Weekly Trinity journal., 1866-01-13
WEEKLY TRINITY JOURNAL,
from the New York Mdepcndent.]
The Shreyv Cntamed.

South Carolina has not adopted the Consttu-
tional Amendment. What is that amendment?
1t is a prohibition of slavery. South Carolina is
at this moment re-enaeting slavery. Behold the
proof.
A bird has flown to our Office with a copy of
the new Carolinian code prepared for the govern
ment of the free blacks-a pamphlet which as
yet, is literary rarity in the North. This code
at the last adviccs, had passed to second read
ing, and was in prospect of adoption. Gov.
Perry describes it to the President of the United
States as g a wise, just and humane system of
laws for the government and protection OF the
freedmen" On the contrary we after careful
reading, pronounce it an evasion of the Consti-
tutional Amendment, fraud on the black man,
a for the Federal Government and an
affront to the moral sense Of the North Il Is
slave CODE changed but in name. 1t IS as IN
famous for 1865 as the Fugitive Slave Law was
for 1850.
stThe master shall have authority to infiict
moderate chastscment'' says this new code
But is this the language of freedom? Is it not
rather the stereotyped expression OF the good
old time when mems back ran blood IRON the
cato nine? The black is stripped naked OF ms
rights; the white carries whip IN ms
hand and this is the reinstatement OF South
Carolina
IAN persons ofcolor," it says, " who make
contracts for services of labor shall be known as
servants, and those with whom they contract
shall be known masters. Why so! Free
States never say this. mechanic in the North
is not called servant" hired man OF
farm is not called @ servant Moreover, the
codfers have forgotten that the freedmen OF
South Carolina have been spoken to by the New
Testament, saying, q Call no man MASTER
"Servants, it SAYS, q shall rise at the dawn
in the morning, feed, water and care for the
animals on the farm, do the usual and needful
work about the premises, prepare their meals
for the day, if required by their master and
begin the farm work at sunrise All this is
what Yankee boys do on farms in Vermont and
Maine; but would they submit to being COM
manded to do it by State Legislature? When
did the law Of the land ever before undertake to
say at what hour free citizen must get up IN
the morning? Why, when, should not the same
law prescribe how he shall clean his teeth and
comb his hair?
Servants shall not be absent from the premi
ses without the written consent of the master
But suppose the premises arc Il five acre farm,
are the work hands. after work hours, never to
over tread its edge without pass? If in Penn
sylyania or Ohio mechanic wants to go to sing
ing school on Saturday night to church on
Sunday morning. must he first beg his week day
employers gracious permissionE Snch law
gives power TO every white man in Charleston to
turn his residence into 4 Ba5tile for the negro's
perpetual Imprisonment.
Any person who shall deprive master Of
the service Of his servant by enticing him away,
harboring OBTAINING him shall
be liable to fine not exceeding two hundred
dollars, and to Imprisonment hard labor at
the discretion of the court Does this sound
like legislation for freemen? Is this not the
Fugitive Slave Law over again, with all its
pains and penalties?
alt is the duty of servants to be equally civil
and polite to their masters Is it, indeed :?
And does the sovereign State of South Carolina
propose to teach etiquette and manners by
public law? And viii the Legislature assist in
the good work by giving lesson in dancing?
GA person of color who wishes to pursue or
practice the art, trade or business OF an artisan:
mechanic or shopkeeper, any other trade,
must do what? Must simply begin and go
ahead, as every Northern freeman does? No,
he must apply 'by petition to the Judge OF the
District Court for license If Yankee
should think of starting dry goods store, or
coffee-ml, or bakery, or anything but a gun
powder shop, would he begin by suing tor
license? If the law should put such barrier
before a white man, would the law stand
week?
During the term of service, the house occu-
pied by any servant is the masters, and on the
expiration of the term of service
the servant shall be Immediately removed" o,
Lord Brougham why did you ever say that an
Englishman's house is his castle? not even
black mans squald cabin is his own
"Persons of color constitute no part OF the
militia of the State" But this is an insult to
every survivor of Fort Wagner :" No one OF
them says the code, . shall be allowed 10 Keep
a firearm, sword, or other military weapon.
And all this is in spite OF the Declaration 0,
Independence and the Constitution OF the United
states both of which assert the citizens right
to bear arms. -.
Is there no single redcernng feature in this
code of abomination Yes, there is one. Here
it is; If there be a school, within conven-
/. ol.l
taught the master shall send his young servant
to school at least six weeks in every year =.
Is that CLEAN of humanity? Alas the jewel
quickly lost its luster At the very first reading
Of this provision, a member of the convention
rose and said: 81 am opposed to all humbug,
and move that this clause be stricken out
and it was stricken out unanimously and with
ont debate
This code, from beginning to end, is ;; lniquitT
framed into law''-an outrage upon libcrty-a
revival Of :. chivaly''-a piece of malice afore-
thought against the negro-a scroll OF injustice,
which we hold up to the contempt OF mankind
And this is what South Carolina means by the
Constitutional Amendment!
That amendment is in two parts: the hrst
saws slavery must be forever prohibited; the
second that Congress has the power to enforce
this prohibition by suitable legislation South
Carolina objected to the second clause. Gov
ernor Perry telegraphed TO Washington TO know
Government replied that it should mean what
South Carolina desired, wherefore, South Caro-
lima adopted the Constitutional Amendment,
with proviso that Congress should nave
nothing TO say concerning the status OF the
blacks But Abraham Lincoln's Proclamation
of Emancipation pledged the whole power OF
the Federal Government to maintain invIoate
the freedom which that proclamation offered to
the slaves The resolution which South Caro-
lima now tags to the Constitutional Amendment
is a device to remove the negro beyond the reach
of Federal protection.
South Carolina, therefore, hidden to reach
forth her reluctant hand to accept the Constltu-
tional Amendment finds it an icicle from the
North, too cold for her palm, whereupon she mas
cast it into the fiery furnace which her new
code kindles for her free negroes, and there u
already melts and vanshes like pun OF steam
1t is impossible that sensible men, loving
their country and its liberty, can desire the re-
admission of South Carolina uutil she Is purged
of her foulness? Will Congress open Its doors
wide enough TO admit State that seeks TO orin
such luggage of jokes and chains? Is 1t
bright and pleasant contemplation to LOOK ior-
ward to ten other slave codes, like this Palmetto
outrage, ranging themselves this winter under
hn-n