Birmingham state herald., 1897-03-04
IN cARPET-BAG DAYS.
A Negro Justices Writ of "Ne Exeat
 Republicum."

I
 A Negro Justices Writ of "Ne Exeat
 Republieum."
 Chicago Times-H Herald 1 During the reign of the carpet -baggers
 in Georgia very black but brainy old
 negro named Tunis G. Campbell came down from the north and became one of
 the leaders of his race. 1 In the course of time Campbell was
 made justice of the peace at the port
 of Darden. Then the trouble began in l earnest
 Justice Campbell had no use for the whites, because he knew that they cor l dially hated him. l But he did not confine his animosity
 to Georgians or democrats. He employ l ed a. number of negro conStableS, author I ized them to carry weapons, and in short time made his court a terror to the l community.
 So much by way of introduction. One summer a British sailing vessel came to ] Darien and took on a cargo of naval stores. Before getting ready to sail the | captain settled everything due from him
 and his crew-thst is. everything in the | shape of just account. He secured his 1 papers, when several negro traders of l the lowest class unexpectedly put in
 claims for goods that had never been | purchased.
 1 These cormorants alleged that the cap 1 tain and his sailors were indebted to ] them for meals, merchandise, lodging and various other things. | It was evident that these claims were
 fraudulent, and the captain continued | his preparations for his departure.
 The afternoon he was to weigh anchor 1 Justice Campbell held a consultation | with a shyster lawyer.
 1T want to hold that - foreigner
 here" said Campbell, until he settles | these bills"
 "In England" replied the lawyer,
 "when you want to prevent people from
 leaving the country you issue a writ of | ne exeat regnum.'
 Justice Campbell came near falling to
 the floor.
 Just say that again." he said excited l ly.
 "A writ of ne exeat regnum." | "I see--I see,'' said Campbell. Well, want you to draw up one and keep that l fellow here"
 1 The shysters resources were limited, l and he explained to his friends that 1 regnum meant kingdom, and as this
 country was a republic there would have
 to be change in the verbiage.
 Change it, then," commanded the l black justice.
 knew very little Latin, and for that req
 son was somewhat embarrassed. | sThis is republic,
 ! Campbell, draw up a writ of ne exeat l republican," l q am afraid it is bad Latin" objected 1 the lawyer.
 "I'll make it stick" answered the jus I tice. "Pl1 sign the paper and swear in | six special constables to enforce it. 1 This was enough. and the lawyer pro- | ceeded to draw the most remarkable | document ever seen in America. 1 The writ covered twenty pages of fools 1 cap and ordered the Englshman under 1 the severest pains and penalties to re-
 main with his ship at Darien until he | 1n6 o1 al oiv ae-<ai ifact hic | It was a sultry August afternoon, and l the vessel was about ready to depart, | when it was boarded by Justice Camp | bell and six negro constables armed with | guns.
 The justice read the writ to the captain | and after informing him that the con-
 stables would remain until the matter l was adjusted the judicial tyrant went | ashore again.
 The Britsher fumed, fretted and swore, 1 but the six negro guards made them | ee1ves at home and kept their guns within | reach.
 l The captain retired to the cabin with l the mate and talked it over. | Finally a plan of action was agreed l upon, and when the ships officers re appeared they were apparently in good | humor. They told the constab that they were welcome as the representa- l tiyes of the law, and requested them to enjoy the freedom of the vessel The constables were overwhelmed with I | dram until their suspicious vanished 1 Then the captain and his crew display 1 ed still more hospitality, and the bottle | was freely passed around l At midnight six negro consta bleS were 1 in drunken slumber, the effect of their 1 drugged liquor, and the captain and his l men were wide-awake and perfectly so- 1 Der.
 l The blacks were carefully deposited in | boat and set adrift in the harbor and l then the British sloop quietly weighed 1 anchor and left the port at an hour when | Justice Campbell was dreaming of his | new and wonderful writ of ne exeat re- | publicum
 The constables were picked up next day | and sent to jail for neglect of duty, but l the vessel was then beyond reach. 1 The British captain went straight to | Savannah where he laid the case before l his consul and demanded an apology and an indemnity from the United States l government. | The consul found it difficult to keep 1 his face straight when he heard the story. "It is an outrage he said to the cap- 1 tain, ''but it is a peculiar one. and of l a ludlcrous nature. If I were you I | would not hold a friendly government l responsible for the conduct of few l ignorant persons, who have not been free | long enough to know their own rights 1 and respect the rights of others" | It required good deal of talk to ap- | pease the Englishman, but after he had l been wined and dined by the merchants | and had told his story a score of times 1 amid roars of laughter he began to re- 1 gard the affair as a good joke and agreed | to let 1t drop. | And thus ended what threatened se- rious international complication.