'll understand me. Why don't yees spake so a body can understand +what yees be blatherin' about. Sure, here's the paper, an' yees won't +read the English of it. The divil o' such a fix I was ever in before wid +yer John o' crapue's an' yer chatter. Ye say we-we-we; sure it's but one +I wants. Ah! whist now, captain, and don't ye be makin' a bother over +it. Shure, did ye niver hear o' South Carolina in the wide world? An' +ye bees travellin' all over it, and herself's such a great State, wid so +many great gintlemen in it,” said Dunn, talking his green-island Greek +to the Frenchman. + +“We, we! mon Dieu, ah!” said the Frenchman. + +“Ah, shure there ye are again. What would I be doin' wid de 'hole o' +yees? It's the nager I want. Don't ye know that South Carolina don't +allow the likes o' him to be comin ashore and playing the divil wid her +slaves,” continued Dunn, stretching himself up on his lame leg. + +The clerk stepped up at this moment. “It's 'imself'll be telling yes all +about it, for yer like a parcel of geese makin' a fuss about a goslin.” + Mr. Dunn had got his Corkonian blood up; and although the matter was +explained, he saw the means at hand, and fixed his feelings for a stiff +compensation. The clerk, after explaining to the captain, turned to John +Paul and addressed him. As soon as he was done, John commenced to pack +up his dunnage and get money from the captain, as if he was bound on +an Arctic Expedition. Dunn's eyes glistened as he saw the money passing +into Paul's hand; but he was not to be troubled with the dunnage, and +after hurrying him a few times, marched him off. He went through the +regular system of grog-shop sponging; but his suavity and willingness to +acquiesce in all Mr. Dunn's demands, saved him some rough usage. There +was this difference between John Paul and Manuel, that the former, +not understanding the English language, mistook Dunn's deception for +friendship, and moved by that extreme French politeness and warmth of +feeling, which he thought doing the gentleman par excellence; while the +latter, with a quicker perception of right and wrong, and understanding +our language, saw the motive and disdained its nefarious object. For +when Paul arrived at the jail he was minus a five-dollar gold-piece, +which his very amiable official companion took particular care of, lest +something should befall it. Poor John Paul! He was as harmless as South +Carolina's secession and chivalry-two of the most harmless things in the +world, not excepting Congressional duelling. + +As soon as he entered the jail and found that the jailer could speak +French, he broke out in a perfect tornado of enthusiasm. “Je serai +charm‚ de lier connaissance avec un si amiable compagnon,” said he, +and continued in a strain so swift and unabated that it would have been +impossible for an Englishman to have traced the inflections. + +The jailer called Daley, and telling him to take his blanket, the +State's allotment, ordered him shown to his cell. Daley took the blanket +under his arm and the keys in his hand, and Paul soon followed him +upstairs to be introduced to his cell. “There, that's the place for +yees. We takes the shine off all ye dandy niggers whin we gets ye here. +Do ye see the pair of eyes in the head o' me?” said Daley, pointing to +his blackened eyes; “an' he that done that same is in the divil's own +place above. Now, if ye have ever a drap of whiskey, don't be keepin' it +shy, an' it'll be tellin' ye a good many favors.” + +“Ah! mon Dieu! Cela fait dresser les cheveux la tete,” said Paul, +shrugging his shoulders. + +“Bad luck to the word of that I'd be understandin' at all, at all. Can't +ye spake so a body'd understand what ye'd mane?” + +“C'est ma grande consolation d'avoir. * * * Les Etats-Unis est une +mod‚le de perfection republicaine,” said he, taking the blanket from +Daley and throwing it upon the floor. He was but a poor companion for +his fellow-prisoners, being deprived of the means to exercise his social +qualities. He went through the same course of suffering that Manuel did; +but, whether from inclination or necessity, bore it with more Christian +fortitude, chanting vespers every morning, and reading the Latin service +every evening. The lesson which Manuel taught Daley proved of great +service to Paul, who gave Daley the jail-ration which it was impossible +for him to eat, and was saved from his pilfering propensities. Thus, +after John Paul had suffered thirty-five days' imprisonment, in mute +confinement, to satisfy the majesty of South Carolina, he was released +upon the following conditions, and taken to his vessel at early +daylight, lest he should see the city or leave something to contaminate +the slaves. “Contrary to law.” State vs. “Contrary to law.” French bark +“Senegal,” Capt.--For John Paul, Colored Seaman. To Sheriff Charleston +Dist. + +July 18, 1852. To Arrest, $2; Registry, $2, $4.00” “Recog. $1.31; +Constable, $1, 2.31” “Commitment and discharge, 1.00” “35 Days' +Maintenace of John Paul, at 30 cents per day, 10.50 + +Recd. payment, $17.81 J. D--, S. C. D. Per Chs. E. Kanapeaux, Clerk. + +A very nice item of disbursements to present to the owners-a premium +paid for the advanced civilization of South Carolina! + +We have merely noticed the imprisonment of John Paul, our limits +excluding the details. We must now turn to a little, pert, saucy French +boy, eleven years old, who spoke nothing but Creole French, and that +as rotten as we ever heard lisped. The French bark Nouvelle Amelie, +Gilliet, master, from Rouen, arrived in Charleston on the twenty-ninth +of July. The captain was a fine specimen of a French gentleman. He +stood upon the quarter-deck as she was being “breasted-in” to the wharf, +giving orders to his men, while the little child stood at the galley +looking at the people upon the wharf, making grimaces and pointing one +of the crew to several things that attracted his attention. Presently +the vessel hauled alongside of the dock, and Dusenberry, with his +companion Dunn, who had been watching all the movements of the vessel +from a hiding-place on the wharf, sprang out and boarded her ere she had +touched the piles. + +The “nigger,” seeing Dusenberry approach him, waited until he saw his +hand extended, and then, as if to save himself from impending danger, +ran aft and into the cabin, screaming at the top of his voice. The crew +began to run and move up into close quarters. The issue was an important +one, and rested between South Carolina and the little “nigger.” + Dusenberry attempted to descend into the cabin. “Vat you vant wid my +John, my Baptiste? No, you no do dat, 'z my cabin; never allow stranger +go down 'im,” said the captain, placing himself in the companionway, +while the little terrified nigger peeped above the combing, and rolled +his large eyes, the white glowing in contrast, from behind the captain's +legs. In this tempting position the little darkie, knowing he was +protected by the captain and crew, would taunt the representative of the +State with his bad French. Dunn stood some distance behind Dusenberry, +upon the deck, and the mission seemed to be such a mystery to both +captain and crew, that their presence aroused a feeling of curiosity as +well as anxiety. Several of the sailors gathered around him, and made +antic grimaces, pointing their fingers at him and swearing, so that +Dunn began to be alarmed by the incomprehensible earnestness of their +gibberish, turned pale, and retreated several steps, to the infinite +amusement of those upon the wharf. + +“Vat 'e do, ah, you vant 'im? Vat you do vid 'im ven zu gets him, ah? +Cette affaire delicate demande,” said one of the number, who was honored +with the title of mate, and who, with a terrific black moustache and +beard, had the power of contorting his face into the most repugnant +grimaces. And, at the moment, he drew his sheath-knife and made a +pretended plunge at Dunn's breast, causing him to send forth a pitiful +yell, and retreat to the wharf with quicker movements than he ever +thought himself capable of. + +“Il n'y a pas grand mal cela,” said the Frenchman, laughing at Dunn as +he stood upon the capsill of the wharf. + +“Bad luck to ye, a pretty mess a murderous Frinchmin that ye are. Do +yees be thinkin' ye'd play that trick in South Carolina? Ye'll get the +like o' that taken out o' ye whin yer before his honor in the mornin',” + said Dunn. + +Dusenberry had stood parleying with the captain at the companion-door, +endeavoring to make the latter understand that it was not a case which +required the presence of the silver oar. There is a prevailing opinion +among sailors, that no suit in Admiralty can be commenced, or seaman +arrested while on board, without the presence of the silver oar. And +thus acting upon this impression, the captain and officers of the +Nouvelle Amelie contended for what they considered a right. The mate and +crew drew closer and closer toward Dusenberry, until he became infected +with the prevailing alarm. “Captain, I demand your protection from these +men, in the name of the State of South Carolina,” said he. + +“Who he? De State Souf Ca'lina, vat I know 'bout him, ah? Bring de +silver oar when come take my man. Il y a de la malhomme tet‚ dans sou +proces,” said Captain Gilliet, turning to his mate. + +“Avaunt! avaunt!” said the big man with the large whiskers, and they all +made a rush at Dusenberry, and drove him over the rail and back to the +wharf, where he demanded the assistance of those anxious spectators, for +and in the name of the State. It was a right good vaudeville comique, +played in dialogue and pantomime. The point of the piece, which, with a +little arrangement, might have made an excellent production, consisted +of a misunderstanding between an Irishman and a Frenchman about South +Carolina, and a law so peculiar that no stranger could comprehend its +meaning at first and as neither could understand the language of the +other, the more they explained the more confounded the object became, +until, from piquant comique, the scene was worked into the appearance of +a tragedy. One represented his ship, and to him his ship was his nation; +the other represented South Carolina, and to him South Carolina was the +United States; and the question was, which had the best right to the +little darkie. + +The spectators on the wharf were not inclined to move, either not +wishing to meddle themselves with South Carolina's affairs-wanting +larger game to show their bravery-or some more respectable officer +to act in command. The little darkie, seeing Dusenberry driven to the +wharf, ran to the gangway, and protruding his head over the rail, worked +his black phiz into a dozen pert expressions, showing his ivory, +rolling the white of his eyes, and crooking his finger upon his nose in +aggravating contempt. + +“Shure, we'll turn the guard out and take ye an' yer ship, anyhow. Why +don't yees give the nager up dasently, an' don't be botherin'. An' +isn't it the law of South Carolina, be dad; an' be the mortis, ye'd be +getting' no small dale of a pinalty for the same yer doin',” said Dunn. + +A gentleman, who had been a silent looker-on, thinking it no more than +proper to proffer his mediation, perceiving where the difficulty lay, +stepped on board and introducing himself to the captain, addressed him +in French, and explained the nature of the proceeding. The captain shook +his head for some time, and shrugged his shoulders. “La police y est +bien administree,” said he, with an air of politeness; and speaking to +his mate, that officer again spoke to the men, and Dusenberry was told +by the gentleman that he could come on board. Without further ceremony, +he mounted the rail and made a second attempt at the young urchin, +who screamed and ran into the cook's galley, amid the applause of the +seamen, who made all sorts of shouts inciting him to run, crying out, +“Run, Baptiste! run, Baptiste!” In this manner the little darkie kept +the officer at bay for more than fifteen minutes, passing out of one +door as the officer entered the other, to the infinite delight of the +crew. At length his patience became wearied, and as he was about to call +Dunn to his assistance, the captain came up, and calling the child to +him-for such he was-delivered him up, the little fellow roaring at the +top of his voice as the big officer carried him over the rail under +his arm. This ended the vaudeville comique on board of the French bark +Nouvelle Amelie, Captain Gilliet. + +The dignity of the State was triumphant, and the diminutive nigger was +borne off under the arm of its representative. What a beautiful theme +for the painter's imagination! And how mutely sublime would have been +the picture if the pencil of a Hogarth could have touched it. The +majesty of South Carolina carrying a child into captivity! + +After carrying John Baptiste about halfway up the wharf, they put him +down, and made him “trot it” until they reached the Dutch grog-shop +we have described in the scene with Manuel. Here they halted to take a +“stiff'ner,” while Baptiste was ordered to sit down upon a bench, Dunn +taking him by the collar and giving him a hearty shake, which made the +lad bellow right lustily. “Shut up, ye whelp of a nigger, or ye'll get a +doz for yeer tricks beyant in the ship,” said Dunn; and after remaining +nearly an hour, arguing politics and drinking toddies, Mr. Dunn got very +amiably fuddled, and was for having a good-natured quarrel with every +customer that came; into the shop. He laboured under a spirit-inspired +opinion that they must treat or fight; and accordingly would attempt to +reduce his opinions to practical demonstrations. At length the Dutchman +made a courteous remonstrance, but no sooner had he done it, than Dunn +drew his hickory stick across the Dutchman's head, and levelled him upon +the floor. The Dutchman was a double-fisted fellow, and springing up +almost instantly, returned the compliment. Dusenberry was more sober, +and stepped in to make a reconciliation; but before he had time to exert +himself, the Dutchman running behind the counter, Dunn aimed another +blow at him, which glanced from his arm and swept a tin drench, with +a number of tumblers on it, into a smash upon the floor. This was the +signal for a general melee, and it began in right earnest between the +Dutch and the Irish,--for the Dutchman called the assistance of several +kinsmen who were in the front store, and Dunn, with the assistance of +Dusenberry, mustered recruits from among a number of his cronies, who +were standing at a corner on the opposite side, of the street. Both came +to the rescue, but the O'Nales and Finnegans outnumbering the Dutch, +made a Donnybrook onset, disarming and routing their adversaries, and +capsizing barrels, boxes, kegs, decanters, and baskets of onions, into +one general chaos,--taking possession of the Dutchman's calabash, and +proclaiming their victory with triumphant shouts. + +They had handcuffed the boy Baptiste as soon as they entered the store, +and in the midst of the conflict he escaped without being observed, and +ran for his vessel, handcuffed, and crying at the top of his voice. He +reached the Nouvelle Amelie, to the consummate surprise of the officers +and crew, and the alarm of pedestrians as he passed along the street. +“Mon Dieu!” said the mate, and taking the little fellow to the +windlass-bits, succeeded in severing the handcuffs with a cold-chisel, +and sent him down into the forecastle to secrete himself. + +When Dunn's wild Irish had subsided, Dusenberry began to reason with him +upon the nature of the affair, and the matter was reconciled upon the +obligations that had previously existed, and a promise to report no +violations of the ordinances during a specified time. Looking around, +Dunn exclaimed, “Bad manners till ye, Swizer, what a' ye done with the +little nager? Where did ye put him?