Or, had he been better acquainted with the
character of her police, he certainly would have saved the talent of
Mr. Aiken its sophomore display in that cumbrous defence. In the
first place, Mr. Durkee would have known that such attempts are so
common among the social events of the day, and so well understood by
the slave, that instead of being resented, they are appreciated to a
great extent. We speak from long experience and knowledge of the
connection between a certain class of slaves and their masters. In
the second place, Mr. Durkee would have known that any man connected
with the city police--save its honorable mayor, to whose character we
would pay all deference--would not for conscience' sake scruple to
hang a man for five dollars. We make no exception for color or
crime. A qualification might be called for, more adapted to our
knowledge of it as it has existed for the last four or five years;
but we are informed by those whose lives and fortunes have been
spent for the moral elevation of the city police, that it was even
worse at the time referred to.
The reader may think we are making grave charges. Let us say,
without fear of refutation, they are too well known in the community
that tolerates them. As a mere shadow of what lays beneath the
surface, we would refer to the only independent speech we ever
listened to in Charleston,--except when self-laudation was the
theme,--made by G.
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