tance to my opinion. But there
it is, all in that section of the Act, and they can't find no convention
in the world to control the Legislature of South Carolina. There's my
principles, and all the Englishmen and Abolitionists in Christendom
wouldn't change me. Now, I've the power, and let 'em get the nigger out
of my place, if they can," said Grimshaw, shutting the book, kicking
a good-sized, peaceable-looking dog that lay under the table, and
deliberately taking his hat and walking into the street.

Here is an Act, bearing on its face the arrogant will of South Carolina,
setting aside all constitutional rights, and denying the validity of
stipulations made by the United States in her general commercial laws.
She asserts her right to disregard citizenship, to make criminals of
colored men, because they are colored, and to sell them for slaves to
pay the expenses which she had incurred to make them such. And what is
still worse, is, that the exercise of this misconceived and unjust law
is so unrelentingly enforced, and so abused by those who carry it out.

During this time the consul had been unremitting in his endeavors to
procure the man's release. The mayor had no power in the premises; the
attorney-general was not positive in regard to the extent of his power
in such a case, though he admitted the case to be an aggravated one; the
judges could only recognise him as a nigger, consequently must govern
their proceedings by legislative acts. Upon the whole, he found that
he was wasting his time, for while they all talked sympathy, they
acted tyranny. Cold, measured words about niggers, "contrary to law,"
constitutional rights, inviolable laws, State sovereignty and secession,
the necessary police regulations to protect a peculiar institution,
and their right to enforce them, everywhere greeted his ears. There was
about as much in it to relieve Manuel, as there would have been had a
little bird perched upon the prison-wall and warbled its song of love to
him while strongly secured in his cell-more tantalizing because he could
hear the notes, but not see the songster.

Notwithstanding the commendable energy of the consul, he had the
satisfaction of knowing that several very improbable reports touching
his course, and construing it into an interference with the institution
of slavery, had been widely circulated, and were creating a feeling
against him among a certain class of "fire-eating" secessionists. He was
too well