never visits the prisons.

We are well aware that he called for this report, and further, that the
attorney-general, in a letter to the sheriff, (of which we have a copy,)
propounded numerous questions in regard to the jail, calling for a
statement in full, particularly the amount of fees paid to certain
functionaries; those charged to the State, and the average number of
prisoners per month, from Sept. 1851, to Sept. 1852, &c. &c. That letter
was transmitted to the jailer-a man whose character and integrity is
well known, and above reproach in Charleston-with a request that he
would make out his report. He drew up his report in accordance with the
calendar and the facts, but that report was not submitted. Why was it
not submitted? Simply because it showed the profit of starving men in
South Carolina prisons.

We have the evidence in our possession, and can show the Executive that
he has been misled. We only ask him to call for the original statement,
made out in the jailer's handwriting, and compare it with the calendar;
and when he has done that, let us ask, Why the average of prisoners per
month does not correspond? and why the enormous amount of fees accruing
from upward of fifty "colored seamen," imprisoned during the year, and
entered upon the calendar "contrary to law," was not included?

It is a very unhealthy state of things, to say the least; but as the
sheriff considers it his own, perhaps we have no right to meddle with
it.

All this clamor about the bad influence of "colored seamen" is kept up
by a set of mendicant officials who harvest upon the fees, and falls
to naught, when, at certain hours of the day during their imprisonment,
they are allowed to associate with "bad niggers," committed for criminal
offences and sale. If their presence is "dangerous," it certainly would
be more dangerous in its connection with criminals of the feared class.

Take away the fees--the mercantile community will not murmur, and
the official gentry will neither abuse nor trouble themselves about
enforcing the law to imprison freemen.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Manuel Pereira, by F. C. Adams

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