The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1850-09-19

NJ, BUTLER ! did not say that these
nearoes were left 10 the tender mercies Of the
Icity Of Charesfon !; because J am fully per-
suaded that had they been SO left, some person
Iwould have interposed and paid the demands
which might have existed against them, and
thus have obtained their relense frori coniine-
ment | said a very different thing, Mr.. Presi-
dent | said that this man----this captain
believed that these negroes would be sold into
slavery and with that conviction upon his mind,
he abandoned them, and left them in prison !
did not say this By way Of making a commen-
tary upon the tender mercies of the city of
Charleston" But viii answer for it that the
negroes who were thus deserted to the tender
nercies of the city of Charleston found their
redeinption | do not state 1t as Il fact; but,
from what know of the character OF that peo-
pie, I think it is highly probable.
Mr. WINTHROP Sir, we have had some
testin ony Oh this point given us by the senator
from Connecticut Mr. BALDwIS some weeks
ago lie testified that one colored man who
sailed from port OF Connecticut had been sold
MS slave, and rat under some process Of law
he was afterwards released from servitudc. Am
| correct si8t Tr t
Mr.. BALDWIN. | think he was Sold but
do not know whether he was ever released.
Mr.. WINTHROP. | am not bound to go
further in the defence of Captain Ranlett. He
will perhaps be able to speak for himself here
after But, sir, what were the circumstances IN
which he was placed He was shipwrecked
when but two days out OF Charleston, and took
to his boat When in his boat he came up with
n Carolina vessel which had been Abandoned
He went on board of that vessel and carried her
safely into Charleston and, as recompense
for having saved this Charleston vessel, his cook
and steward who were friendless and peniilcss,
and who had just escaped from the perils of
shipwreck, were imprisoned in Jail; and when
he applied to have them released, it was object
cd that it was contrary to the law OF the State;
and that if it were done in this case, every free
colored man who came there might make the
excuse of having been brought there in distress
Why, sir, what means had this captain to pro-
cure the release Of these men! He was ship
wrecked himself aud had lost his own vessel
The law Of South Carolina says that when free
persons of color are thus imprisoned, the cap-
tain Of the vessel f which they arrived may
take them out of prison on paying all the costs
and charges, when he is about to sail. But this
man had no vessel to sail in, He had lost his
own He had saved the Charleston vessel and,
as a reward for having done so, his cook and
steward were east into jaiI and he was not al
lowed to release them This is his story. If
his conduct was barbarous in leaving these men
to the operation Of the laws of South Carolina,
Why then, sir, ! repeat, the laws of South
Carolina must be Of such a character as the
senator from South Carolina himself can per-
haps best explain.
But what better evidence of the character of
this law can we desire than that which the sen
ator from South Carolina himself has mentioned!
lie tells us that one branch Of the legislature of
Al 1, MI
fled this law. II is %. have read the debates;
and in these debates it is recognized throughout,
that, by the law as it now stands, search may be
made on board Of vessel, and the colored men
found there may be dragged forth and impris-
oned And the very change which one branch
of the legislature Of South Carolina proposed on
this occasion, is the change which this Captain
Ranlett has himself overwhelmingly to stop
short with prohibiting these people OF color from
going on shore. As the law now stands they
are seized in their cabins or cahooses, while on
board ship, and before they come on shore. /
say. then, that the representative branch of the
legislature Of South Carolina have themselves
borne testimony to the inexpedency and injus-
toc of this law and have done what they could
to repeal it.
Sir, am extremely sorry to be drawn into a
discussion so inilammatory rs that which has
sprung up. | must, however, add one word
more in regard to Captain Ranett. The sena-
tor from South Carolina appears to think that
he ought to have remained in Charleston, and
helped to get these negroes out of prison. Per-
hips it is So Buthave we not had some experiences
upon that subject, subsequent, it is true, to the
event which Captain Ranlett relates ! Have
we not sent one of our most excellent and emf
nent citizens there, for the purpose of testing
the constitutinnality Of this law and has he not
been prescribed and driven away out of the
State? He was driven away, indeed, with
courtesy and comfy, acknowledge; for he him
self has testified that the gentlemen Of Charles
tan treated him with the greatest kindness--they
are incapable Of doing otherwise. But still they
told him that go he must, and that The constitu-
tionality of these Southern laws could not and
should not be tried
| Mr. BUTLER Mr.. President, very much
regret that this discussion has arisen, and that it
has progressed thus far; but really when man
kindles a fire he must not complain If it burns
him. The honorable senator put fire to the
heap, and now he complains that it is too hot.
Mr. WINTHROP. No, sir; have made no
such complaint, nor ,as the fire been of my kinl-
ling.
| Mr. BUTLER. He who loads his gun too
heavily must not complain of its rebound when
he discharges it. do not know the facts in this
case, and wish TO be cautious In what say in
all matters of this kind. The honorable senator
| from Massachusetts assumes that this man has
| told the truth. He says he left these negroes
at Charleston, knowing that they would be liable
| to be sold as slaves; and the senator makes an
apology for him, to the effect that, il he had en-
deavored to have them released, he might have
shared the fate of another gentleman who went
subsequently, to South Carolina.
Mr. President, so far as can speak from my
own conscientious conviction, if had persisted
! in the attempt, would have gone back and en-
deavored to rescue those men, ] do not say
that their condition was hard one. / am some-
what acquainted with the arrangements made
for the custody of the people. They arc sur
rounded by high wall, it is true but they are
fed and taken care of, and are not subjected to
what would be regarded as confinement in a
loathsome prison They are simply kept from
going at large, until the captain of the vessel in
which they came goes and asks for them, and
takes them back with him TO his ship. But how
did these men get in there? Why, sir, they
went there, doubtless claiming salvage.