The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-01
BosroN, September II, 1850.

BosroN, September II, 1850.
RoBERr c. WINTHROP esq.
DEAR SIR: Understanding that your statement in the
Senate "that our free cooIed seamen are taken from
our ships and imprisoned while IN New Orleans and
other southern pos has been denied by southern gen.
lenen, take the liberty OF stating 10 you case which
came within my own knowledge.
In October 1885, arrived at the port of Charleston
South Care lina--masier OF the ship 'fork"-havihg on
board my ship two free coored seamen and knowing
the laws OF South CaToina ] came to anchor in the
lower harber, with determination to keep them on
board until opportunity presented Of sending them
to some northern port without landing tsen at Charles
ton
Immediately went up to town for the purpose OF find
ing some vessel bound North, and after much search
could find only the steamer "Aabama" 10 leave the next
day for New York. made an arrangement with the
found the authorities had been there taken the men out
and lodged them in prison. returned to town, visited
he PRISON. and desired to see the men, which was for
long lime refused hat after much talk and delay the
quest was granted | supplied them with some money,
and left them with the assurance that they should be lb'
Grated on the next day a
The next morning devoted myself at once 10 The
work Of iberatng my but was unable, owing to the
many delays maze by the authorities, 10 get them out OF
prison until three o'clock They obliged mo 10 procure
The affidavit OF the captain OF the steamer that be was
about TO leave the State OF South Carolina, bound 10
New York, and would land the men there; also 70 p'y
them various charges amounting To eighteen dollars.
Thus, by law plainly unconstitutional were two
men, who had committed no crime, thrown into prison,
and lax imposed upon the owners OF the ship OF egh.
teen dollars, besides my lime Tor entire days, which
Otherwise would have been devoted 10 Their interests
fhis is only OF many cases which have come under
my obseT yailon. ..a
Trusting that something may be done protect the in
terests o our free coofed seanen remain with much
respect, yours, tfuly, WM. LOhD, j.,
hennebunk, Name.
Boston, September l9 1850
Hon RoBGRT {. WINTHROP: ts.
DEAR SIR: have just been reading your speech Oh
the subIect.o The unfair, unconstitutional and nhuman
Inn nE turt,ri Inf
free cooed seamen who may visit them in the line
oil their calling, be driven there by stress OF weather
will premise what am about 10 say by stating thai
am abolonisi, and have bat poor opinion OF the
:. uras" OF that sect am certain they have done much
TO lnIure The cause they appear 50 zeaous 10 promote
spent the last winter in New Orleans, and while
there had two ships arliye one OF which was CON.
manded by Captain SAMPSON he had a coored cook
and sewaTd-the latter, long and well known here as
most faithful and honest having wife and family,
and but lule, if any, darker in complexion than many OF
The Saxon race, but having slight curl IN hair-Iusi
enough 10 belrdy him As understand the laws OF
Louisiana, il becomes the captains duty he has coored
board, TO make the fact known TO the munich
pal authorities his arrival IN default OF which he Is
liable fine oil $500. This having been done, both
cook and steward taken 10 la where they remained
weeks led upon sbn-soup aud bread only unless
supplied from the ships table, accompanied by thieves
rogues OF all classes-y cents per Gay being exacled
for this miserable fair, besides jail iees 10 what amount
do moi know. In the lime, the captain was compelled
TO hire cook and steward at hgi rate oi wages. The
manly steward shed tears when he found there
was committed bore your honoed name
Since writing tlus lar one Of my captains. who com
maudei the snip Sophia, reminds me that on approach
ing lew years since he overaken by
a violent gale, in which his ship spung aleak, and the
being exhausted, aud the leak increasing, they
taken of by the ship Russell Glover and carried to
New Orleans, where the COOK OF the Sophia, and sick
calored ihai put board by consul
Valparaiso were both taken 10 prison, where the captain
compelled give bonds that hey should be taken
out OF the state. Tie cook taken iron jail BY
friend OF The captain and berth provided for hun; bur
what became OF the SICK man he never knew, although
he depuled one the neediul done tor him
have pains 10 inquire into the character OF
the much.abusot Captain Raaie, whose word has been
so unceIemoniousy doubted His character stands high
Tor truth and vetacty and from the tenor OF his letter he
is in way deieient IN talents. Ia tact he has long
been known as hTst-rste IN every respect and
have doubt every word he writes you is true TO the
letter.
can la Captain Sampson's and Captain Knowles's
leposilons taken and forwarded 10 you, but think
unnecessary,
Please excuse this hasty scrawl, written in the hustle
and hurry oil business and believe me yours, sincerely,
BENJAMIN BANGS.