State V. Mann

    In the 1820s, tension spread throughout the American government. This tension was due to the constant debate over the abolition of slavery in the United States. The majority of the northern states felt that slavery was morally wrong, but they also felt that there was not a need for it. The southern states, however,  relied on slavery not just for free labor and economic purposes, but for more say in government. 

    The Three Fifths Compromise of 1787 stated that slaves counted as three fifths of a person. The South was very rural and the majority population was African Americans. During this time, the population of a state determined the number of seats your state could have in the government. Higher population equaled more say. The Southern states felt that keeping slavery alive was a way to have more power within the government. The Missouri Compromise of 1820 tried to address these sectional tensions by making Missouri a state that allowed slavery and making Maine a free state. It also banned slavery in the remaining lands of the Louisiana purchase. In turn, the south was doing everything within their power to keep slavery alive. Many states, including North and South Carolina, began to pass laws against the entry of free African Americans into their states. This would result in fines or even jail time. Other states such as Louisiana and Florida, passed laws stating that black people could not testify against white people. Missouri and Georgia made it illegal for African Americans to learn to read, write, or assembly.

     By limiting the rights of the enslaved, the southern states were attempting to dehumanize African Americans. They believed that this would make their slaves be viewed less as people and more as their property. It was argued that slaves were bought and sold, had little to no rights, and therefore were not considered human beings. During this time, property laws were viewed on a higher pedestal than criminal laws. It was argued that because slaves were property to their masters, their enslavement and fowl treatment were not crimes. 

    This leads us to the case of State v. Man which occurred in 1829, in the slave state of North Carolina. A slave named Lydia was rented out to John Mann. Lydia tried to escape after being whipped as punishment. As she was running away, Mann shot her and seriously wounded her. North Carolina authorities deemed Mann’s actions as assault and battery. This was taken to criminal trial and was later sent to the supreme court. The overall debate was over whether slaves are considered people or property.