There were no less than sixty-three cases of colored seamen imprisoned on this charge of “contrary to law,” during the calendar year ending on the twelfth of September, 1852.  And now that abuses had become so glaring, a few gentlemen made a representation of the wretched prison regimen to his Excellency, Governor Means, who, as if just awoke from a dream that had lasted a generation, addressed a letter to the Attorney-General, dated on the seventh of September, 1852, requesting a statement in regard to the jail-how many prisoners there were confined on the twelfth day of September, under sentence and awaiting trial, the nature of offences, who committed by, and how long they had awaited trial; what the cost of the jail was, how much was paid by prisoners, and how much by the State, &c. &c.  In that statement, the number of colored seamen was, for reasons best known to Mr. Grimshaw, kept out of the statement; so also was the difference between thirty cents and eight cents a day, paid for the ration for each man.  The real statement showed a bounty to the sheriff of fourteen hundred and sixty-three dollars on’ the provisions alone-a sad premium upon misery.  Now add to this a medium amount for each of these sixty-three sailors, and we have between eight and nine hundred dollars more, which, with sundry jail-fees and other cribbage-money, makes the Charleston jail a nice little appendage to the sheriff’s office, and will fully account for the tenacity with which those functionaries cling to the “old system.”

We conclude the bills by giving Manuel’s as it stands upon the books:—­“Contrary to law.”  British brig “Janson,” Capt.  Thompson.  For Manuel Pereira, Colored Seaman. 1852.  To Sheriff of Charleston District.

May 15th.  To Arrest, $2; Register, $2, $4.00” “Recog., $1.31; Constable, $1, 2.31” “Commitment and Discharge, 1.00” “52 Days’ Maintenance of Manuel Pereira, at 30 cents per day, 15.60

$22.81 Rec’ payment, J. D—­, S. C. D. Per Chs.  Kanapeaux, Clerk.

This amount is exclusive of all the long scale of law charges and attorney’s fees that were incurred, and is entirely the perquisite of the sheriff.

Now, notwithstanding that high-sounding clamor about the laws of South Carolina, which every South Carolinian, in the redundance of his feelings, strives to impress you with the sovereignty of its justice, its sacred rights, and its pre-eminent reputation, we never were in a country or community where the privileges of a certain class were so much abused.  Every thing is made to conserve popular favor, giving to those in influence power to do what they please with a destitute class, whether they be white or black.  Official departments are turned into depots for miserable espionage, where the most unjust schemes are practised upon those whose voices cannot be heard in their own defence.  A magistrate is clothed with, or assumes a power that is almost absolute, committing them without a hearing,