--Be dad, Duse, he's gone beyant!” + An ineffectual search was made among barrels and boxes, and up the old +chimney. “Did ye see him?” inquired Dunn, of a yellow man that had been +watching the affray at the door, while Dusenberry continued to poke with +his stick among the boxes and barrels. + +“Why, massa, I sees him when he lef de doo, but I no watch him 'till 'e +done gone,” said the man. + +Dunn was despatched to the vessel in search, but every thing there was +serious wonderment, and carried out with such French naviete, that his +suspicions were disarmed, and he returned with perfect confidence that +he was not there. A search was now made in all the negro-houses in the +neighborhood; but kicks, cuts, and other abuses failed to elicit +any information of his whereabouts. At length Dunn began to feel the +deadening effects of the liquor, and was so muddled that he could not +stand up; then, taking possession of a bed in one of the houses, +he stretched himself upon it in superlative contempt of every thing +official, and almost simultaneously fell into a profound sleep. In this +manner he received the attention of the poor colored woman whose bed +he occupied, and whom he had abused in searching for the boy. In this +predicament, Dusenberry continued to search alone, and kept it up until +sundown, when he was constrained to report the case to the sheriff, +who suspended Mr. Dunn for a few days. The matter rested until the next +morning, when the case of the little saucy nigger vs. South Carolina was +renewed with fresh vigor. Then Mr. Grimshaw, accompanied by Dusenberry, +proceeded to the barque, and there saw the boy busily engaged in the +galley. Mr. Grimshaw went on board, followed by Duse, and approaching +the cabin door, met the captain ascending the stairs. “Captain, I +want that nigger boy of yourn, and you may just as well give him up +peaceably,” said he. + +“Yes, monsieur,--but you no treat 'im like child wen you get 'im,” + said the captain. Retiring to the cabin, and bringing back the broken +manacles in his hand, he held them up to Mr. Grimshaw, “You put such dem +thing on child like 'im, in South Carolina, ah? What you tink 'im be, +young nigger, ox, horse, bull, ah! what? Now you take'e him! treat him +like man, den we no 'struct to laws wat South Carolina got,” continued +he. + +Mr. Grimshaw thanked the captain, but made no reply about the manacles; +taking them in his hand, and handing the boy over into the charge of +Dusenberry. In a few minutes he was ushered into the sheriff's office, +and the important points of his dimensions and features noted +in accordance with the law. We are not advised whether the pert +characteristics of his nature were emblazoned,--if they were, the record +would describe a singular specimen of a frightened French darkie, more +amusing than judicial. But John Baptiste Pamerlie passed the ordeal, +muttering some rotten Creole, which none of the officials could +understand, and was marched off to the jail, where the jailer acted as +his interpreter. Being so small, he was allowed more latitude to ware +and haul than the others, while his peculiar bon point and pert +chatter afforded a fund of amusement for the prisoners, who made him a +particular butt, and kept up an incessant teasing to hear him jabber. +The second day of his imprisonment he received a loaf of bread in +the morning, and a pint of greasy water, misnamed soup. That was the +allowance when they did not take meat. He ran down-stairs with the pan +in hand, raising an amusing fuss, pointing at it, and spitting out his +Creole to the jailer. He was disputing the question of its being soup, +and his independent manner had attracted a number of the prisoners. Just +at the moment, the prison dog came fondling against his legs, and to +decide the question, quick as thought, he set the pan before him; and as +if acting upon an instinctive knowledge of the point at issue, the dog +put his nose to it, gave a significant scent, shook his head and walked +off, to the infinite delight of the prisoners, who sent forth a shout of +acclamation. Baptiste left his soup, and got a prisoner, who could speak +Creole, to send for his captain, who came on the next morning and +made arrangements to relieve his condition from the ship's stores. The +following day he whipped one of the jailer's boys in a fair fight; and +on the next he killed a duck, and on the fourth he cut a white prisoner. +Transgressing the rules of the jail in rejecting his soup-violating the +laws of South Carolina making it a heinous offence for a negro to strike +or insult a white person--committing murder on a duck--endeavoring to +get up a fandango among the yard niggers, and trying the qualities of +cold steel, in a prisoner's hand, thus exhibiting all the versatility +of a Frenchman's genius with a youthful sang-froid, he was considered +decidedly dangerous, and locked up for formal reform. Here he remained +until the seventeenth of August, when it was announced that the good +barque Nouvelle Amelie, Captain Gilliet, was ready for sea, and he +was forthwith led to the wharf between two officers, and ordered to +be transferred beyond the limits of the State, the Captain paying the +following nice little bill, of costs. “Contrary to Law.” “French +Barque Nouvelle Amelie, Captain Gilliet, from Rouen, For John Baptiste +Pamerlie, Colored Seaman. 1852. To Sheriff of Charleston District. +August 26th, To Arrest, $2; Registry, $2, $4.00” + +“Recog. 1.31; Constable, $1, 2.31” + +“Commitment and Discharge, 1.00” + +“20 days' Jail Maintenance of John Baptiste Pamerlie, at 30 cts. per +day, $6.00 + +“Received payment, 13.31 J. D., S. C. D. Per Charles E. Kanapeaux, +Clerk.” + +Thus ended the scene. The little darkie might have said when he was in +jail, “Je meurs de faim, et l'on ne mapport‚ rien;” and when he left, +“Il est faufite avec les chevaliers d'industrie.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV. THE JANSON CONDEMNED. + + + +WE must now return to Manuel. He was in close confinement, through Mr. +Grimshaw's orders. Tommy continued to bring him food from day to day, +but was not allowed to see him. The mate and several of the crew +were also refused admittance to him. This was carrying power to an +unnecessary limit, and inflicting a wanton punishment without proper +cause, at the same time exhibiting a flagrant disrespect for personal +feelings. Tommy did not report the affair to the Captain, lest it should +be misconstrued, and worse punishment be inflicted; but when the men +were refused, they naturally mistrusted something, and made inquiries +of the jailer, who readily gave them all the information in his power +concerning the affair, and his orders. This they reported to the +Captain, who immediately repaired to the consul's office, where he found +Mr. Mathew reading a note which he had just received from Manuel. It +stated his grievances in a clear and distinct manner, and begged the +protection of that government under whose flag he sailed, but said +nothing about his provisions. The consul, accompanied by the Captain, +proceeded to the sheriff's office, but could get no satisfaction. “I +never consider circumstances when prisoners violate the rules of the +jail,--he must await my orders! but I shall keep him closely confined +for two weeks, at least,” said Mr. Grimshaw. + +This incensed the consul still more, for he saw the manner in which a +clique of officials were determined to show their arbitrary power. It +was impossible for him to remain indifferent to this matter, affecting, +as it did, the life and liberty of his fellow-countryman. He could +invoke no sympathy for the man, and the extent of punishment to which +he had been subjected was evidently excited by vindictive feelings. He +applied for a writ of habeas corpus,--but mark the result. + +The Captain proceeded to the jail, and demanded to see his steward; the +jailer hesitating at first, at length granted his permission. He found +Manuel locked up in a little, unwholesome cell, with scarcely a glimmer +of light to mark the distinction of day and night; and so pale and +emaciated, that had he met him in the street he should scarcely have +recognised him. “Gracious God! What crime could have brought such an +excess of punishment upon you?” inquired the Captain. + +Manuel told him the whole story; and, added to that, the things which +had been sent to him during the seven days he had been confined in that +manner, had seldom reached him. He had lost his good friend Jane, and +the many kind acts which she was wont to bestow upon him, and had been +compelled to live upon bread and water nearly the whole time, suffering +the most intense hunger. Upon inquiry, it was ascertained that the +few things sent to make him comfortable had been intrusted to Daley to +deliver, who appropriated nearly the whole of them to his own use, as a +sort of retaliatory measure for the castigation he received from Manuel. +He had not failed to carry him his pan of soup at twelve o'clock every +day, but made the “choice bits” serve his own digestion. The jailer +felt the pain of the neglect, and promised to arrange a safer process of +forwarding his things by attending to it himself, which he did with +all the attention in his power, when Manuel's condition became more +tolerable. The Captain told Manuel how his affairs stood-that he should +probably have to leave him in charge of the consul, but to keep up good +spirits; that he would leave him plenty of means, and as soon as his +release was effected, to make the best of his way to Scotland and join +the old owners. And thus he left him, with a heavy heart, for Manuel did +read in his countenance what he did not speak. + +The Janson had been discharged, a survey held upon the cargo, protest +extended, and the whole sold for the benefit of whom it might concern. +Necessary surveys were likewise held upon the hull, and finding it so +old and strained as to be unworthy of repair, it was condemned and sold +for the benefit of the underwriters. Thus the register “de novo” was +given up to the consul, the men discharged, and paid off according to +the act of William IV., which provides that each man shall receive a +stipend to carry him to the port in Great Britain from which he shipped, +or the consul to provide passage for him, according to his inclination, +to proceed to a point where the voyage would be completed. The consul +adopted the best means in his power to make them all comfortable and +satisfied with their discharge. Their several register-tickets were +given up to them, and one by one left for his place of destination; +Tommy and the second mate only preferring to remain and seek some +new voyage. The old chief mate seemed to congratulate himself in the +condemnation of the unlucky Janson. He shipped on board an English ship, +laden with cotton and naval stores, and just ready for sea. When he +came on board to take a farewell of the Captain, he stood upon deck, and +looking up at the dismantled spars, said, “Skipper, a shadow may save +a body after all. I've always had a presentment that this unlucky old +thing would serve us a trick. I says to meself that night in the Gulf, +'Well, old craft, yer goin' to turn yer old ribs into a coffin, at +last,' but I'll praise the bridge that carries me safe over, because +I've an affection for the old thing after all, and can't part without +saying God bless her, for it's an honest death to die in debt to the +underwriters. I hope her old bones will rest in peace on terra-firma. +Good-by, Captain,--remember me to Manuel; and let us forget our troubles +in Charleston by keeping away from it.