Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-07-22
Tnnriaonpaent of cOlored seamen.

Imprisonment Oh OOAOAo"
The following interesting conversation
took place in the British House OF Com
mons June 22d, in relation to the arbltra-
nv, oppressive and unconstitutional laws Tor
the Imprisonment Of colored seamen -
Mr.. M. Miles rose to ask her Majesty's
Government what steps had been taken TO
expedte the course Of public justice in the
case of Manuel Pereira, a colored seaman,
under British protection, detained III the
prison Of Charleston, in the United States,
in CONSEQUENCE Of the vessel in which ne
was employed having put into that port !"
distress, and in whose favor Mr. Mathew,
Her Maiesty'S Consul at that place, had APP
piled for writ of hGbeds cmp"s on appear
to the Supreme Court Of the State OF South
Carolina, in session in Columbia, which
Court had now postponed the hearing OF the
said case till January next
Lord Stanley saw no reason why ne
should defer giving such answer as lie could
to the question and he was glad To have
an opportunity Of doing so, because he
thought it desirable the public attention
should be called to the oppressive weight of
the provincial laws Of the Southern States OF
American Republic. The facts of the case
were these A British ship returning from
Jamaica, struck ON reef of rocks near
Charleston, and was compelled to put into
that port in a sinking state In conformity
with The laws Of the State, colored man
on board, named Mapuel Pereira, PortuI
guese subject, was taken out ct the vessel
, BY the authorities, and lodged in the COIN
mon gaoI No notice was taken OF the
. app,icalion on his behalf to the State Court,
0 or to the authorities at Washington, and,
\ when the master of the ship was ready to
sail from Charleston, he was charged with
the expenses of Pereira in gaoI, which he
e refused to pay, and the consequence was
e that he was left in confinement. AS he
g was under the protection OF our flag, MI
!. Mathew, our Consul took up his case at
is once; for, as these occasions were, unhap-
d niy. not uncommon, he had distinct orders
!. what to do in respect to them. Alter some
g consultation, it was resolved to apply to the
:, district court of South Carolina, rather than
; to the Supreme Court at New York, Wash
ington, and he might as well state the cir-
e, cnmstances from the following extract OF
p the ConsuI's dispatch
I'd 81 have to state that Judge Wlthers, lot
n South Carolina Court,) attended by the
As State Attorney General, has received the
$. application (for writ Of hGbeas cOrpus) in
,Ecnnrt and has refused it without argument
reserying his opinion fnr the Upper Court
ed to which consequently, an appeal has been
w taken. Thi. Court, which meets in Colum
IL bia IN May, is empowered, if so inclined
a. TO take up, OH petition. the hearing of the
il case. which would be otherwise deferred II
ot the November term in Chareston and at
90 immediate hearing would be very desirable
:, as forwarding greatly, i'll time, the uIterlo
p ' appeal (should such be requisite) to the Su
At preme Court at Washington. | am no
very sanguine of success, however strong
the ground OF vessel in distress, in tn
Ne State Courts; but can scarcely entertain
as doubt of the decision Of the Suprem
he Court; it will then rest with the Fedora
erD Government to enforce in this State tn
hin DECISION Of that tribunal"
The latest information contained in
desP0Sch, uated Way "ua 1hat INC CdSc wa
still pending in the State Court, and beyon
Ter that he could give no lurtet details in repI
VS. to his Hon. friend. The question was on
,al OF character which was by no means u1
common, and referred to a subject of grea
difficulty, and requiring the most dellcat
IN handling, because every one knows Their
'le was no topic of controversy in the Unite
m states on which greater diversity Of opinlo
on existed than that which related 10 the mu
'se tual obligations and powers of the feder.
ed and provincial governments. (IIear, hear
no The most energetic remonstrances had bee
ID. addressed to the United States Government
n, on this subject by the noble lold, the mem
OH Der from Tiverton, and a relaxation had al
al ready taken place in the laws of Louisiana
he so that there was every hope the influence
n OF public opinion would ultimatel, do ava,
Sc with all laws OF this natur,, and remoy,
no from one OF the most enlightened nations
1t, OF the world, one of the greatest deg
g. tons that could be fixed on civilized coun
ut try.