“Why, massa, I knows what ’em respect white men what be gemmen like yersef, but dat Dutchman stand da’h a’n’t no gentlem’, he done gone tieffe my money seven time; an’ I whip him sure-jus’ lef’ him. come out here.  I doesn’t care for true, and God saw me, I be whip at the wukhouse next minute.  He tief, an’ lie, an ’e cheat me.”  The Dutchman stood at the door with the big stick in his hand-the negro in the middle of the lane with his fists in a pugilistic attitude, daring and threatening, while the limping Dunn stood by the side of the Dutchman, acting as a mediator.  Manuel, taking advantage of the opportunity, emptied his tumbler down a large opening in the floor.

It is a notorious fact in Charleston, that although the negro, whether he be a black or white one, is held in abject obedience to the white man proper, no matter what his grade may be, yet such is the covetous and condescending character of these groggery keepers, that they become courteous to the negro and submit to an equality of sociability.  The negro, taking advantage of this familiarity, will use the most insulting and abusive language to this class of Dutchmen, who, either through cowardice, or fear of losing their trade, never resent it.  We may say, in the language of Dunn, when he was asked if negroes had such liberties with white men in Charleston, “A nigger knows a Dutch shopkeeper better than he knows himself-a nigger dare not speak that way to anybody else.”

The Dutchman gets a double profit from the negro, and with it diffuses a double vice among them, for which they have to suffer the severest penalty.  It is strictly “contrary to law” to purchase any thing from a negro without a ticket to sell it, from his master.  But how is this regarded?  Why, the shopkeeper foregoes the ticket, encourages the warehouse negro to steal, and purchases his stealings indiscriminately, at about one-half their value.  We might enumerate fifty different modes practised by “good” legal voting citizens—­totally regardless of the law—­and exerting an influence upon the negro tenfold more direful than that which could possibly arise from the conversation of a few respectable men belonging to a friendly nation.

Dunn, after driving the mulatto man from the door and upbraiding the Dutchman for his cowardice, returned to the table, and patting Manuel upon the back, drank the balance of his smash, saying, “Come, me good fellow, we must do the thing up brown, now; we’ve got the Dutchman nailed on his own hook.  We must have another horn; it’s just the stuff in our climate; the ‘Old Jug’s’ close by, and they’ll be makin’ a parson of you when you get there.  We’ve had a right jolly time; and ye can’t wet your whistle when ye’re fernint the gates.”

“I don’t ask such favors, and will drink no more,” said Manuel.

“Fill her up, Drydez! fill her up! two more smashes-best brandy and no mistake.  You must drink another, my old chuck-we’ll bring the pious notions out o’ ye in Charleston,” said Dunn, turning around to Manuel.