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXV. GEORGE THE SECESSIONIST, AND HIS FATHER'S SHIPS. + + + +AS we have said, the second mate and little Tommy remained to seek +new voyages. Such was the fact with the second mate; but Tommy +had contracted a violent cold on the night he was locked up in the +guard-house, and had been a subject for the medicine-chest for some +time; and this, with his ardent attachment for Manuel, and hopes to +join him again as a sailing companion, was the chief inducement for his +remaining. The Captain gave them accommodations in the cabin so long as +he had possession of the ship, which afforded the means of saving their +money, of which Tommy had much need; for notwithstanding he received a +nice present from the consul, and another from the Captain, which, added +to the few dollars that were coming to him for wages, made him feel +purse-proud, though it was far from being adequate to sustain him any +length of time, or to protect him against any sudden adversity. + +The Captain had not seen little George, the secessionist, since his +assurance that he would make every thing right with Mr. Grimshaw, +and have Manuel out in less than twenty-four hours. It was now the +fourteenth of April, and the signs of his getting out were not so good +as they were on the first day he was committed, for the vessel being +condemned, if the law was carried to the strictest literal construction, +Manuel would be tied up among the human things that are articles of +merchandise in South Carolina. He was passing from the wharf to the +consul's office about ten o'clock in the morning, when he was suddenly +surprised in the street by little George, who shook his hand as if he +had been an old friend just returned after a long absence. He made +all the apologies in the world for being called away suddenly, and +consequently, unable to render that attention to his business which his +feelings had prompted. Like all secessionists, George was very fiery and +transitory in his feelings. He expressed unmeasurable surprise when the +Captain told him the condition of his man in the old jail. “You don't +say that men are restricted like that in Charleston? Well, now, I never +was in that jail, but it's unsuited to the hospitality of our society,” + said he. + +“Your prison groans with abuses, and yet your people never hear them,” + replied the Captain. + +George seemed anxious to change the subject, and commenced giving the +Captain a description of his journey to the plantation, his hunting and +fishing, his enjoyments, and the fat, saucy, slick niggers, the fine +corn and bacon they had, and what they said about massa, ending with an +endless encomium of the “old man's” old whiskey, and how he ripened it +to give it smoothness and flavor. His description of the plantation and +the niggers was truly wonderful, tantalizing the Captain's imagination +with the beauties of a growing principality in itself. “We have just +got a new vessel added to our ships, and she sails for the Pedee this +afternoon. We got the right stripe of a captain, but we have made him +adopt conditions to be true to the secession party. As soon as I get +another man, we'll despatch her in grand style, and no mistake.” + +The Captain thought of his second mate, and suggested him at once. “Just +the chap. My old man would like him, I know,” said George, and they +returned directly to the Janson, where they found the second mate +lashing his dunnage. The proposition was made and readily accepted. +Again the Captain parted with little George, leaving him to take the +mate to his father's office, while he pursued his business at the +consul's. + +George led the mate into the office. “Here, father, here's a man to +go in our vessel,” said he. The old man looked upon him with a serene +importance, as if he was fettered with his own greatness. + +“My shipping interests are becoming very extensive, my man; I own the +whole of four schooners, and a share in the greatest steamship afloat-I +mean screw-ship, the South Carolina--you've heard of her, I suppose?” + said the old man. + +Jack stood up with his hat in his hand, thinking over what he meant by +big interests, and “reckoning he hadn't seen the establishment of them +ship-owners about Prince's Dock, what owned more ships apiece than there +were days in the month.” + +“Now, my man,” continued the old man, “I'm mighty strict about my +discipline, for I want every man to do his duty for the interests of the +owners. But how many dollars do you want a month, my man?” + +“Nothing less than four pounds starling; that's twenty dollars your +currency, if I reckon right,” said Jack, giving his hat a twirl upon the +floor. + +“Wh-e-w! you belong to the independent sailors. You'll come down from +that afore you get a ship in this port. Why, I can get a good, prime +nigger feller sailor for eight dollars a month and his feed.” + +Jack concluded not to sail in any of the old man's big ships, and said, +“Yes, I joined them a long time ago, and I ha'n't regretted it, neither; +wouldn't pull a bow-line a penny less. I don't like drogging, no-how. +Good morning, sir,” said he, putting on his hat and backing out of the +door. + +“I wish you'd a' taken a chance with my father, old fellow; he'd a' made +you captain afore a year,” said George, as he was leaving the door. + +“The like o' that don't signify. I've been skipper in the West Ingie +trade years ago. There isn't much difference between a nigger and +a schooner's captain,” said Jack, as he walked off to the Janson, +preparatory to taking lodgings ashore. + +That afternoon about five o'clock, a loud noise was heard on board a +little schooner, of about sixty tons' register, that lay in a bend of +the wharf a few lengths ahead of the Janson. Captain Thompson and his +second mate were seated on a locker in the cabin, conversing upon the +prospects ahead, when the noise became so loud that they ran upon deck +to witness the scene. + +George stood upon the capsill of the wharf, with mortification pictured +in his countenance. “Well, captain, you needn't make so much noise about +it; your conduct is decidedly ungentlemanly. If you don't wish to sail +in father's employ, leave like a gentleman,” said George, pulling up the +corners of his shirt-collar. + +It was the great craft that George had distended upon, and the veritable +captain of the right stripe, who promised to toe the mark according to +secession principles, but made no stipulations for the nigger feed that +was the cause of the excitement. The captain, a Baltimore coaster, and +accustomed to good feed in his vessels at home, had been induced by a +large representations to take charge of the craft and run her in the +Pedee trade, bringing rice to Charleston. On being told the craft was +all ready for sea, he repaired on board, and, to his chagrin, found +two black men for a crew, and a most ungainly old wench, seven shades +blacker than Egyptian darkness, for a cook. This was imposition enough +to arouse his feelings, for but one of the men knew any thing about +a vessel; but on examining the stores, the reader may judge of his +feelings, if he have any idea of supplying a vessel in a Northern +port, when we tell him that all and singular the stores consisted of +a shoulder of rusty Western bacon, a half-bushel of rice, and a jug of +molasses; and this was to proceed the distance of a hundred miles, But +to add to the ridiculous farce of that South Carolina notion, when he +remonstrated with them, he was very indifferently told that it was what +they always provided for their work-people. + +“Take your' little jebacca-boat and go to thunder with her,” said the +captain, commencing to pick up his duds. + +“Why, captain, I lent you my gun, and we always expect our captains to +make fresh provision of game as you run up the river,” said George. + +“Fresh provisions, the devil!” said the captain. “I've enough to do to +mind my duty, without hunting my living as I pursue my voyage, like +a hungry dog. We don't do business on your nigger-allowance system in +Maryland.” And here we leave him, getting one of the negroes to carry +his things back to his boarding-house. + +A few days after the occurrence we have narrated above little Tommy, +somewhat recovered from his cold, shipped on board a little centre-board +schooner, called the Three Sisters, bound to the Edisto River for a +cargo of rice. The captain, a little, stubby man, rather good looking, +and well dressed, was making his maiden voyage as captain of a South +Carolina craft. He was “South Carolina born,” but, like many others of +his kind, had been forced to seek his advancement in a distant State, +through the influence of those formidable opinions which exiles the +genius of the poor in South Carolina. For ten years he had sailed out of +the port of Boston, had held the position of mate on two Indian voyages +under the well-known Captain Nott, and had sailed with Captain Albert +Brown, and received his recommendation, yet this was not enough to +qualify him for the nautical ideas of a pompous South Carolinian. + +Tommy got his baggage on board, and before leaving, made another attempt +at the jail to see his friend Manuel. He presented himself to the +jailer, and told him how much he wanted to see his old friend before he +left. The jailer's orders were imperative. He was told if he came next +week he would see him; that he would then be released, and allowed to +occupy the cell on the second floor with the other stewards. Recognising +one of the stewards that had joined with them when they enjoyed their +social feelings around the festive barrel, he walked into the piazza to +meet him and bid him good-by. While he stood shaking hands with him, the +poor negro. + +The name of this poor fellow was George Fairchild. After being sent +to the workhouse to receive twenty blows with the paddle when he was +scarcely able to stand, he was taken down from the frame and supported +to the jail, where he remained several weeks, fed at a cost of eighteen +cents a day. His crime was “going for whiskey at night,” and the third +offence; but there were a variety of pleadings in his favor. His master +worked his negroes to the very last tension of their strength, and +exposed their appetites to all sorts of temptation, especially those who +worked in the night-gang. His master flogged him once, while he was in +the jail, himself, giving him about forty stripes with a raw hide on the +bare back: not satisfying his feelings with this, he concluded to send +him to New Orleans. He had an affectionate wife and child, who were +forbidden to see him. His master ordered that he should be sent to the +workhouse and receive thirty-nine paddles before leaving, and on the +morning he was to be shipped, his distressed wife, hearing the sad news, +came to the jail; but notwithstanding the entreaties of several debtors, +the jailer could not allow her to come in, but granted, as a favor, +that she should speak with him through the grated door. The cries and +lamentations of that poor woman, as she stood upon the outside, holding +her bond-offspring in her arms, taking a last sorrowing farewell of him +who was so dearly cherished and beloved, would have melted a heart of +stone. She could not embrace him, but waited until he was led out to +torture, when she threw her arms around him, and was dragged away by a +ruffian's hand. + +Poor George Fairchild! We heard him moaning under the acute pain of the +paddle, and saw him thrust into a cart like a dog, to be shipped as a +bale of merchandise for a distant port, who had suffered with him in the +guard-house came up and saluted him with a friendly recognition. Some +two weeks had passed since the occurrence, and yet his head presented +the effects of bruising, and was bandaged with a cloth. “Good young +massa, do give me a' fo' pence, for Is'e mose starve,” he said in a +suppliant tone. Tommy put his hand into his pocket, and drawing out a +quarter, passed it to the poor fellow, and received his thanks. Leaving +a message for Manuel that he would be sure to call and see him when +he returned, he passed from the house of misery and proceeded to his +vessel. + +The captain of the schooner had been engaged by parties in Charleston, +who simply acted as agents for the owners. He had been moved to return +to Charleston by those feelings which are so inherent in our nature, +inspiring a feeling for the place of its nativity, and recalling the +early associations of childhood. Each longing fancy pointed back again, +and back he came, to further fortune on his native soil. His crew, with +the exception of Tommy, consisted of three good, active negroes, one of +whom acted as pilot on the Edisto River. Accustomed to the provisioning +of Boston ships, he had paid no attention to his supplies; for, in +fact, he only took charge of the little craft as an accommodation to the +agents, and with the promise of a large vessel as soon as he returned; +and sailing with a fine stiff breeze, he was far outside the light when +the doctor announced dinner. “What have you got that's good, old chap?” + said he to the cook. + +“Fust stripe, Massa Cap'en. A right good chance o' homony and bacon +fry,” returned the negro. + +“Homony and what? Nothing else but that?” + +“Why, massa! gracious, dat what Massa Whaley give all he cap'en, an' he +tink 'em fust-rate,” said the negro. + +As they were the only whites on board, the captain took little Tommy +into the cabin with him to sit at the same table; but there was too much +truth in the negro's statement, and instead of sitting down to one of +those nice dinners which are spread in Boston ships, both great and +small, there, on a little piece of pine board, swung with a preventer, +was a plate of black homony covered with a few pieces of fried pork, so +rank and oily as to be really repulsive to a common stomach. Beside +it was an earthen mug, containing about a pint of molasses, which was +bedaubed on the outside to show its quality. The captain looked at it +for a minute, and then taking up the iron spoon which stood in it, and +letting one or two spoonfuls drop back, said, “Old daddie, where are all +your stores? Fetch them out here.” + +“Gih, massa! here 'em is; 'e's jus' as Massa Stoney give 'em,” said the +negro, drawing forth a piece of rusty and tainted bacon, weighing about +fifteen pounds, and, in spots, perfectly alive with motion; about a +half-bushel of corn-grits; and a small keg of molasses, with a piece of +leather attached to the bung. + +“Is that all?” inquired the captain peremptorily. + +“Yes, massa, he all w'at 'em got now, but git more at Massa Whaley +plantation win 'em git da.” + +“Throw it overboard, such stinking stuff; it'll breed pestilence on +board,” said the captain to the negro, (who stood holding the spoiled +bacon in his hand, with the destructive macalia dropping on the floor,) +at the same time applying his foot to the table, and making wreck of +hog, homony, molasses, and plates. + +“Gih-e-wh-ew! Massa, I