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.
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