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