"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.
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