The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-20

qualification Of Mr.. Flagg's prejudices and fa-
voritisms, and by SO doing, stultify itself, and
consign its proceedings for the next twelve
months to comparative obscurity remains yet
to be seen.
SoUTn CAROLINA AND FREE CoLoRED SEAMEN
BILL OF AMENDMENTs.-We lay before our
readers this morning the report and bill lately
introduced into the South Carolina Legislature
in reference to the management of free colored
seamen, cooks, &c, arriving ON board ship in any
of the ports Of said State.
The existing law was passed in 1885, instigat-
itionists with the social institutions of the
South, and particularly Of South Carolina,
through the agency Of free colored seamen, and
was measure Of necessity at the time. TWAS
an act for the protection of the people of
Charleston especially against abolition incen-
diaries in the disguise of free colored cooks and
seanen, some of whom, we believe, had been
actually detected in the overt act Of tampering
with the slave population, with the view of ex-
citing them to run away or to insurrection.
This law Of '35 was accordingly stringent
one. 1t provided that free colored hands COM
ing into the ports of South Carolina on board
ship from any quarter Of the Union or the world,
should be taken from such ship and detained in
jail during the detention Of the ship and on her
departure be delivered up, the ship, we believe,
paying the expenses of their incarceration dur
ing the interval This law is still in force, and
applies to vessels driven in by stress of wea-
ther, Is well as to vessels regularly trading
with the ports Of the State.
This law instantly upon its going into force
excited great Indignation in Massachusetts,; and
under the dictation of the anti-slavery socie-
ties, Mr.. Samuel Hoar was despatched to
Charleston, as . special ambassador to test the
constitutionality Of the law in the United States
Courts of said State. The mission Of Mr.. Hoar,
however, was cut very short He was speedily
notified by q committee from public meeting
of Charleston that he could not be received in
his official capacity and that, all things con-
sidered, it would be judicious for him to leave
the city within twenty-four hours, which he
did.
The government of Great Britain next inter-
posed; and put in formal remonstrance be-
fore our government against this free colorsd
sailors law, as infringing the international
rights of Her Britannia Majesty free colored
subjects. This was knotty question. 1t was
too knotty even for Daniel Webster. The law
did disturb the free ingress and egress of GER
tain British subjects; but what could the State
Department do with the local regulations of
the sovereign and excitable State of South
Carolina. And 30 Mr.. Webster and the British
Minister at Washington turned over the matter
to Mr.. George B. Mathew, then the British
Consul at Charleston. Mr.. Mathew, as
gentleman, and . man Of general popu-
larity in both his official and private
relations in Charleston, was the very man for
the business. At first, however, in his new
character Of special diplomat on this negro
question, he was received with some GOODNESS
and distrust; but he held on, and gradually
gained the promise Of heaumg in the Lsgisla-
ture. Having thus faithfully accomplished all
that he could do in this business, Mr.. Mathew
was promoted to the Consulship Of Philadel-
phia.
ANOW OuAAcc tAAAo OiA UclOIe suc 0Outn O0rO-
lima Assembly, which provides that in lieu Of
the imprisonment Of free colored seamen in the
ports Of said State during the detention of the
ship to which they may belong, they shall re-
main on ship board--if on board ship driven
in by accident or stress of weather, without
special recognizance; but IL on board a regu-
lar trader, then hundred dollars security
shall be given for the safe detention Of each
free colored employe on board, during the
stay Of the vessel. The bill, we doubt not
will be passed The present law, a. q bit Of
active capital for the aboltionists, will thus be
taken away. Massachusetts,, we hope. will thus
be quoted, and Marcy relieved of subject Of
diplomacy which was beyond the reach Of even
Daniel Webster.
A Prison IN THE PARK.-Thc Thompson plan
for the extension Of the City Hall has passed
the Board Of Aldermen, but we hope to see it
stopped in the other branch Of the city govern
ment. If the Councilmen consult the opinion
of the public they will throw it overheard
without ceremony. Fit was purposed to build
. prison in the park Mr.. Thompson's plan would
be excellent; but such is not the intention, and
the shabby extension on Chambers street, with
its long connecting passages, win be disgrace
to the city. Let us have room enough in the
new City Hall, and let the ediiice be ornamental
as well as useful