trow 'im o'board, Massa Whaley scratch 'em back, +sartin. He tink 'em fust-rate. Plantation nigger on'y gits bacon twice +week, Massa Cap'en,” said he, picking up the wreck and carrying it upon +deck, where it was devoured with great gusto by the negroes, who fully +appreciated the happy God-send. + +The captain had provided a little private store of crackers, cheese, +segars, and a bottle of brandy, and turning to his trunk, he opened it +and drew them out one by one, passing the crackers and cheese to +Tommy, and imbibing a little of the deacon himself, thus satisfying +the cravings of nature. Night came on; they were crossing the bar and +approaching the outlet of the Edisto, which was broad in sight; +but there was neither coffee nor tea on board, and no prospect of +supper-nothing but a resort to the crackers and cheese remained, the +stock of which had already diminished so fast, that what was left was +treasured among the things too choice to be eaten without limitation. +They reached the entrance, and after ascending a few miles, came to +anchor under a jut of wood that formed a bend in the river. The baying +of dogs during the night intimated the vicinity of a settlement near, +and in the morning the captain sent one of the negroes on shore for a +bottle of milk. “Massa, dat man what live yonder ha'n't much no-how, +alwa's makes 'em pay seven-pence,” said the negro. Sure enough it was +true; notwithstanding he was a planter of some property, he made the +smallest things turn to profit, and would charge vessels going up the +river twelve and a half cents per bottle for milk. + +The captain had spent a restless night, and found himself blotched with +innumerable chinch-bites; and on examining the berths and lockers, he +found them swarming in piles. Calling one of the black men, he commenced +overhauling them, and drew out a perfect storehouse of rubbish, which +must have been deposited there, without molestation, from the day the +vessel was launched up to the present time, as varied in its kinds as +the stock of a Jew-shop, and rotten with age. About nine o'clock they +got under weigh again, and proceeding about twenty miles with a fair +wind and tide, they came to another point in the river, on which a +concourse of men had assembled, armed to the teeth with guns, rifles, +and knives. As he passed up, they were holding parley with a man and boy +in a canoe a few rods from the shore. At every few minutes they +would point their rifles at him, and with threatening gestures, swear +vengeance against him if he attempted to land. The captain, being +excited by the precarious situation of the man and his boy, and anxious +to ascertain the particulars, let go his anchor and “came to” a few +lengths above. + +Scarcely had his anchor brought up than he was hailed from the shore by +a rough-looking man, who appeared to be chief in the manouvre, and who +proved to be no less a personage than a Mr. S--k, a wealthy planter. + +“Don't take that man on board of your vessel, at the peril of your life, +captain. He's an abolitionist,” said he, accompanying his imperative +command with a very Southern rotation of oaths. + +The man paddled his canoe on the outside of the vessel, and begged the +captain “for God's sake to take him on board and protect him; that an +excitement had been gotten up against him very unjustly, and he would +explain the circumstances if he would allow him to come on board.” + +“Come on board,” said the captain. “Let you be abolitionist or what you +will, humanity will not let me see you driven out to sea in that manner; +you would be swamped before you crossed the bar.” + +He came on board, trembling and wet, the little boy handing up a couple +of carpet-bags, and following him. No sooner had he done so, than three +or four balls whizzed past the captain's head, causing him to retreat to +the cabin. A few minutes intervened, and he returned to the deck. + +“Lower your boat and come on shore immediately,” they cried out. + +The captain, not at all daunted, lowered his boat and went on shore. +“Now, gentlemen, what do you want with me?” said he, when S--k stepped +forward, and the following dialogue ensued:-- + +“Who owns that vessel, and what right have you to harbor a d--d +abolitionist?” + +“I don't know who owns the vessel; I know that I sail her, and the +laws of God and man demand that I shall not pass a man in distress, +especially upon the water. He protests that he is not, and never was +an abolitionist; offers to prove it if you will hear him, and only asks +that you allow him to take away his property,” rejoined the captain. + +“What! then you are an abolitionist yourself?” + +“No, sir. I'm a Southern-born man, raised in Charleston, where my father +was raised before me.” + +“So much, so good; but just turn that d--d scoundrel ashore as quick +as seventy, or we'll tie your vessel up and report you to the Executive +Committee, and stop your getting on more freight on the Edisto.” + +“That I shall not do. You should have patience to investigate these +things, and not allow your feelings to become so excited. If I turn +him and his son adrift, I'm answerable for their lives if any accident +should occur to them,” rejoined the captain. + +“Are you a secessionist, captain, or what are your political principles? +You seem determined to protect abolitionists. That scoundrel has been +associating with a nigger, and eating at his house ever since he has +been here.” + +“Yes, yes, and we'll be d--d if he isn't an abolitionist,” joined in +a dozen voices, “for he dined at Bill Webster's last Sunday on a +wild-turkey. Nobody but an infernal abolitionist would dine with a +nigger.” + +“As for politics, I never had much to do with them, and care as little +about secession as I do about theology; but I like to see men act +reasonably. If you want any thing more of me, you will find me at +Colonel Whaley's plantation to-morrow.” Thus saying, he stepped into +his boat and returned on board of his vessel. Just as he was getting +under-weigh again, whiz! whiz! whiz! came three shots, one in quick +succession after the other, the last taking effect and piercing the +crown of his hat, at which they retired out of sight. Fearing a return, +he worked his vessel about two miles farther up and came to anchor on +the other side of the channel, where he waited the return of the tide, +and had an opportunity to put his affrighted passengers on board a +schooner that was passing down, bound to Charleston. + +The secret of such an outrage is told in a few words. The man was a +timber-getter from the vicinity of New Bedford, Massachusetts, who, with +his son, a lad about sixteen years of age, had spent several winters +in the vicinity of the Edisto, getting live-oak, what he considered +a laudable enterprise. He purchased the timber on the stump of the +inhabitants, at a price which left him very little profit, and had also +been charged an exorbitant price for every thing he got, whether +labor or provisions; and so far had that feeling of South Carolina's +self-sufficiency been carried out against him in all its cold +repulsiveness, that he found much more honesty and true hospitality +under the roof of a poor colored man. This so enraged some of the +planters, that they proclaimed against him, and that mad-dog cry of +abolitionist was raised against him. His horse and buggy, books and +papers were packed up and sent to Charleston-not, however, without +some of the most important of the latter being lost. His business was +destroyed, and he and his child taken by force, put into a little canoe +with one or two carpet-bags, and sent adrift. In this manner they had +followed him two miles down the river, he begging to be allowed +the privilege of settling his business and leave respectably-they +threatening to shoot him if he attempted to near the shore, or was +caught in the vicinity. This was his position when the captain found +him. He proceeded to Charleston, and laid his case before James L. +Petigru, Esq., United States District Attorney, and, upon his advice, +returned to the scene of “war on the banks of the Edisto,” to arrange +his business; but no sooner had he made his appearance than he was +thrown into prison, and there remained when we last heard of him. + +This is one of the many cases which afford matter for exciting comment +for the editors of the Charleston Mercury and the Courier, and which +reflect no honor on a people who thus set law and order at defiance. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI. A SINGULAR RECEPTION. + + + +IT was about ten o'clock on the night of the fifteenth of April when the +schooner “Three Sisters” lay anchored close alongside of a dark jungle +of clustering brakes that hung their luxuriant foliage upon the bosom +of the stream. The captain sat upon a little box near the quarter, +apparently contemplating the scene, for there was a fairy-like beauty +in its dark windings, mellowed by the shadowing foliage that skirted +its borders in mournful grandeur, while stars twinkled on the sombre +surface. + +The tide had just turned, and little Tommy, who had rolled himself up in +a blanket and laid down close to the captain, suddenly arose. “Captain, +did you hear that?” said he. + +“Hark! there it is again,” said the captain. “Go and call the men,--we +must get under weigh.” + +It was a rustling noise among the brakes; and when little Tommy went +forward to call the men, two balls came whistling over the quarter, and +then a loud rustling noise indicated that persons were retreating. The +captain retired to the cabin and took Tommy with him, giving orders to +the negro pilot to stand to the deck, get her anchor up, and let her +drift up stream with the tide, determined that if they shot any person, +it should be the negroes, for whose value they would be held answerable. +Thus she drifted up the stream, and the next morning was at the creek at +Colonel Whaley's plantation. + +A number of ragged negroes came down to the bank in high glee at the +arrival, and making sundry inquiries about corn and bacon. One old +patriarchal subject cried out to the pilot, “Ah, Cesar, I 'now'd ye wah +cumin'. Massa, an' young Massa Aleck, bin promis' bacon mor' den week, +gess he cum' now.” + +“Got sum corn, but ven ye gets bacon out o' dis craf' ye kotch wesel, +dat a'n't got no hair on 'im,” said Cesar. + +The scene around was any thing but promising-disappointing to the +captain's exalted ideas of Colonel Whaley's magnificent plantation. The +old farm-house was a barrack-like building, dilapidated, and showing no +signs of having lately furnished a job for the painter, and standing in +an arena surrounded by an enclosure of rough slats. Close examination +disclosed fragments of gardening in the arena, but they showed the +unmistakable evidences of carelessness. At a short distance from this +was a cluster of dirty-looking negro-huts, raised a few feet from the +ground on palmetto piles, and strung along from them to the brink of the +river were numerous half-starved cattle and hogs, the latter rooting up +the sod. + +It was now nearly slack water, on a high flood, and the schooner lay +just above the bend of the creek. Presently a large, portly-looking +man, dressed like as Yorkshire farmer, came, to the bank, and in a +stentorious voice ordered the captain to haul into the creek at once! +The manner in which the order was given rather taxed the captain's +feelings, yet he immediately set his men to work heaving up the anchor +and carrying out “a line” to warp her in. But that slow motion with +which negroes execute all orders, caused some delay, and no sooner had +he, begun to heave on the line than the tide set strong ebb and carried +him upon the lower point, where a strong eddy, made by the receding +water from the creek, and the strong undertow in the river, baffled all +his exertions. There she stuck, and all the warps and tow-lines of a +seventy-four, hove by the combined strength of the plantation, would +not have started her. When the tide left, she careened over toward the +river, for there was no means at hand to shore her up. + +One of the drivers went up and reported “Massa captain got 'im ship +ashore,” and down came Colonel Whaley, with all the pomp of seven lord +mayors in his countenance. “What sort of a feller are you to command +a ship? I'd whip the worst nigger on the plantation, if he couldn't do +better than that. Rig a raft out and let me come o' board that vessel!” + said he, accompanying his demands with a volley of vile imprecations +that would have disgraced St. Giles'. + +“Do you know who you're talking to? You mus'n't take me for a nigger, +sir! I know my duty, if you don't good manners,” rejoined the captain. + +“Do you know who owns that ship? you impudent feller, you! Take the +sails off her, immediately-at once! or I'll shoot you, by heavens!” he +bawled out again. + +“Why didn't you say mud-scow? Call such a thing as this a ship? I don't +care who owns her, I only know it's a disgrace to sail her; but I've got +the papers, and you may help yourself. When you pay me for my time, and +give me something for myself and these men to eat, you may take your old +jebac--car-boat,--but you don't put a foot aboard her till you do!” + +This made the colonel rage worse. “I'll teach you a lesson how you +disobey my orders. Go get my rifle, Zeke,” said the colonel, turning to +an old negro who stood close by. And then calling to the men on board, +he ordered them to take charge of the vessel and take the sails off her +at once. + +“Don't you move a hand to unbend a sail, Cesar! I don't know that man +ashore there. This vessel is mine until further orders from the persons +who shipped me,” rejoined the captain with an imperative demand to his +men. + +“Why, la! massa, he own em dis ere vessel, an' he shoot em sartin if we +done do him; ye done know dat massa, as I does,” said Cesar. + +“Don't touch a hand to those sails, I command one and all of you. +There's two can play at shooting, and I'll shoot you if you disobey my +orders.” Then turning to those on shore, he warned them that he would +shoot the first nigger that attempted to make a raft to come on board. +The