Case Name: Richard Chastain, v. Zach. & W. W. Bowman
Court: South Carolina Court of Appeals
Jurisdiction: South Carolina
Decision Date: 1833-05
Citations: 1 Hill 270
Docket Number: 
Parties: Richard Chastain, v. Zach. & W. W. Bowman.
Judges: Harper J. absent.
Reporter: South Carolina Law Reports
Volume: 19
Pages: 270–272

Head Matter:
Richard Chastain, v. Zach. & W. W. Bowman.
Tried before Mr. Justice Evans, at Abbeville — Spring Term, 1833.
ami “there distinction m the which consfttute freeman, a" a-ffish Jcustomi
This was an action on the case, against the defen-as common carriers on the Savannah river, for loss sustained by the burning of the plaintiff’s cotton, 0n board their boat. The boat was passing down the river when the plaintiff came to a landing, and asked if it could carry his cotton. The patroon (a slave belonging to one of the defendants) answered that it col'dd. The cotton was received, and was burnt on board the boat, before it reached Augusta. It was proved that the defendants had given general instructions to their patroons, to take in freight whenever it could be had, and that in one instance, one of the defendant's had received pay for freight engaged by his patroon. There'was also some.evidence to shew the general custom of the liver. Some witnesses proved, that it is the custom to allow patroons to take in freight generally, and others, that they are only allowed to receive freight, when a boat is not fully laden.
The presiding Judge charged the jury, that the defendants were not liable, unless the patroon was his. master’s agent, and authorized to take in freight. That the authority might be proved, by shewing, that such was the custom of boat owners, or by proving that the defendants had given such authority; that to establish a custom, it must be proved to be universal; that a slave might be the agent of his master, and if his agency was established, the master was bound: and Whether the agency of the slave was established in this case, was a question submitted to their decision. The jury found for'the plaintiff, and the defendants appealed, and move for a new trial, on the ground of error in the charge of the presiding judge.

Opinion:
Johnson J.
delivered the opinion of the Court.
From the instructions given to the jury, it is more than probable, that they found the verdict, on the ground that the defendants had constituted their patroon, the slave Jack, their agent to contract with the plaintiff for carrying his cotton, and on that ground it can be well sustained.
It is not questioned, that a master may constitute his slave his agent, and I cannot dfineeive of any distinction between the circumstances which constitute a slave and a freeman, an agent — they are both the. creatures of the principal, and act upon his authority. There is no condition however degraded, which dey prives one of the right to act as a private agent, the, • master is liable even for the act of his dog, done in pur A suance of his command. Two witnesses, Beck and/ Eaton, prove that defendants had given general instruc-'i' tions to their patroons, to procure freight whenever, they could, and in one instance it is shewn, that one of the defendants received the price of freight on produce so received and carried by the patroon, a distinct recognition of their authority to contract for them:, and there is not a tittle of evidence, that this authority ivas ever rescinded. The authority was general as to that particular business, and the contract to carry, was directly in pursuance of it. The defendants were therefore bound. *
The proof of the custom, appears to me, to have been too equivocal, to have supported the verdict on that ground, alone. To make a good custom, it must be proved to be general, and if the proof had been, that those concerned in the navigation of the Savannah river> bad from time immemorial, authorized and permitted their slave patroons to contract for carryi ng freight, # the defendants would have unquestionably been bound ,by it; but the proof here with the exception of one witness, is confined to particular instances, and it is not very obvious that, that witness clearly understood what is meant by a general custom.
Wardlaw, for the motion.
Calhoun, contra.
Motion dismissed.
Harper J. absent.