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diff --git a/old/mnlpr10.txt b/old/mnlpr10.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..31e4427 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/mnlpr10.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9392 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Manuel Pereira +by F. C. Adams + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg file. + +Please do not remove this header information. + +This header should be the first thing seen when anyone starts to +view the eBook. Do not change or edit it without written permission. +The words are carefully chosen to provide users with the information +needed to understand what they may and may not do with the eBook. +To encourage this, we have moved most of the information to the end, +rather than having it all here at the beginning. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + +Information on contacting Project Gutenberg to get eBooks, and +further information, is included below. We need your donations. + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a 501(c)(3) +organization with EIN [Employee Identification Number] 64-6221541 +Find out about how to make a donation at the bottom of this file. + + +Title: Manuel Pereira + +Author: F. C. Adams + +Release Date: November, 2003 [EBook #4680] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on February 26, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Manuel Pereira +by F. C. Adams +******This file should be named mnlpr10.txt or mnlpr10.zip****** + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks get a new NUMBER, mnlpr11.txt +VERSIONS based on separate sources get new LETTER, mnlpr10a.txt + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we usually do not +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +The "legal small print" and other information about this book +may now be found at the end of this file. Please read this +important information, as it gives you specific rights and +tells you about restrictions in how the file may be used. + +*** +This etext was created by Charles Aldarondo (Aldarondo@yahoo.com) + +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 dont 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 Charles-tonians) +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 petit‚ 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 sove- +reignty 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 C‘sar'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 considering' 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 81/2 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 dep“t, 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, but Daley, + +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. + +"Ot-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 C‘sar's court, +with the exceptions in C‘sar'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 r‚duits … l'extr‚mit‚," 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 tˆte," 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 r‚publicaine," 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 d‚licate 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. II y a de la malhomm‚, tet‚ dans +sou proc‚s," 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 administr‚e," 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 mel‚e, 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 nav‹et‚, +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 m'apport‚ 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. + +THE END. +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Manuel Pereira +by F. C. 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