reader will observe that the poor negroes were in a worse dilemma +than the captain; goaded on the one side by a ruthless master, who +claims ownership and demands the execution of his orders, while on +the other extreme the hired master proclaims his right, and warns +them against the peril of varying one iota from his commands. Here the +clashing feelings of arbitrary men come together, which have placed many +a good negro in that complex position, that he would be punished by one +master for doing that which he would have been punished by the other if +he had left undone. + +It may be said to the colonel's credit, he did not return, rifle in +hand, nor did the captain see him afterward; but a young gentleman, a +son, who represented the father, came to the bank about an hour after +the occurrence, and making a lame apology for his father's temper, +requested the captain to come on shore. The latter had concluded to +await the return of the tide, run the vessel back to Charleston, report +his reception, and deliver the vessel up to the agents; but on further +consideration, there was nothing to eat on board, and what could he do? +He went on shore, and held a parley with the young man, whom he found +much more inclined to respect his color. “Your father took me for a +nigger, and as such he presumed upon the dignity of his plantation. Now +I know my duty, and have sailed in the finest ships and with the best +masters in the country. All I want is proper respect, something to eat, +what there is coming to me, and my passage paid back to Charleston by +land. No! I will not even request so much as that; give me something to +eat, and my passage to Charleston, and you may do what you please with +the vessel, but I shall deliver the papers to nobody but the persons who +shipped me. And I shall want you to see this little boy attended to, for +he's quite sick now,” said the captain, pointing to Tommy, and calling +him to him. + +“Oh yes,” replied the young man, “we'll take care of the little fellow, +and see him sent safely back,” and took leave, promising to have another +interview in the afternoon. About twelve o'clock a negro boy came to the +vessel with a tin pan covered with a towel, and presenting it to Cesar, +for “massa cap'en and buckra boy.” Cesar brought it aft and set it upon +the companion. It contained some rice, a piece of bacon, corn-cake, and +three sweet-potatoes. + +“Coarse fare, but I can get along with it. Come Tommy, I guess you're +hungry, as well as myself,” said the captain, and they sat down, and +soon demolished the feast of Southern hospitality. About five o'clock in +the evening, the young man not making his appearance, the Captain sent +Tommy ashore to inquire for him at the house, telling him (in order +to test their feelings) that he could stop and get his supper. Tommy +clambered ashore, and up the bank wending his way to the house. The +young man made his appearance, offering an apology for his delay and +inattention, saying the presence of some very particular friends from +Beaufort was the cause. “My father, you are aware, owns this vessel, +captain!--You got a good dinner, to-day, by-the-by,” said he. + +“Yes, we got along with it, but could have eaten more,” rejoined the +captain. + +“Ah! bless me, that was the nigger's fault. These niggers are such +uncertain creatures, you must watch 'em over the least thing. Well now, +captain, my father has sent you five dollars to pay your passage to +Charleston!” + +“Well, that's a small amount, but I'll try and get along with it, rather +than stop here, at any rate,” said the captain, taking the bill and +twisting it into his pocket, and giving particular charges in regard +to taking care of the boy. That night, a little after sundown, he took +passage in a downward-bound coaster, bid a long good-by to the Edisto +and Colonel Whaley's plantation, and arrived in Charleston the next +night. On the following morning he presented himself to the agents, who +generously paid him, all his demands, and expressed their regrets at the +circumstance. Acting upon the smart of feeling, the captain enclosed the +five-dollar bill and returned it to the sovereign Colonel Whaley. + +The Savannah Republican, of the 11th September, says-“We have been +kindly furnished with the particulars of a duel which came off at Major +Stark's plantation, opposite this city, yesterday morning, between +Colonel E. M. Whaley, and E. E. Jenkins, of South Carolina.” Another +paper stated that “after a single exchange of shot, * * * * the affair +terminated, but without a reconciliation.” The same Colonel Whaley! +Either 'of these journals might have give particulars more grievous, +and equally as expressive of Southern life. They might have described +a beautiful wife, a Northern lady, fleeing with her two children, +to escape the abuses of a faithless husband-taking shelter in the +Charleston Hotel, and befriended by Mr. Jenkins and another young man, +whose name we shall not mention-and that famous establishment surrounded +by the police on a Sabbath night, to guard its entrances-and she dragged +forth, and carried back to the home of unhappiness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII. THE HABEAS CORPUS. + + + +THE Captain of the Janson had settled his business, and was anxious +to return home. He had done all in his power for Manuel, and +notwithstanding the able exertions of the consul were combined with his, +he had effected nothing to relieve him. The law was imperative, and if +followed out, there was no alternative for him, except upon the ground +of his proving himself entitled to a white man's privileges. To do +this would require an endless routine of law, which would increase his +anxiety and suffering twofold. Mr. Grimshaw had been heard to say, that +if an habeas corpus were sued out, he should stand upon the technicality +of an act of the legislature, refuse to answer the summons or give the +man up. No, he would himself stand the test upon the point of right to +the habeas corpus, and if he was committed for refusing to deliver up +the prisoner, he would take advantage of another act of the legislature, +and after remaining a length of time in jail, demand his release +according to the statutes. So far was Mr. Grimshaw impressed with his +own important position in the matter, and of the course which he should +pursue, that he several times told the prisoners that he should be a +prisoner among them in a few days, to partake of the same fare. + +Judge Withers, however, saved him the necessity of such important +trouble. To those acquainted with Judge Withers it would be needless to +dwell upon the traits of his character. To those who are not, we can +say that his were feelings founded upon interest-moving in the foremost +elements of secession-arbitrary, self-willed, and easily swayed by +prejudice-a man known to the public and the bar for his frigidity, bound +in his own opinions, and yielding second to the wishes and principles of +none-fearful of his popularity as a judge, yet devoid of those sterling +principles which deep jurists bring to their aid when considering +important questions, where life or liberty is at stake-a mind that +would rather reinstate monarchy than spread the blessings of a free +government. What ground have we here to hope for a favorable issue? + +Thus when the consul applied for the writ of habeas corpus, the right +was denied him, notwithstanding the subject was heir-inherent to all the +rights of citizenship and protection, which the laws of his own nation +could clothe him with. To show how this matter was treated by the +press-though we are happy to say the feelings of the mercantile +community are not reflected in it-we copy the leader from the “Southern +Standard,” a journal published in Charleston, the editor of which +professes to represent the conservative views of a diminutive minority. +Here it is:-- + +“CHARLESTON, APRIL 23, 1852. “Colored Seamen and State Rights. + +“Our readers have not forgotten the correspondence which some time +since took place between His Excellency Governor Means and Her British +Majesty's Consul, Mr. Mathew. We published in the Standard, of the 5th +December last, the very temperate, dignified, and well-argued report of +Mr. Mazyck, chairman of the special committee of the Senate, to whom +had been referred the message of the Governor, transmitting the +correspondence. In our issue of the 16th December, we gave to our +readers the able report of Mr. McCready, on behalf of the committee of +the other house, on the same subject. + +“We have now to call the attention of the public to the fact, that the +practical issue has been made, by which the validity of the laws in +regard to colored seamen arriving in our port is to be submitted to the +judicial tribunals of the country. For ourselves we have no fears for +the credit of the State in such a controversy. The right of the State +to control, by her own legislation, the whole subject-matter, can, as we +think, by a full discussion, be established upon a basis which, in the +South at least, will never hereafter be questioned. If there be defects +in the details of the regulations enacted, the consideration of them is +now precluded, when the issue presented is the right of the State to act +at all times in the premises. + +“The writ of habeas corpus was applied for before Judge Withers, during +the term of the court which has just closed, by the British consul, +through his counsel, Mr. Petigru, in behalf of one Manuel Pereira, +a colored sailor, who claims to be a Portuguese subject, articled to +service on board an English brig driven into this port by stress of +weather; the said Manuel Pereira being then in jail under the provisions +of the act of the legislature of this State, passed in 1835, emendatory +of the previous acts on the subject. Judge Withers, in compliance with +the requirements of the act of 1844, refused the writ of habeas corpus, +and notice of appeal has been given. Thus is the issue upon us. + +“We have but one regret in the matter, and that is that the case made is +one where the party asking his liberty has been driven into our harbor +involuntarily. Great Britain, it is true, is the last power which +should complain on this account, with her own example in the case of the +Enterprise before her eyes; but we do not, we confess, like this feature +of the law. We have no doubt, however, that this fact being brought to +the notice of the executive, he will interfere promptly to release the +individual in the present case, provided the party petitions for the +purpose, and engages at once to leave the State. But we shall see +nothing of this. Mr. Manuel Pereira, like another John Wilkes, is to +have settled in his person great questions of constitutional liberty. +The posterity which in after times shall read of his voluntary martyrdom +and heroic self-sacrifice in the cause of suffering humanity, must be +somewhat better informed than Mr. Pereira himself; for we observe that +his clerkly skill did not reach the point of enabling him to subscribe +his name to the petition for habeas corpus, which is to figure so +conspicuously in future history, it being more primitively witnessed by +his 'mark.'” + +An appeal was taken from this refusal, and carried before the appeal +court, sitting at Columbia, the capital of the State. How was this +treated? Without enlisting common respect, it sustained the opinion +of Judge Withers, who was one of its constituted members. Under such a +state of things, where all the avenues to right and justice were clogged +by a popular will that set itself above law or justice, where is the +unprejudiced mind that will charge improper motives in asking justice of +the highest judicial tribunal in the country. + +In the year 1445, a petition was presented, or entered on the rolls of +the British Parliament, from the commons of two neighboring counties, +praying the abatement of a nuisance which promised fearful interruptions +to the peace and quiet of their hamlets, in consequence of the number of +attorneys having increased from eight to twenty-four, setting forth that +attorneys were dangerous to the peace and happiness of a community, and +praying that there should be no more than six attorneys for each county. +The king granted the petition, adding a clause which left it subject +to the approval of the judges. Time works mighty contrasts. If those +peaceable old commoners could have seen a picture of the nineteenth +century, with its judiciary dotted upon the surface, they would +certainly have put the world down as a very unhappy place. The people +of Charleston might now inquire why they have so much law and so little +justice? + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII. THE CAPTAIN'S DEPARTURE AND MANUEL'S RELEASE. + + + +AFTER remaining nearly three weeks in close confinement in a cell on +the third story, Manuel was allowed to come down and resume his position +among the stewards, in the “steward's cell.” There was a sad change of +faces. But one of those he left was there; and he, poor fellow, was so +changed as to be but a wreck of what he was when Manuel was confined in +the cell. + +After little Tommy left, the Captain deposited a sum of money with +the jailer to supply Manuel's wants. The jailer performed his duty +faithfully, but the fund was soon exhausted, and Manuel was forced to +appeal to his consul. With the care for its citizens that marks the +course of that government, and the characteristic kindness of its +representative in Charleston, the appeal was promptly responded to. +The consul attended him in person, and even provided from his own purse +things necessary to make him comfortable. We could not but admire the +nobleness of many acts bestowed upon this humble citizen through the +consul, showing the attachment and faith of a government to its humblest +subject. The question now was, would the Executive release him? Mr. +Grimshaw had interposed strong objections, and made unwarrantable +statements in regard to his having been abandoned by his captain, +the heavy expenses incurred to maintain the man, and questioning the +validity of the British consul's