UNCLE TOM'S CABIN

'
"
notorious.
CHAPTER
KEY TO UNCLE TOM S CABIN. 09
VIII.
THE GOOD OLD TIMES.
The author takes no pleasure in presenting
agoniesof death,into the water ! And this deed
to her readers the shocking detailsof you dared to perpetrate in the very
harbor of
the following case. But it seems necessary |Charleston, within a few yards of the shore,unjblushingly,
the face of open day. Had your
to exhibit what were the actual workings
- murderous arm been raised againstyour equals,
of the ancient law of South Carolina, which I whom the laws of self-defenceand the more efficacious
has been characterizedas one "conformed
to the policy, and approvedby the wisdom,"
of the fathers of that state, and
the reform
of which has been called "a refinement in
humanity of doubtful policy."
It is well,also țo add the charge of
JudgeWildg,partly for its intrinsic literary
merit,and the nobleness of its sentiments,
but
because it exhibits
principally
such a contrast as could scarcely be found
elsewhere, between the judge'shigh and
indignant sense of justice, and the shameful
impotenceand imbecility of the laws under
which he acted.
The case was broughtto the author's
knowledgeby a letterfrom a gentleman of
challenged for a
and diabolicaltransaction.
You caused
parallel to thisunfeeling, bloody
your unoffending, unresisting slave
to be bound hand and foot,and, by a refinement
in cruelty,compelledhis companion,perhaps the
friend of his heart, to chop his head with an
axe, and to cast his body,yetconvulsingwith the
law of the land unite to protect,your
crimes would not have been without precedent,
and would have seemed less horrid. Your personal
risk would
at least have provedțhat though
a murderer, you
were not a coward. But you too
well knew that this unfortunate man, whom chance
had subjectedto }Tour caprice, had
not, like yourself,
chartered to him by the laws of the land the
sacred rights of nature ; and that a stern, but
necessary policy, had disarmed him of the rights
of self-defence. Too well you knew that co
you
; and that your
alone he could look for protection
arm alone could shield him from oppression, or
avenge his wrongs ; yet, that arm you cruelly
stretched out for his destruction.
The counsel,who generously volunteered his
servicesin your behalfșhocked at the enormity
of your offence,endeavored to find a refuge, as
well for his own feelings
Pennsylvania, from which the following is
heard your trial,in a derangement
of your intellect.
Several witnesses were examined to establish
an extract :
this fact ; but the resultof their testimony, it
is apprehended, littlesatisfactory
was as to his
Some time between the years 1807 and 1810, mind, as to those of the jury to whom it was
there was lyingin the harbor of Charleston a addressed. I sincerelywish this defence had
ship commanded by a man named Slater. His provedsuccessful, 2io" from any desire to save
crew were slaves : one of them committed some
you from the punishment which awaits you, and
offence,not specified in the narrative. The captain
which you
so richlymerit,but from the desire of
ordered him to be bound and laid upon the savingmy country from the foul reproachof having
deck ; and there,in the harbor of Charleston,in in its bosjni so
great a monster.
the broad day-light, compelled another slavesailorto
chop off his head. The affair was public
From the peculiar situationof this country, our
fathers fellthemselves justified in subjecting to a
A prosecutionwas commenced very slight punishment him who murders a slave.
againsthim ; the offence was provedbeyond all Whether the presentstate, of societyrequirea
doubt," perhaps,indeed,it was not continuation of this policy, so oppositeto the
denied,"
and the judge, in a most eloquentcharge apparentrights or
of humanity, it remains for a
rebuke of the defendant,expressedhis sincere subsequentlegislature to decide. Their attention
regret that he could inflictno punishment, under would ere this have been directed to this subject,
the laws of the state.
but,for the honor of human nature, such hardened
I was studying law when the case was published
sinners as yourself are rarelyfound,to disturb the
in " Hall's American Law Journal,vol.i." repose of society Ṭhe grandjury of this district,
I have not seen the book for twenty-five
or thirtydeeplyimpressed
with your daringoutrageagainst
years. I may be in error as to names, "c, but the laws both of God and man, have made a
very
while I have lifeand my
senses the facts of the strongexpression of their feelings on the subject
case cannot be to
forgotten.
the legislature ; and, from the wisdom and justice
of that body, the friends of humanity may
The following is the '-'charge" alluded confidently hope soon to see this blackest in the
to in the above letter. It was pronouncedcatalogue
of human crimes pursuedby appropriate
by the Honorable JudgeWilds,of South
punishment.
In proceeding
to
Carolina, and is pass the sentence which the
copiedfrom Hall's Law law provides for your offence, I confess I never
Journal, I. 67.
felt more forciblythe want of power to make
respected the laws of my country,whose minister
John Slater! You have been convicted by a I am. You have already violated the majestyof
juryof your country of the wilful murder of your those laws. You have profanely pleadedthe law
own slave ; and I am sorry to say, the short, under which you stand convicted, as a justification
impressive, uncontradicted testimony,
which of your crime. You have held that law in
that convictionwas founded,leaves but too little one hand, and brandished your bloodyaxe in the
room to doubt itspropriety.
other,impiouslycontending that the one gave a
The annals of human depravity mightbe safelylicenseto the unrestrained use of the other.
as for those of all who