reaten the destruction of our peculiar institution
creep in. In fact, Captain, they are points of law upon which all our
domestic quietude stands; and as such, we are bound to strengthen our
means of enforcing them to the strictest letter. Our laws are founded
upon the ancient wisdom of our forefathers, and South Carolina has never
traduced herself or injured her legal purity. We have reduced our system
almost to a practical science, so complete in its bearings and points
of government as to be worthy the highest and noblest purposes of our
country. And at the same time, such is the spirit and magnanimity of our
people, that in framing laws to guard against the dangerous influences
of that wing of our country that spreads its ambitious fallacies--its
tempting attractions-shallow criticisms upon minute and isolated
cases-redundant theories without measure or observation, and making
a standard for the government of slaves upon foolish and capricious
prejudices, we have been careful to preserve a conservative moderation
toward the slave. But, to my remarks."

The party had now arrived opposite to what was formerly known as Jones's
Hotel, where the Colonel made a halt to relate the singular case that
had pained his feelings, though he held very tenaciously to the law as
it was, because he believed strongly in the wisdom of the South Carolina
judiciary.

"Our first and great object is to prevent the interchange of sentiment
between our domestic niggers, whether bond or free, and niggers who
reside abroad or have left our State; To do this, it became imperative
to establish a law prohibiting free negroes from coming into the State,
and those in the State from going out, under penalty of imprisonment and
fine, if they returned. The penalty amounted to sale upon a peon form;
and subjected the offender to the slave system in a manner that he
seldom retrieved himself. You will observe, Captain, the penalty is not
desired by our people, the object being to prevent them from returning,
and as such it must be taken in the spirit of its origin. Another very
wise provision was made by our legislators, and which has prevented a
great deal of suffering on the part of the slave. A few years ago, our
wise legislature made a law to revert the power of emancipation from the
board of magistrates where it had been very much abused, to the House
itself. And such is the law at the present day, that no master can give
his slaves their freedom,