right to protect him. Under the effect +of these representations, the prospect began to darken, and Manuel +became more discontented, and anxiously awaited the result. + +In this position, a petition was despatched to the Executive, asking +that the man might be released, on the faith of the British Government +that all expenses be paid, and he immediately sent beyond the limits of +the State. + +But we must return and take leave of Captain Thompson, before we receive +the answer to the petition. The day fixed for his departure had arrived. +He had all his papers collected, and arose early to take his accustomed +walk through the market. It was a little after seven o'clock, and as he +approached the singular piece of wood-work that we have described in +a previous chapter as the Charleston Whipping-post, he saw a crowd +collected around it, and negroes running to the scene, crying out, +“Buckra gwine to get whip! buckra get 'e back scratch!” &c. &c. He +quickened his pace, and, arriving at the scene, elbowed his way through +an immense crowd until he came to where he had a fair view. Here, +exposed to view, were six respectably dressed white men, to be whipped +according to the laws of South Carolina, which flog in the market +for petty theft. Five of them were chained together, and the other +scientifically secured to the machine, with his bare back exposed, +and Mr. Grimshaw (dressed with his hat and sword of office to make the +dignity of the punishment appropriate) laying on the stripes with a big +whip, and raising on tip-toe at each blow to add force, making the flesh +follow the lash. Standing around were about a dozen huge constables +with long-pointed tipstaffs in their hands, while two others assisted +in chaining and unchaining the prisoners. The spectacle was a barbarous +one, opening a wide field for reflection. It was said that this +barbarous mode of punishment was kept up as an example for the negroes. +It certainly is a very singular mode of inspiring respect for the laws. + +He had heard much of T. Norman Gadsden, whose fame sounded for being the +greatest negro-seller in the country, yet he had not seen him, though he +had witnessed several negro-sales at other places. On looking over the +papers after breakfast, his eye caught a flaming advertisement with “T. +Norman Gadsden's sale of negroes” at the head. There were plantation +negroes, coachmen, house-servants, mechanics, children of all ages, with +descriptions as various as the kinds. Below the rest, and set out with +a glowing delineation, was a description of a remarkably fine young +sempstress, very bright and very intelligent, sold for no fault. The +notice should have added an exception, that the owner was going to get +married. + +He repaired to the place at the time designated, and found them selling +an old plantation-negro, dressed in ragged, gray clothes, who, after a +few bids, was knocked down for three hundred and fifty dollars. “We will +give tip-top titles to everything we sell here to-day; and, gentlemen, +we shall now offer you the prettiest wench in town. She is too +well-known for me to say more,” said the notorious auctioneer. + +A number of the first citizens were present, and among them the Captain +recognised Colonel S--, who approached and began to descant upon the +sale of the woman. “It's a d--d shame to sell that girl, and that fellow +ought to be hung up,” said he, meaning the owner; and upon this he +commenced giving a history of the poor girl. + +“Where is she? Bring her along! Lord! gentlemen, her very curls are +enough to start a bid of fifteen hundred,” said the auctioneer. + +“Go it, Gadsden, you're a trump,” rejoined a number of voices. + +The poor girl moved to the stand, pale and trembling, as if she was +stepping upon the scaffold, and saw her executioners around her. She was +very fair and beautiful-there was something even in her graceful motions +that enlisted admiration. Here she stood almost motionless for a few +moments. + +“Gentlemen, I ought to charge all of you sevenpence a sight for looking +at her,” said the auctioneer. She smiled at the remark, but it was the +smile of pain. + +“Why don't you sell the girl, and not be dogging her feelings in this +manner?” said Colonel S--. + +Bids continued in rapid succession from eleven hundred up to thirteen +hundred and forty. A well-known trader from New Orleans stood behind +one of the city brokers, motioning him at every bid, and she was knocked +down to him. We learned her history and know the sequel. + +The Captain watched her with mingled feelings, and would fain have said, +“Good God! and why art thou a slave?” + +The history of that unfortunate beauty may be comprehended in a few +words, leaving the reader to draw the details from his imagination. Her +mother was a fine mulatto slave, with about a quarter Indian blood. She +was the mistress of a celebrated gentleman in Charleston, who ranked +among the first families, to whom she bore three beautiful children, the +second of which is the one before us. Her father, although he could not +acknowledge her, prized her highly, and unquestionably never intended +that she should be considered a slave. Alice, for such was her name, +felt the shame of her position. She knew her father, and was proud to +descant upon his honor and rank, yet must either associate with negroes +or nobody, for it would be the death of caste for a white woman, however +mean, to associate with her. At the age of sixteen she became attached +to a young gentleman of high standing but moderate means, and lived +with him as his mistress. Her father, whose death is well known, died +suddenly away from home. On administering on his estate, it proved that +instead of being wealthy, as was supposed, he was insolvent, and the +creditors insisting upon the children being sold. Alice was purchased +by compromise with the administrator, and retained by her lord under a +mortgage, the interest and premium on which he had regularly paid for +more than four years. Now that he was about to get married, the excuse +of the mortgage was the best pretext in the world to get rid of her. + +The Captain turned from the scene with feelings that left deep +impressions upon his mind, and that afternoon took his departure for his +Scottish home. + +Time passed heavily at the jail, and day after day Manuel awaited his +fate with anxiety. At every tap of the prison-bell he would spring to +the door and listen, asserting that he heard the consul's voice in every +passing sound. Day after day the consul would call upon him and quiet +his fears, reassuring him that he was safe and should not be sold as +a slave. At length, on the seventeenth day of May, after nearly two +months' imprisonment, the glad news was received that Manuel Pereira +was not to be sold, according to the statutes, but to be released upon +payment of all costs, &c. &c., and immediately sent beyond the limits +of the State. We leave it to the reader's fancy, to picture the scene of +joy on the reception of the news in the “stewards' cell.” + +The consul lost no time in arranging his affairs for him, and at five +o'clock on the afternoon of the 17th of May, 1852, Manuel Pereira, +a poor, shipwrecked mariner, who, by the dispensation of an all-wise +Providence, was cast upon the shores of South Carolina, and imprisoned +because hospitality to him was “contrary to law,” was led forth, pale +and emaciated, by two constables, thrust into a closely covered vehicle, +and driven at full speed to the steamboat then awaiting to depart for +New York. This is but a faint glimpse, of the suffering to which colored +stewards are subjected in the Charleston jail. + +There were no less than sixty-three cases of colored seamen imprisoned +on this charge of “contrary to law,” during the calendar year ending +on the twelfth of September, 1852. And now that abuses had become so +glaring, a few gentlemen made a representation of the wretched prison +regimen to his Excellency, Governor Means, who, as if just awoke from +a dream that had lasted a generation, addressed a letter to the +Attorney-General, dated on the seventh of September, 1852, requesting a +statement in regard to the jail-how many prisoners there were confined +on the twelfth day of September, under sentence and awaiting trial, +the nature of offences, who committed by, and how long they had awaited +trial; what the cost of the jail was, how much was paid by prisoners, +and how much by the State, &c. &c. In that statement, the number of +colored seamen was, for reasons best known to Mr. Grimshaw, kept out of +the statement; so also was the difference between thirty cents and eight +cents a day, paid for the ration for each man. The real statement showed +a bounty to the sheriff of fourteen hundred and sixty-three dollars on' +the provisions alone-a sad premium upon misery. Now add to this a medium +amount for each of these sixty-three sailors, and we have between eight +and nine hundred dollars more, which, with sundry jail-fees and other +cribbage-money, makes the Charleston jail a nice little appendage to +the sheriff's office, and will fully account for the tenacity with which +those functionaries cling to the “old system.” + +We conclude the bills by giving Manuel's as it stands upon the +books:--“Contrary to law.” British brig “Janson,” Capt. Thompson. For +Manuel Pereira, Colored Seaman. 1852. To Sheriff of Charleston District. + +May 15th. To Arrest, $2; Register, $2, $4.00” “Recog., $1.31; Constable, +$1, 2.31” “Commitment and Discharge, 1.00” “52 Days' Maintenance of +Manuel Pereira, at 30 cents per day, 15.60 + +$22.81 Rec' payment, J. D--, S. C. D. Per Chs. Kanapeaux, Clerk. + +This amount is exclusive of all the long scale of law charges and +attorney's fees that were incurred, and is entirely the perquisite of +the sheriff. + +Now, notwithstanding that high-sounding clamor about the laws of +South Carolina, which every South Carolinian, in the redundance of his +feelings, strives to impress you with the sovereignty of its justice, +its sacred rights, and its pre-eminent reputation, we never were in a +country or community where the privileges of a certain class were so +much abused. Every thing is made to conserve popular favor, giving to +those in influence power to do what they please with a destitute class, +whether they be white or black. Official departments are turned into +depots for miserable espionage, where the most unjust schemes are +practised upon those whose voices cannot be heard in their own defence. +A magistrate is clothed with, or assumes a power that is almost +absolute, committing them without a hearing, and leaving them to waste +in jail; then releasing them before the court sits, and charging the +fees to the State; or releasing the poor prisoner on receiving “black +mail” for the kindness; giving one man a peace-warrant to oppress +another whom he knows cannot get bail; and where a man has served +out the penalty of the crime for which he was committed, give a +peace-warrant to his adversary that he may continue to vent his spleen +upon him. In this manner, we have known a man who had served seven +months' imprisonment for assault and battery, by an understanding +between the magistrate and the plaintiff, continued in jail for several +years upon a peace-warrant, issued by the magistrate from time to time, +until at length he shot himself in jail. The man was a peaceable man, +and of a social temperament. He had been offered the alternative of +leaving the State, but he scorned to accept it. To show that we are +correct in what we say respecting some of the Charleston officials, we +insert an article which appeared in the Charleston Courier of Sept. 1, +1852:--[For the Courier.] + +“Many of the quiet and moral portion of our community can form no +adequate conception of the extent to which those who sell liquor, +and otherwise trade with our slaves, are now plying their illegal +and demoralizing traffic. At no period within our recollection has it +prevailed to such an alarming extent; at no period has its influence +upon our slave population been more palpable or more dangerous; at no +period has the municipal administration been so wilfully blind to these +corrupt practices, or so lenient and forgiving when such practices are +exposed.” + +* * * * + +“We have heard it intimated that when General Schnierle is a candidate +for the mayoralty, they are regularly assessed for means to defray the +expenses of the canvass. Instances are not wanting where amounts of +money are paid monthly to General Schnierle's police as a reward for +shutting their eyes and closing their lips when unlawful proceedings are +in progress. We have at this moment in our possession a certificate from +a citizen, sworn to before Mr. Giles, the magistrate, declaring that he, +the deponent, heard one of the city police-officers (Sharlock) make a +demand for money upon one of these shop-keepers, and promised that if +he would pay him five dollars at stated intervals, 'none of the +police-officers would trouble him.' This affidavit can be seen, if +inquired for, at this office. Thus bribery is added to guilt, and those +who should enforce the laws are made auxiliaries in their violation. +Said one of these slave-destroyers to us, 'General Schnierle suits us +very well. I have no trouble with General Schnierle'--remarks at once +repugnant and suggestive. * * * We are told by one, that Mr. Hutchinson, +when in power, fined him heavily (and, as he thought, unjustly) +for selling liquor to a slave; hence he would not vote for him. An +additional reason for this animosity toward Mr. Hutchinson arises from +the fact that the names of offenders were always published during that +gentleman's administration, while under that of General Schnierle they +are screened from public view. On any Sunday evening, light may be seen +in the shops of these dealers. If the passer-by will for a few moments +stay his course, he will witness the ingress and egress of negroes; if +he approach the door, he will hear noise as of card-playing and revelry +within. And this is carried on unblushingly; is not confined to a shop +here and a shop there, but may be observed throughout the city. The +writer of this article, some Sundays since, witnessed from his upper +window a scene of revelry and gambling in one of these drinking-shops, +which will scarcely be credited. A party of negroes were seen around +a card-table, with money beside them, engaged in betting; glasses +of liquor were on the table, from which they ever and anon regaled +themselves with all the nonchalance and affected mannerism of the most +fashionable blades of the beau monde. + +“This may not be a 'desecration of the Sabbath' by the municipal +authorities themselves, but they are assuredly responsible for its +profanation. Appointed to guard the public morals, they are assuredly +censurable if licentiousness is suffered to run its wild career +unnoticed and unchecked. We do not ask to be believed. We would prefer +to have skeptical rather than credulous readers. We should prefer that +all would arise from the perusal of this article in doubt, and determine +to examine for themselves. We believe in the strength and sufficiency of +ocular proof, and court investigation. + +* * * + +“We are abundantly repaid if we succeed in arousing public attention to +the alarming and dangerous condition of our city. * * * Let inquiry be +entered into. We boldly challenge it. It will lead to other and more +astonishing developments than those we have revealed. (Signed) + +“A RESPONSIBLE CITIZEN.