CHAPTER II

.—WHAT IS SLAVERY? 70

Definitions from civil code of Louisiana.—From laws of South Carolina.—Decision of Judge Ruffin.—Involve absolute despotism.—Do not admit of humane decisions.—Designed only for the security of the master, with no regard for the welfare of the slave.—Judge Ruffin.—No redress for personal injury that does not produce loss of service.—Case of Cornfute _v._ Dale.—Decision with regard to patrols.—Decisions of North and South Carolina with respect to the assault and battery of slaves.—Decision in Louisiana, by which, if a person injures a slave, he may, by paying a certain price, become his owner.—Decision in Louisiana, Berard _v._ Berard, establishing the principle that by no mode of suit, direct or indirect, can a slave obtain redress for ill-treatment.—Case of Jennings _v._ Fundeberg.—Action for killing negroes.—Also Richardson _v._ Dukes for the same.—Recognition of the fact that many persons, by withholding from slaves proper food and raiment, cause them to commit crimes for which they are executed.—Is the negro a person in any sense?—Judge Clark’s argument to prove that he is a human being.—Decision that a woman may be given to one person, and her unborn children to another.—Disproportioned punishment of the slave compared with the master.—Case of State _v._ Mann, showing that the owner or hirer of a slave cannot be punished for indicting cruel, unwarrantable and disproportioned punishments.—Judge Ruffin’s speech.

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