Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1853-04-30
coLoRED sEAMEN IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

The case Of Reuben Roberts rs. jeremiah d. Yates
Sheriff Of Charleston district, up last week at
special term of the United States Circuit Court Judge
G1LcHRIsT presiding, held at Charleston. Roberts is
colored man, and native Of Nassau IN. P.) He was
lately cook board q British schooner 1.-THE Clyde
Capt Bethel which arrived at Charleston from Baracoa
on the 10Th Of May, 1852. On that day the sheriff Of
Charleston district directed by the law boarded the
vessel arrested Roberts and confined him in JAIL where
he was detained until the vessel ready for When
the Clyde cleared for Baracoa the 26th Of May Ro
berts replaced board by the sheriff making the
period of detention and Imprisonment eight days and for
this the suit brought, in the form Of action in
trespass for assault battery and false imprisonment
the damages being laid at 81, 600
The plaintiff represented by Messrs PKrTIGRU and
KING the defendant by Attorney General HArsE, who
had been charged with the by the State and Mess
A. p. BUTLER, G. g. MEMMIyGER and EDWARD McCRADY
as special counsel.
Although in form ordinary private action for da-
images, 1t is knswn 10 all that the involves and
depends upon the constitutonaty and validity Of the
several laws Of South Carolina relating to coored eamen
and grants and especially the act Of the 10Th Of De
cember 1885, under which Sheriff Yates acted in this
matter This test question submitted markedly and
SIMPLY as the substantial facts of the case admitted
without evidence contest and it ras also admitted that
the sheriff had strictly pursued the course prescribed by
the laws Of South Carolina
The case was opened briefly by J. L. PgrTIoRU, ESQ.,
V iehu the plehalnRs Inc declaration was IN the or
binary FORM specifying the facts Of the case and pray
ing damages and met by the general ISSUE and also
special plea admitting the alleged as trespass and
setting forth in justification the several acts Of South
Carolina on the subject Of colored seamen from 1894
1850 To this special plea the plaintiff entered repli-
cation de fid and upon this issue was Joined The
points indicated MS those chiefly relied on by the plaintiff
are the Commercial Convention between Great Britain
and the United States Of the Sd July 1916 the rccpro-
cal act Of Congress Of the 10Th May $780, and the pro-
clamaton Of President Jackson issued In onform;ty TO
the said act on the 9th October, 1880
For the defence Attorney General HAYsE, after pro-
ducng witness to prove that Roberts was negro made
similar brief statement Of facts and references The
defence was based various acts Of the Legislature of
South Carolina
All the facts and references having been submitted
without argument Judge GmcHRrsr briefly charged the
Jury hat tne position Of the case called upon him only
TO give his opinion, without argument or reasons He
considered the acts Of the State under which the defend
ant Jusuhed as valid and constitutional and under this
direction the jury brought in general verdict for the
defendant
The plaintiff substituted in due form Hill ~ excep
tons to the Judges charge and the case will Accordingly
60 up to the Supreme Court Of the United States