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX. MANUEL'S ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK. + + + +WHEN we left Manuel, he was being hurried on board the steamship, as if +he was a bale of infected goods. Through the kindness of the clerk in +the consul's office, he was provided with a little box of stores to +supply his wants on the passage, as it was known that he would have to +“go forward.” He soon found himself gliding over Charleston bar, and +took a last look of what to him had been the city of injustice. On the +afternoon of the second day, he was sitting upon the forward deck +eating an orange that had been given to him by the steward of the ship, +probably as a token of sympathy for his sickly appearance, when a number +of passengers, acting upon the information of the clerk of the ship, +gathered around him. One gentleman from Philadelphia, who seemed to take +more interest in the man than any other of the passengers, expressed his +indignation in no measured terms, that such a man should be imprisoned +as a slave. “Take care,” said a bystander, “there's a good many +Southerners on board.” + +“I don't care if every slaveholder in the South was on board, holding +a knife at my throat; I'm on the broad ocean, where God spreads the +breezes of freedom that man cannot enslave,” said he, sitting down +beside Manuel, and getting him to recount the details of his shipwreck +and imprisonment. The number increased around him, and all listened with +attention until he had concluded. One of the spectators asked him if +he would have something good to eat? but he declined, pulling out the +little box that the consul had sent him, and, opening it before them, +showed it to be well-stored with little delicacies. + +The Philadelphian motioned that they take up a subscription for him, and +almost simultaneously took his hat off and began to pass it around; +but Manuel, mistaking the motive, told them that he never yet sought +charity-that the consul had paid him his wages, and he had money enough +to get home. But if he did not accept their contributions, he had their +sympathies and their good wishes, which were more prized by him, because +they were contrasted with the cold hospitality he had suffered in +Charleston. + +On the morning of the twentieth he arrived in New York. Here things wore +a different aspect. There were no constables fettering him with irons, +aggravating his feelings, and dragging him to a miseerable cell overrun +with vermin. He had no scientific ordeal of the statutes to pass +through, requiring the measure of his form and features; and he was a +man again, with life and liberty, and the dark dread of the oppressor's +power far from him. He went to his comfortable boarding-house, and laid +his weary limbs down to rest, thanking God that he could now sleep +in peace, and awake to liberty. His system was so reduced that he was +unable to do duty, although he was anxious to proceed on his way to join +the old owners, but wanted to work his way in the capacity of steward. +Thus he remained in New York more than four weeks, gaining vigor and +strength, and with a lingering hope that he should meet his little +companion. + +On the twenty-first of June, being well recruited, he sailed for +Liverpool, and after a remarkably calm passage of thirty-four days, +arrived in the Mersey, and in forty-eight hours more the ship was safely +within the Princess' Dock, and all hands ready to go on shore. In the +same dock was a ship taking in cargo and passengers for Charleston, +South Carolina. Manuel went on board, and found, in conversation with +the steward, that she had sailed from that port on the 23d of May. A +short conversation disclosed that they had been old shipmates from the +Thames, on board of the Indiaman, Lord William Bentick, and were on +board of that ship when an unfortunate circumstance occurred to her on +entering a British North American port, many years ago. Here they sat +recounting the many adventures through which they had passed since +that period, the ships they had sailed in, the sufferings they had gone +through, and the narrow escapes they had had for their lives, until past +midnight. Manuel wound up by giving a detailed account of his sufferings +in Charleston. + +“What!” said the steward of the Charleston ship, “then you must have +known our cabin-boy, he belonged to the same vessel!” + +“What was his name?” inquired Manuel. + +“Tommy Ward! and as nice a little fellow as ever served the cabin; poor +little fellow, we could hardly get him across.” + +“Gracious! that's my Tommy,” said Manuel. “Where is he? He loves me as +he does his life, and would run to me as a child would to its father. +Little as he is, he has been a friend through my severest trials, and a +companion in my pleasures.” + +“Ah, poor child! I'm afraid you wouldn't know him now. He has suffered +much since you saw him.” + +“Is he not aboard? Where can I find him?” inquired Manuel, hastily. + +“No, he is not aboard; he is at the hospital in Dennison street. Go +there to-morrow, and you will find him.” + + + + +CHAPTER XXX. THE SCENE OF ANGUISH. + + + +WE are sorry, that having traced the details of our narrative as they +occurred, without adding for dramatic effect, we are constrained to +conclude with a picture at once painful and harrowing to the feelings. +We do this that we may be sustained by records, in what we have stated, +rather than give one of those more popular conclusions which restore +happiness and relieve the reader's feelings. + +Manuel retired to his berth, full of meditation. His little companion +was before him, pictured in his child-like innocence and playfulness. He +saw him in the youthful zeal and freshness of the night when he brought +the well-laden haversack into his dreary cell, and which kind act was +repaid by a night of suffering in the guard-house. There was too much of +life and buoyancy in the picture his imagination called up, to reconcile +the belief that any thing serious had befallen him; and yet the man +spoke in a manner that aroused the intensity of his feelings. It was a +whisper full of fearful forebodings, and filled his mind with anxious +expectation. He could not sleep-the anxiety of his feelings had +awakened a nervvous restlessness that awaited the return of morning with +impatience. + +Morning came. He proceeded to the hospital and rang the bell. An aged +gentleman came to the door, and to his questions about Tommy being +there, answered in the affirmative, and called an attendant to show him +the ward in which the little sufferer lay. He followed the attendant, +and after ascending several flights of stairs and following a dark, +narrow passage nearly to its end, was shown into a small, single-room on +the right. The result was suggestive in the very atmosphere, which had +a singular effect upon the senses. The room, newly-whitewashed, was +darkened by a green curtain tacked over the frame of the window. +Standing near the window were two wooden-stools and a little table, upon +which burned the faint light of a small taper, arranged in a cup of oil, +and shedding its feeble flickers on the evidences of a sick-chamber. +There, on a little, narrow cot, lay the death-like form of his once +joyous companion, with the old nurse sitting beside him, watching his +last pulsation. Her arm encircled his head, while his raven locks curled +over his forehead, and shadowed the beauty of innocence even in death. + +“Is he there? is he there?” inquired Manuel in a low tone. At the same +time a low, gurgling noise sounded in his ears. The nurse started to +her feet as if to inquire for what he came. “He is my companion-my +companion,” said Manuel. + +It was enough. The woman recognised the object of the little sufferer's +anxiety. “Ah! it is Manuel. How often he has called that name for the +last week!” said she. + +He ran to the bedside and grasped his little fleshless hand as it lay +upon the white sheet, bathing his cold brow with kisses of grief. Life +was gone-the spirit had winged its way to the God who gave it. Thus +closed the life of poor Tommy Ward. He died as one resting in a calm +sleep, far from the boisterous sound of the ocean's tempest, with God's +love to shield his spirit in another and brighter world. + + + + +CONCLUSION. + + + +IN a preceding chapter, we left the poor boy on the plantation of +Colonel Whaley, affected by a pulmonary disease, the seeds of which were +planted on the night he was confined in the guard-house, and the signs +of gradual decay evinced their symptoms. After Captain Williams--for +such was the name of the captain of the Three Sisters--left the +plantation, no person appeared to care for him, and on the second day he +was attacked with a fever, and sent to one of the negro cabins, where an +old mulatto woman took care of him and nursed him as well as her scanty +means would admit. The fever continued for seven days, when he +became convalescent and able to walk out; but feeling that he was an +incumbrance to those around him, he packed his clothes into a little +bundle and started for Charleston on foot. He reached that city after +four days' travelling over a heavy, sandy road, subsisting upon the +charity of poor negroes, whom he found much more ready to supply his +wants than the opulent planters. One night he, was compelled to make +a pillow of his little bundle, and lay down in a corn-shed, where the +planter, aroused by the noise of his dogs, which were confined in a +kennel, came with a lantern and two negroes and discovered him. At first +he ordered him off, and threatened to set the dogs upon him if he +did not instantly comply with the order; but his miserable appearance +affected the planter, and before he had gone twenty rods one of the +negroes overtook him, and said his master had sent him to bring him +back. He returned, and the negro made him a coarse bed in his cabin, and +gave him some homony and milk. + +His hopes to see Manuel had buoyed him up through every fatigue, but +when he arrived, and was informed at the jail that Manuel had left three +days before, his disappointment was extreme. A few days after he shipped +as cabin-boy on board a ship ready for sea and bound to Liverpool. +Scarcely half-way across, he was compelled to resign himself to the +sick-list. The disease had struck deep into his system, and was rapidly +wasting him away. The sailors, one by one in turns, watched over him +with tenderness and care. As soon as the ship arrived, he was sent +to the hospital, and there he breathed his last as Manuel entered the +sick-chamber. We leave Manuel and a few of his shipmates following his +remains to the last resting-place of man. + + + + +APPENDIX. + +SINCE the foregoing was written, Governor Means, in his message to the +Legislature of South Carolina, refers to the laws under which “colored +seamen” are imprisoned. We make the subjoined extract, showing that +he insists upon its being continued in force, on the ground of +“self-preservation”--a right which ship-owners will please regard for +the protection of their own interests:-- + +“I feel it my duty to call your attention to certain proceedings +which have grown out of the enforcement of that law of our State which +requires the Sheriff of Charleston to seize and imprison colored seamen +who are brought to that port. You will remember that the British Consul +addressed a communication to the legislature in December, 1850, on the +subject of a modification of this law. A committee was appointed by +the House and Senate to report upon it at the next session of the +legislature. These committees reported adverse to any modification. On +the 24th March, 1852, Manuel Pereira was imprisoned in accordance with +the law alluded to. The vessel in which he sailed was driven into the +port of Charleston in distress. This was looked upon as a favorable case +upon which to make an issue, as so strong an element of sympathy was +connected with it. Accordingly, a motion was made before Judge +Withers for a writ of 'habeas corpus,' which was refused by him. These +proceedings were instituted by the British Consul, it is said, under +instructions from his government, to test the constitutionality of +the Act. I think it here proper to state, that Pereira was at perfect +liberty to depart at any moment that he could get a vessel to transport +him beyond the limits of the State. In truth, in consideration of the +fact that his coming into the State was involuntary, the Sheriff of +Charleston, with his characteristic kindness, procured for him a place +in a ship about to sail for Liverpool. Early in April, Pereira was +actually released, and on his way to the ship, having himself signed the +shipping articles, when, by interposition of the British Consul, he was +again consigned to