State of NC vs. Mann

BOOM! A slave by the name Lydia shot in the back at the hands of a white male named John Mann. Lydia fought to resist John Mann after being rough handled, but in her attempt to flee he struck her with a bullet to the back. The state of North Carolina was charged John Mann and he was subjected to a fine of $10. This incident is referred to as the famous court case State of North Carolina vs. Mann.

The state argument focused only many aspects in hopes of the trail not siding in favor of John Mann. Lydia’s original slave owner or master is known as Josiah Small, and John Mann was “renting” Lydia from her owner. The state said John violated slave codes. Which legally allowed slaves to be whipped, tortured, or branded but not killed. Even Though Lydia was not killed the state argued that what Mann did was assault and battery, as he should. The owning of a slave was deemed okay  by the Bible as long as masters withhold certain standards. Slavery was accepted within “logical”limits. North Carolina used good points, but lacked more lawful support.

John Mann’s argument worked in his favor against the state. Under property laws Lydia is a slave therefore she is considered as property and ownership is treated just like an actual owner of an unmovable object. Mann argued he was only trying to prevent Lydia from running away and if he would have not stopped her then other slaves would have thought it was okay to run. The fugitive slave laws of 1715, set in place to prevent escaping of one’s property, was not anything out of expecting normals. God is on his side. Another way Mann is defended under the law is the Missouri Compromise. His argument had a stronger legal foot in the case against state as slaves has no constitutional rights.

After hearing both sides of the case Mann’s verdict is brighter due to the fact that property laws are more important than state or criminal.The legal precedent of the case was strong.