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out of business, many of the old retailers, and engaging in an unlawful trade with the simple negroes, which is found very profitable.[1]
The law which prevents the reception of the evidence of a negro in courts, here strikes back, with a most annoying force, upon the dominant power itself. In the mischief thus arising, we see a striking illustration of the danger which stands before the South, whenever its prosperity shall invite extensive immigration, and lead what would otherwise be a healthy competition to flow through its channels of industry.
This injury to slave property, from grog-shops, furnishes the grand argument for the Maine Law at the South.[2]*
- ↑ From the Charleston Standard, Nov. 23rd, 1854.—"This abominable practice of trading with slaves is not only taking our produce from us, but injuring our slave property. It is true the owner of slaves may lock, watch, and whip, as much as he pleases—the negroes will steal and trade as long as white persons hold out to them temptations to steal and bring to them. Three-fourths of the persons who are guilty, you can get no fine from; and, if they have some property, all they have to do is to confess a judgment to a friend, go to jail, and swear out. It is no uncommon thing for a man to be convicted of offences against the State, and against the persons and property of individuals, and pay the fines, costs, and damages, by swearing out of jail, and then go and commit similar offences. The State, or the party injured, has the cost of all these prosecutions and suits to pay, besides the trouble of attending Court: the guilty is convicted, the injured prosecutor punished."
- ↑ From an Address to the people of Georgia, by a Committee of the State Temperance Society, prior to the election of 1855.—"We propose to turn the 2,200 foreign grog-shop keepers, in Georgia, out of office, and ask them to help us. They (the Know-Nothings) reply, 'We have no time for that now—we are trying to turn foreigners out of office;' and when we call upon the Democratic party for aid, they excuse themselves, upon the ground that they have work enough to do in keeping these foreigners in office." From the Penfield (Ga.) Temperance Banner, Sept. 29th, 1855. "OUR SLAVE POPULATION. "We take the following from the Savannah Journal and Courier, and would ask every candid reader if the evils referred to ought not to be corrected. How shall it be done? "'By reference to the recent homicide of a negro, in another column, some facts