the custody of the sheriff. A few days after this, +the British Consul insisted no longer on his detention, but voluntarily +paid his passage to New York. This was looked upon as an abandonment of +that case. The statement of Mr. Yates, together with the letter of the +British Consul, are herewith transmitted. + +“While these proceedings were pending, the Sheriff of Charleston had +my instructions not to give up the prisoners even if a writ of habeas +corpus had been granted. I considered that the 'Act of 1844,' entitled, +'An Act more effectually to prevent negroes and other persons of color +from entering into this State, and for other purposes,' made it my duty +to do so. + +“On the 19th May, Reuben Roberts, a colored seaman, a native of Nassau, +arrived in the steamer Clyde, from Baracoa. The Sheriff of Charleston, +in conformity with the law of the State, which has been in force +since 1823, arrested and lodged him in the district jail, where he was +detained until the 26th of May, when, the Clyde being ready to sail, +Roberts was put on board, and sailed the same day. + +“On the 9th of June, a writ in trespass, for assault and false +imprisonment, from the Federal Court, was served upon Sheriff Yates, +laying the damage at $4000. + +“The Act of 1844, I take it, was intended to prevent all interference +on the part of any power on the face of the earth, with the execution of +this police regulation, which is so essential to the peace and safety of +our community. Had the legislature which passed it ever dreamed that the +sheriff was to be subjected to the annoyance of being dragged before the +Federal Court for doing his duty under a law of the State, I am sure it +would have provided for his protection. As no such provision has been +made for so unexpected a contingency, I recommend that you so amend this +Act of 1844, that it may meet any case that may arise. + +“It is certainly wrong to tolerate this interference with the +laws enacted for the protection of our institution. In the general +distribution of power between the Federal and State Governments, the +right to make their own police regulations was clearly reserved to +the States. In fact, it is nothing more nor less than the right of +self-preservation-a right which is above all constitutions, and above +all laws, and one which never was, nor never will be, abandoned by a +people who are worthy to be free. It is a right which has never yet been +attempted to be denied to any people, except to us. + +“The complaint against this law is very strange, and the attempt to +bring us in conflict with the General Government on account of it, is +still more remarkable; when, so far from its being at variance with the +laws of the United States, it is only requiring the State authorities to +enforce an Act of Congress, approved February 28th, 1803, entitled, An +Act to prevent the importation of certain persons into certain States, +where, by the laws thereof, their importation is prohibited. By +referring to this Act, you will see that the plaintiff in the action +alluded to was prohibited by it from entering into this State. I deem +it unnecessary, however, to enter fully into the argument. If any doubt +should be entertained by you, as to its constitutionality, I beg leave +to refer to the able opinion of the Hon. J. McPherson Berrien, delivered +at the time he was Attorney-General of the United States, which I +herewith send you. + +“On the subject of the modification of this law, I am free to say, +that when Her B. M.'s Government, through its consul, made a respectful +request to our legislature to that effect, I was anxious that it should +be made. It was with pleasure that I transmitted his first communication +to the last legislature. I would have made a recommendation of its +modification a special point in my first message, but that I thought it +indelicate to do so, as the matter was already before the legislature, +and committees had been appointed to report upon it. Another reason for +the neglect of this recommendation, was the then excited state of +party politics, which might have precluded the possibility of a calm +consideration of the subject. But for the proceedings instituted in the +premises, I would even now recommend a modification of the law, so as to +require captains to confine their colored seamen to their vessels, and +to prevent their landing under heavy penalties. For while I think the +State has a perfect right to pass whatever laws on this subject it may +deem necessary for its safety, yet the spirit of the age requires that +while they should be so formed as to be adequate to our protection, +they should be at the same time as little offensive as possible to other +nations with whom we have friendly relations. But since an attempt has +been made to defy our laws, and bring us in conflict with the Federal +Government, on a subject upon which we are so justly sensitive, our own +self-respect demands that we should not abate one jot or tittle of that +law, which was enacted to protect us from the influence of ignorant +incendiaries.” + +We are under many obligations to Governor Means for his remarks upon +this subject. We esteem his character too highly to entertain an +idea that he would knowingly make an incorrect statement; but, with a +knowledge of the facts, we can assure him that he was misled by those +whom he depended upon for information. And also, though his name +deserves to stand pre-eminent among the good men of Carolina, for +recurring to that frightful state of things which exists in the +Charleston prison, that he did not receive a correct statement in regard +to it. In this want, his remarks lose much of their value. Subjects and +grievances exist there which he should know most of, and yet he knows +least, because he intrusts them to the caretakers, who make abuses their +medium of profit. + +Under the influence of that exceedingly suspicious, and yet exceedingly +credulous characteristic of a people, few know the power that is working +beneath the sunshine of South Carolina, and those who do, stand upon +that slaveworn ostentation which considers it beneath notice. + +We have no interest nor feeling beyond that of humanity, and a right +to expose the mendacity of those who have power to exercise it over the +prisoners in Charleston. That mendacity has existed too long for the +honor of that community, and for the feelings of those who have suffered +under it. + +It may be true that this case was considered a favorable one to try the +issue upon, but no elements of sympathy were sought by the consul. +That functionary to whom the Governor has attributed “characteristic +kindness,” said, in our presence, and we have the testimony of others +to confirm what we say, that if Judge Withers had granted the habeas +corpus, he would not have given up the prisoner, but rather gone to +jail and suffered the same regimen with the prisoners. Had he tried the +accommodations, he would have found the “profits” more than necessary to +appease common hunger. + +The Governor says, “Pereira was at liberty to depart at any moment that +he could get a vessel to transport him beyond the limits of the State.” + How are we to reconcile this with the following sentence, which appears +in the next paragraph:--“While these proceedings were pending,” (meaning +the action instituted by the consul to release the prisoner,) “the +sheriff of Charleston had my instructions not to give up the prisoner, +even if a writ of habeas corpus had been granted?” According to this, +the sheriff assumed a power independent of and above the Governor's +prerogative. We have attempted to picture the force of this in our +work, and to show that there are official abuses cloaked by an honorable +dishonesty, which dignifies the business of the local factor and vendor +of human property, and which should be stayed by the power of the +Executive. + +The singular fact presents itself, that while Judge Withers was +deliberating upon the question of granting the “habeas corpus,” the +proceedings pending, and the Governor's instructions to the contrary +before him, the sheriff takes it upon himself to smuggle the prisoner +out of port. Now what was the object of this Secret and concerted +movement? Was it “kindness” on the part of that functionary, who has +grasped every pretence to enforce this law? We think not. The reader +will not require any extended comments from us to explain the motive; +yet we witnessed it, and cannot leave it without a few remarks. + +It is well known that it has been the aim of that functionary, whose +“characteristic kindness” has not failed to escape the Governor's +notice, to thwart the consul in all his proceedings. In this instance, +he engaged the services of a “shipping master” as a pretext, and with +him was about to send the man away when his presence was essential to +test his right to the habeas corpus, and at this very time, more than +two months wages, due him from the owners, lay in the hands of the +consul, ready to be paid on his release. + +The nefarious design speaks for itself. + +The consul was informed of the proceeding, and very properly refused +to submit to such a violation of authority, intended to annul his +proceedings. He preferred to await the “test,” demanding the prisoner's +release through the proper authorities. That release, instead of being +“a few days after this,” as the message sets forth, was-not effected +until the fifteenth of May. + +Let the Governor institute an inquiry into the treatment of these men +by the officials, and the prison regimen, and he will find the truth +of what we have said. Public opinion will not credit his award of +“characteristic kindness” to those who set up a paltry pretext as an +apology for their wrong-doing. + +If men are to be imprisoned upon this singular construction of law, +(which is no less than arming the fears of South Carolina,) is it any +more than just to ask that she should pay for it, instead of imposing +it upon innocent persons? Or, to say the least, to make such comfortable +provision for them as is made in the port of Savannah, and give them +what they pay for, instead of charging thirty cents a day for their +board, and making twenty-two of that profit? + +Had the Governor referred to the “characteristic kindness” of the +jailer, his remarks would have been bestowed upon a worthy man, who has +been a father to those unfortunates who chanced within the turn of his +key. + +In another part of his message, commenting upon the existence of +disgraceful criminal laws, the management and wretched state of prisons, +he says, “The attorney-general, at my request, has drawn up a report +on the subject of prisons and prison discipline.” Now, if such were the +facts, the reports would be very imperfect to be drawn up by one who +never visits the prisons. + +We are well aware that he called for this report, and further, that the +attorney-general, in a letter to the sheriff, (of which we have a copy,) +propounded numerous questions in regard to the jail, calling for a +statement in full, particularly the amount of fees paid to certain +functionaries; those charged to the State, and the average number of +prisoners per month, from Sept. 1851, to Sept. 1852, &c. &c. That letter +was transmitted to the jailer-a man whose character and integrity is +well known, and above reproach in Charleston-with a request that he +would make out his report. He drew up his report in accordance with the +calendar and the facts, but that report was not submitted. Why was it +not submitted? Simply because it showed the profit of starving men in +South Carolina prisons. + +We have the evidence in our possession, and can show the Executive that +he has been misled. We only ask him to call for the original statement, +made out in the jailer's handwriting, and compare it with the calendar; +and when he has done that, let us ask, Why the average of prisoners per +month does not correspond? and why the enormous amount of fees accruing +from upward of fifty “colored seamen,” imprisoned during the year, and +entered upon the calendar “contrary to law,” was not included? + +It is a very unhealthy state of things, to say the least; but as the +sheriff considers it his own, perhaps we have no right to meddle with +it. + +All this clamor about the bad influence of “colored seamen” is kept up +by a set of mendicant officials who harvest upon the fees, and falls +to naught, when, at certain hours of the day during their imprisonment, +they are allowed to associate with “bad niggers,” committed for criminal +offences and sale. If their presence is “dangerous,” it certainly would +be more dangerous in its connection with criminals of the feared class. + +Take away the fees--the mercantile community will not murmur, and +the official gentry will neither abuse nor trouble themselves about +enforcing the law to imprison freemen. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Manuel Pereira, by F. C. Adams + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MANUEL PEREIRA *** + +***** This file should be named 4680-0.txt or 4680-0.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/4/6/8/4680/ + +Produced by Charles Aldarondo + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase “Project +Gutenberg”), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. “Project Gutenberg” is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation (“the Foundation” + or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase “Project Gutenberg” appears, or with which the phrase “Project +Gutenberg” is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase “Project Gutenberg” associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +“Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original “Plain Vanilla ASCII” or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, “Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.” + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +“Defects,” such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the “Right +of Replacement or Refund” described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, are critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. |