New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-26
The Law of CoIored Seamen In South Carolina.
From the Charleston Courier April p .

From the Charleston Courier April p
The case Of Reuben Roberts Jeremiah d. Yates ESQ.,
Sheriff of Charleston District was brought up yesterday Dy
consent before Judge Gchrst in especial term oil the T.
Circuit Court Judge Wayne having been again prevent
I'd from attending The case disposed of in quite
summary manner the facts being all admitted by agree
ment and argument entered mo beyond necessary
,tqteeu, on each side AS the name OF Reuben ROBERTS
d in prhaps be transmttodo fame III connection WIN inc
f-hr progress and discussion Of his case, we me4uOn Tor
The information of all concerned that he Is fu FLOODED
negro, about24 years OF age alh3ush un
clr t has been often remarked that negroes wear thcT
age better in Slavery than III any o'ner SAL IS III Inv
tive of Nassau in New Providence an iSan6 OF us PuI4
ma group, and lately cook on board BRUSH schOon
err tie Clyde Capt Bethel which searrved at @ port
from BaracOa the 10Th May, 1872. Oh Aat udy tue
Sheriff of Charleston District rs directed by the law IA
1s35 boarded the vessel arrested the cook Roberts anu
c,nf,e him in a where he detained until the Vesse
was ready for sea The Clyde accordingly was cleared of
Barscoa ON the Goth May on which day koDers was 70
placed board By the Sheriff making he PerGa ol aee
ZION and Imprisonment eight days. and Tor TINS MS SUIT was
Iroupbt in the form of action in respass Tor assault
battery and false Imprisonment the damages bong lana al
ne DlaintT was represented by Messrs. Pettgru and
Kin the defendant by Attorney General Hayne who h3d
been charged with the case by the state ana AeSsrs a
Rrter q q Memminger and Edward McCready as special
counsel Although in form ordinary private action for
Il is known all that the involves and de
pepds upon the constutionaty and validity Oh 'le SeSI@
Of south Carolina relating to cOlored seamen and I'M
Iniorants and especially the act OF the i9h Decem1e
~ rder which Sheriff Yates acted in this matter IhS
49, ,;p was submitted markedly and simply as the sub
ssnt facts OF the case admitted without evidence or
contest and also admitted that the oher h"u sc'
" v-lQd
10 case was opened briefly by j. L. Petngru, Esq VINO
sd he Headings The declaration in the ordinary
form specifying the facts OF the case am s ynnio MIA o
and was met by the general issue, ana Slso pi P r.
srtinr the act alleged trespass ana se''hS io' IN
justification the several acts o SCUM M mi. eo
81 of coored seamen from 1924 10 ZOO 10 's sPsou
,Ia The nlantih entered replication de 'ga Sua' ana
mon his issue was joined The points incaea as 'ose
t;nav rolled on by The plaintiff are INC S0neIclai Syl
t ,,raen Great Britain and the tned State oil me
al Irv 1873 the Reciprocity Act OF congress oi tuo
H. s2o and the proclamation OF President jackson IS
tlpca
""y . Iarsc Attorney General Hayne after producing
witness Alr Kanapanxl to prove 1nat hooe'ts W. c
gro made similar brief statement OF iacs anu
~ 5s based on the following points: Several acts
of the General Assembly OF tins STATE WHICH ~ ~
venience OF our we wu az pee
81 Doth Dee iscO 10Th Dec 1sOl, 18Th Dec iSU|' 'l
Dec 1903 goth Dec. 1870. 2lst Dec lex -Oin Deo' '
10Th Dec Is an adon refers for justification and au.
a. -, che act of Congress OF 2eth Feb loO5 concern,
ing "the importation OF certain persons ii'0 '''''
va - . tscs and references having been submitted with
ont argument Judge Glchrs briefly eharseu ie Juy I
81 S;,;on of the case called upon him only TO give ms
oni,ion without argument or reasons ne 'e
s,s of the State under which the defends ni ustod, "s
Ms "a conventional and under this direction the ury-
s" N Tavden ESQ foreman-accordingly brought IN q
NERAL veidct for the defendant The pah.H SuohI'e1
T. os orn bin of exceptions to the Judges charge ana
20 vii accordingly go up to the Supreme Court o.
the United States o,d tho eminent array of counse
49,. Iii annear before that august tribunal WIN make me
Luz % d,ect of interest and attraction, although OF the
final result we need say that we entertain no doubt
C,rr,rx At SrA-The evidence In the case Of John
Non W Alexander Richardson, master ana joan rstle'
,o % h;, Ellis shows degree Of brutality hardly to De
bei;eyed The plaintiff, Nelson was engaged py oaP'nn
P;cbsdson M Rochelle Nelson told MN thal ne Was o
sasman bn only cook and steward. Inc captain nov"
g. coucluded to ship him a seaman Nheh ouIEJYs
o., ,hs mate commenced 10 beat him. ana nine seVerN a.
sls we're testified to- the last occurring when inc orig was
IN tho harbor of Boston The mate beat Nun win ms rs"
with rope and kicked him during one OF these assaults
fbe mate him the whole length of the deck oy ne
hair al his head beating him with rope ne was con
And AZ NIGHT in the store among the RUBBISH where
h 6 not stand up and but place where he could SIT
=, syec and with no bed bedding During the day ue
80 -, the quarter deck, at such work he could do
;,, heinz unable 20 stand at all and most OF the time
~. hat coat or shoes AZ time the mate knocked
~: Josn senseless with Delaying pun, and Afterwards
L "a him when he recoverable sent him out on The END
S boom where he followed him and beat HIM with rope
twenty minutes The captain, though he had promised
Nielsen when engaged him. TO him from the mate
did NOT interfere The Court Of the opinion the eV
DO showed long series of beatings Of an nnprovoked
baracter of which the master had knowledge
20 lie therefore decreed 500 damages 20 Nelson Inc
case was tried in the S. District Court bston ira
C The Auburn Prison contracts were a"sfueu on 4ioh
day and were distributed according 70 Ine A9'"S"' d.
follows; a . a.. 49, r,,o
Hame contract to Hayden Lakewood 40 C. AMY pr n,an
Saw and File contract TO f. Russell As cts day pr m w.
Cabinet contract to Noah Clark iO6lO cts DAY pr IN WI
Machine contract John Curtis Coz cts day pr '
Tool contract to Geo. Casey, 20 cents day per man
Shoe contract TO Il. l.. Ross 81 cents day per h'sn
considerable compel among CONTAGIOUS