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The Evolution of Slave Law in Antebellum North Carolina With Special Consideration to Judge William Gaston

It seems that the common understanding of slave law and the feelings behind it was uniform among all North Carolinians in the antebellum time frame. Moreover, this sentiment behind the law seems to be portrayed as constant and unchanging. That is simply not the case. As this exhibit will show, laws regarding the rights and justice for slaves saw a change well before the end of the Civil War and the passage of Civil Rights laws. The decisions and dissentions made by William Gaston show a clear evolution in the approach to slave law in North Carolina. This approach also had implications for the rest of the country, as the cases presented in the paper will show. Primary evidence will be drawn from Gaston’s cases. 

Thomas Ruffin's Changing View of Slavery

In 1830, North Carolina Supreme Court Judge Thomas Ruffin made a ruling in the case of State v. Mann that rang loud thoughout The South. His ruling that "the power of the master must be absolute in order to render the submission of the slave perfect" set the precedent that slaveholders could have unlimited reign to do whatever they wanted to slaves when giving out punishment. How did he come to this decision and what were his views of slaves during his life? This exhibit will show how Ruffin's feelings of slaves changed from a sympathetic mood in his younger years to a feeling that slavery was a good for society. 

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Thomas Ruffin's Decision in State v. Mann

Justice Thomas Ruffin gave one of the most controversial rulings in North Carolina history in State v. Mann. Ruffin stated in his opinion that, “The power of the master must be absolute, to render submission of the slave perfect” This ruling lifted any restrictions on a slaveowner’s treatment of his slaves. Upon looking at Thomas Ruffin’s failure to follow precedent, his personal activity in the institution of slavery, and his other decisions, it becomes apparent that Justice Ruffin was actively protecting slavery in his decision in State v. Mann. 

Thomas Ruffin’s Public and Private Sentiments Regarding North Carolina Slaves

In remembering the legacy of Supreme Court judge Thomas Ruffin (1783-1870), all too often the legacy of arguably the most influential North Carolina judge is reduced to his legal ruling in State v. Mann (1829). Ruffin’s infamous ruling that “the power of the master must be absolute to render the submission of the slave perfect,” if not analyzed further and read in full context, can distort inner moral quandaries regarding the master-slave relationship this southern judge, businessmen, and slave-owner both privately and publicly admitted. 

Why was North Carolina Reluctant to Secede from the Union?

North Carolina did not wish to join the other Southern states in secession after Lincoln’s election in 1860.  A major factor was the economics of secession did not make sense for North Carolina.  They did have a great need for slavery as they did not possess the same slave economy as the Deep South.  North Carolina was mostly made up of yeoman farmers who felt that their economic futures would be better protected under the constitution in the Union.  The Unionists stepped up to convince North Carolinians the benefits of remaining in the Union.  W.W. Holden, the editor of the Standard, was among the Unionists that proved influential.  Holden and other Unionists were able to win the General Assembly convention that Governor Ellis called to build up the army in preparation for secession.  This Union victory should have kept North Carolina in the Union, but the events at Fort Sumter ultimately proved too much and North Carolina followed the other Southern states in secession.  Though North Carolina had wished to remain in the Union, their position in the South and the actions at Fort Sumter was too much to keep the Old North State.