“The question is one about which you need give yourself no concern.  Our people are not so inhuman but that they will shelter a castaway sailor, and extend those comforts which are due from all humane people.  The act under which seamen are imprisoned is the law provided to prohibit free niggers from entering our port, and, in my opinion, was brought into life for the sake of the fees.  It’s no more nor less than a tax and restriction upon commerce, and I doubt whether it was ever the intention of the framers that it should be construed in this manner.  However, so far as your steward is con-cerned, the question of how far his color will make him amenable to the law will never be raised; the mere circumstance of his being a seaman in distress, thrown upon our sympathies, will be all you need among our hospitable people.  I’m not aware of a precedent, but I will guaranty his safety from a knowledge of the feelings of our people.  Our merchants are, with few exceptions, opposed to the law in this sense, but such is the power and control of a class of inexperienced legislators, prompted by a most trifling clique of office-holders, that their voice has no weight.  I am opposed to this system of dragging people into courts of law upon every pretext.  It is practised too much in our city for the good of its name.”

Upon this the Colonel and little George accompanied the Captain to his ship, and, expressing their heartfelt regrets at her appearance, bid him good-night-George promising to call upon him in the morning, and the Colonel charging him to give himself no trouble about his steward, that he would see Mr. Grimshaw that night, and make all things straight.

Thus ended the Captain’s first night in Charleston, and represented a picture from which he might have drawn conclusions somewhat different from the actual result.  Alas! that all the good fellowship and pleasant associations of a people should be disgraced by an absurdity arising from their fears.

The Colonel might have given many other instances equally as painful as that connected with the transportation of Jones and his family, and the fetters that were placed upon poor Lee.  He might have instanced that of Malcome Brown, a wealthy, industrious, honest, high-minded, and straightforward man, now living at Aiken, in South Carolina.  Brown conducts a profitable mechanical business, is unquestionably the best horticulturist in the State, and produces the best fruit brought to the Charleston market.  What has he done to be degraded in the eyes of the law?  Why is he looked upon as a dangerous citizen and his influence feared?  Why is he refused a hearing through those laws which bad white men take the advantage of?  He is compelled to submit to those which were made to govern the worst slaves!  And why is he subjected to that injustice which gives him no voice in his own behalf when the most depraved whites are his accusers?  Can it be the little crimp that is in his hair? for