Forty-nine "merchants and store keepers" in Camden complain about the 1817 law that increased "the penalties which are now by Law inflicted on persons who deal or trade with negro Slaves." They argue that said law, in effect, penalizes "the good Citizen submissive to the Laws of his Country" while rewarding a “less scrupulous” merchant. The former loses income by refusing to sell articles to a slave not producing the owner's "written permission," resulting in the store keeper’s family being "in want of bread & short of money"; the latter merchant will make the sale and "make a fortune." They also suggest that said law "serves as an Engine of Vengeance," allowing "drunkards" that have been refused liquor to indict merchants "for selling a 12 1/2 Cents worth of tobacco to Slave." The petitioners contend that the law did not intend "to prohibit servants to purchase any article for money for their own use, or that of their masters." They therefore "respectfully submit the policy of adopting such measures as may be most effectually valuable to prevent recurences of abuse and ensure the Security and Liberty of the retailer."
Result: Referred to judiciary committee.
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
