New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-12-15


rent there Oh diplomatic agency as the repre-
sentative OF his own State. The circumstance
of that case are probably rot known to one IN
bousand of the young men of the country under
thirty years Of age, and mperfectly remembered
by uony who are older. AT moment when
the North is accused OF 50 uniriendy legislation,
ard when the charge is believed by many well
meaning people. it is not unnstructiye to recur
TO some OF the historical events out of which has
sprunp, Us u natural and inevitable growth, q
party opposed ~ further aggression from the
Slave Power, and the spread Of system whose
well-beirg and existence depend upon such az
gressions.
In March, 1914, the Legislature Of Massachu-
sets passed n resolution authorizing tho Cover
nor TO appoint an agent to proceed to South
Carolina, for the purpose OF collecting information
as to the number and pames OF cOlored citizens
of Massachusetts who had been imprisoned IN
South Carolina some Of whom had been sold
into Savery-and al-o to bring suits in behalf Of
any suchecitizens, that the question OF the con-
stitutionslity of the laws under which they were
imprisoned might be tested before the Supreme
Court Of the United States. Dir. iIoar, gentle
man advanced in life, and lawyer Of high
standing, was appointed such agent. The laws
complained of, ard which are still IN full force.
take out OF every ship arriving In Charleston from
a Northern port every cOlored man who may be
on board imprsOns him during the stay Of the
vessel, end her departure, unless the jail fees
are paid apd the man taken away, sells hun o.
q slave to deiray the expenses OF his detention.
The Massachusetts, Legislature held these laws
to be- unconstitutional, their action wrong to
her colored citizens, and an Onerous charge to
her ship-Owners, both Of which had become
intoleraLle. She only asked, however, that the
question might be referred by an amicabe
arraueement TO the Federal Court for adjudi-
cation.
Dir. Hoar arrived in Charleston in November,
1914, and immediately announced his arrival and
his errand TO the Governor of the State, j. II.
Hammond, and the next morning sought the
Mayer for the same purpose. From the Cover
nor he received DO reply, and the Mayor was
absent from the city; and for three days no
rotice whatever was taken of his presence. At
teen communicated to the Legislature by the
Governor, and had created some excitement
An hour or two afterw ard, on entering his hotel
he was accosted by one Of three persons, who
ani OF nc, d that he was the Sheriff OF Charleston
adding, with great warmth and earnestness, 81
"Laye some business with you, Sir" He then
introduced his companions as the acting Mayor
and an Alderman of the city, aud q conversation
epsued. in the course OF which the Sheriff in
formed Mr. Hoar that she was suspected OF
being an AbolitiOuist;" and that the mission
Twas supposed TO be hoax, us he had pre-
scented no credentials" The credentials were
produced, and he was then assured I" that it was
" considered great insult to South
"Carolina 10 send such an agent !"
ard that be "was in great danger aud had bet
"ter leave the city as soon as possible" let
ter from the Attorney General Of the State was
read to him, in which the writer urged that
ynching be avoided and called upon the Sheriff
to prevent that process. The Sheriff further
urged the existence Of great public excitement,
ard doubted if it would be in his power to pro-
tect the stranger. To all which Dir. Hoar re-
rand, as the agent Of u sovereign State no should
not leave without some attempt to fulfill his mis-
sion. A second interview took place the follow
ing day with the Sheriff, when Mr. Hoar was
ngain urged to leave, and on the same plea.
What do you eXpect?" said tho officer, "You
/" can never get q verdict aud if you should, the
&" Marshal would need all the troops of the
United States to enforce Judgment" Seye-
raj gentlemen called in the course OF tho day, and
informed HIM OF various plans to rid the city of
his presence, the mildest Of which was to take
him by force on board packet and ship bim To
New-loIk. But Dir. Hear was immovable. At
length proposition was made to him, on tho
part Of the Sheriff, that case should be made
up TO be submitted to the Circuit Court, aud
then carried to the Supreme Court for final de-
cision, provided he would go; and to this be as'
sented.
In waiting the next day upon tho Sheriff, this
proposition was WITHDRAWN, on the ground that
ii adhered to, "the purposes Of the State might
"be tLwarted;" that 1t was an "insult in Mas
"sachusctts to send any person on such BUSH
"ness," and that there Mas "a determination to
"rid themselves of him by some means" On
returning to his hotel, Dir. lloar was accosted
by "decently dressed man," who said: "You
"bad better be travelling, aud the sooner the bet
"ier for you, | cun tell you; If you stay here
It'll tomorrow morning you will feel something
"you will not like I'm thinking" lie was
again urged by gentlemen, to whom he had
brought letters, to leave at once, but no resisted
their persuasions. That Eight he expected an
attack upon the hotel, which he aiterward