Books: Manuel Pereira
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F. C. Adams >> Manuel Pereira
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"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.
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