Books: Manuel Pereira
F >>
F. C. Adams >> Manuel Pereira
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 | 11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19
"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.
Pages:
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 | 11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
19