"
"You may reckon on me, Mister Mate; and if I a'n't down before six
o'clock, my father will certainly take the matter in hand; and he
and Mazyck belong to the secession party, and control things just as
they please at Columbia." So saying, George bid the old mate good
morning, and bent his course for the head of the wharf.
"There," said the old mate, "it's just what I thought all along; I
knew my presentiment would come true. I'll wager a crown they treat
Manuel like a dog in that old prison, and don't get him out until he
is mildewed; or perhaps they'll sell him for a slave a'cos he's got
curly black hair and a yellow skin. Now I'm a hardy sailor, but I've
sailed around the world about three times, and know something of
nature. Now ye may note it as clear as the north star, prisons in
slave countries a'n't fit for dogs. They may tell about their fine,
fat, slick, saucy niggers, but a slave's a slave--his master's
property, a piece of merchandise, his chattel, or his
football-thankful for what his master may please to give him, and
inured to suffer the want of what he withholds. Yes, he must have
his thinking stopped by law, and his back lashed at his master's
will, if he don't toe the mark in work. Men's habits and
associations form their feelings and character, and it's just so
with them fellers; they've become so accustomed to looking upon a
nigger as a mere tool of labor--lordin' it over him, starving him,
and lashing him-that they associate the exercise of the same
feelings and actions with every thing connected with labor, without
paying any respect to a poor white man's feelings," continued the
mate, addressing himself to his second, as they sat upon the
companion, waiting for the Captain to come on board and give further
orders.
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