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