New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-27
SLAVERY AND PUBLIC FAITH.

SLAVERY AND PUBLIC FAITH
The perpetual and inevitable conflict be-
tween Slavery and Justice is constantly re-
ceiving fresh illustrations. In vain do we
compromise, adjust and acquiesce the
internal disease is continually breaking out
in some unexpected spot-some new erup.
ton. A fresh evidence of this truth is just
now before us.
The United States have Treaties of AM
ity and Commerce with Great Britain, as
we'll as with most other civilized Nations,
whereby we bind ourselves to treat kindly
their subjects or citizens, who may enter
our ports for purposes of Commerce or un-
der stress of weather-to treat them as al
lies and friends should be treated. But
the State of South Carolina, on che other
hand, has law ESQ called) of the follow
ing character.
GAN ACT for 0e better regulation and 4osnn~s'a Of
free Negroes and persons Of color and jar o''sT pHr
s..
shall come into any port hbor Of this State souh
Csrons) from any other State or foreign pert having
board any free negroes or persons OF color COOKS
stewards, mariners, or In any other employment on
board said vessel such free negroes persons OF color
shall be liable to be seized and confined IN jail until said
vessel sha clear out and depart FROM this State and
that when said vessel Ia ready to sail the Captain OF said
vessel shall be bound to carry away the said free negro
OF person of color and pay the expenses OF his deten
ton and in Of his neglect refusal to do 90, he
shall be liable to be indicted and on conviction thereof
shall be fined In sum not less than one thousand dol
lars and imprisoned not lees than two months and such
free negroes persons Of color shall be deemed and
taken absolute slaves, and sold in conformity TO the
provisions of the act passed the twentieth day Of
December, one thousand eight hundred and twenty,
aforesaid"
Under this act, British colored seamen
visiting Charleston in British mercantile
vessels have been repeatedly taken out of
such vessels by the Police of Charleston,
and Though charged with no fault, suspect
cd of no offense) have been committed to
prison, there to await the departure of their
respective vessels, when the legal expenses
of such imprisonment must be paid for
them or they sold into perpetual Slavery!
Great Britain has repeatedly and earnest
ly demonstrated against these outrages.
Under Mr.. Adams's Administration, tho
justice of her claims were acknowledged /;
under Gen. Jackson's, they were in ef-
feet denied. Since then, the question has
hung by the eyelids until recently, when
Hon. H. B. Mathew, late Governor Of the
Bahamas, was appointed Consul at Charles
ton, we presume with reference to the set
Element of this question. He has had a
discussion upon it already with the State
authorities, which we intended to analyze
on its appearance, but other subjects moro
pressing interviewed to prevent it.
At length the dispute has been brought
to crisis. An English brig was recently
driven by stress Of weather into Charles
ton, having among her crew one Manuel
Pereira, colored subject of Portugal, but
articled to serve on board this brig, and Of
course under British protection. This man
was taken out Of the brig under process
by the Charleston Police, and committed
to prison under the act above cited. Con-
sui Mathew, through his counsel, Hon. ].
L. Petigru, applied to the proper State
court for writ of Habeas Corpus, and for
cause to be shown why the said Pereira
was restrained of his liberty. The Judge
(Withers) refused the writ The Consul
has taken an appeal, and, we presume, in
tends to take the case into the u. S.
Courts, in order to test the right of South
Carolina to overrule the Treaties of the
United States and treat the storm-tossed
seamen Of friendly power with such Al
gerine hospitality.
1t may be remembered that Mas,achu-
sets once undertook to vindicate the rights
of her colored citizens to pass unmolested
through South Carolina, but was not per-
mitted even to institute an action-ber
distinguished and venerable Commissioner
(Hon. Samuel Hoar) having been expelled
from the State by intimidation and even
his life endangered in case of his refusal to
leave. We shall see whether tho British
Consul win be treated with similar indiu-