“You can do that, sir,” said Mr. Grimshaw; “but you must remember that it will require white evidence to substantiate the charge.  We don’t take the testimony of your niggers.”

Just as the consul left the office, he met Colonel S—­entering.  The colonel always manifested a readiness to relieve the many cases of oppression and persecution arising from bad laws and abused official duty.  He had called upon Mr. Grimshaw on the morning of the arrest, and received from him an assurance that the case would be considered, the most favorable construction given to it, and every thing done for the man that was in his power.  Notwithstanding this to show how far confidence could be put in such assurances, we have only to inform the reader that he had despatched the officers an hour previously.

The colonel knew his man, and felt no hesitation at speaking his mind.  Stepping up to him, “Mr. Grimshaw,” said he, “how do you reconcile your statement and assurances to me this morning with your subsequent conduct?”

“That’s my business.  I act for the State, and not for you.  Are you counsel for these niggers, that you are so anxious to set them at liberty among our slaves?  You seem to have more interest in it than that interfering consul.  Just let these Yankee niggers and British niggers out to-night, and we’d have another insurrection before morning; it’s better to prevent than cure,” said Grimshaw.

“The only insurrection would have been in your heart, for the loss of fees.  If you did not intend what you said, why did you deceive me with such statements?  I know the feelings of our people, as well as I do yours for caging people within that jail.  Upon that, I intimated to the Captain what I thought would be the probable result, and this morning I proceeded to his vessel to reassure him, upon your statement.  Imagine my mortification when he informed me that his steward had been dragged off to jail early in the morning, and that those two ruffians whom you disgrace the community with, behaved in the most outrageous manner.  It is in your power to relieve this man, and I ask it as a favor, and on behalf of what I know to be the feelings of the citizens of Charleston.”

“Your request, colonel,” said Mr. Grimshaw, with a little more complacency, “is too much in the shape of a demand.  There’s no discretion left me by the State, and if you have a power superior to that, you better pay the expenses of the nigger, and take the management into your own hands.  I never allow this trifling philanthropy about niggers to disturb me.  I could never follow out the laws of the State and practise it; and you better not burden yourself with it, or your successors may suffer for adequate means to support themselves.  Now, sir, take my advice.  It’s contrary to law for them niggers to come here; you know our laws cannot be violated.  South Carolina has a great interest at stake in maintaining the reputation of her laws.