except by special act of the legislature, and
that with such a multiplicity of provisions and conditions that few even
attempt it. But I'm about to refer to cases in which some modification
might be said to have been necessary, because in them are embodied the
worst germs for abolition speculation.

"That, Captain, is Jones's Hotel," said the Colonel, pointing to an
odd-looking house of antique and mixed architecture, with a large convex
window above the hall-entrance, in the second story. This house is
situated in Broad street, next to the aristocratic St. Michael's Church,
one of the most public places in the city. "In years past, that house
was kept by Jones, a free nigger. Jones was almost white, a fine
portly-looking man, active, enterprising, intelligent, honest to the
letter, and whose integrity and responsibility was never doubted. He
lived in every way like a white man, and, I think, with few exceptions,
never kept company with even bright folks. His house was unquestionably
the best in the city, and had a widespread reputation. Few persons of
note ever visited Charleston without putting up at Jones's, where they
found, not only the comforts of a private house, but a table spread with
every luxury that the county afforded. The Governor always put up at
Jones's; and when you were travelling abroad, strangers would speak
of the sumptuous fare at Jones's in Charleston, and the elegance and
correctness of his house. But if his house and fare were the boast of
Carolinians, and the remark of strangers, his civility and courteous
attention could not be outdone. Jones continued in the popularity of his
house for many years, reared a beautiful, intelligent, and interesting
family; at the same time accumulated about forty thousand dollars. The
most interesting part of his family was three beautiful daughters, the
eldest of whom was married to a person now in New York. She was fairer
than seven-eighths of those ladies who term themselves aristocracy in
Charleston, and promenade King street in the afternoon.

"She removed to New York with her husband, who now resides in that city,
engaged in lucrative and respectable business. A short time after, her
second sister-not dreaming that the law would be so stringent as to
class her with the lowest nigger, or even lay its painful bearings
at her door; for the family were very high-minded, and would have
considered themselves grossly insulted to have the opprobrious name of
nigg