Thirty-six "House Carpenters and Bricklayers of Charlestown" seek to curtail "Jobbing Negroe Tradesmen, who undervalue Work, by undertaking it for very little more than the Materials would cost, by which it is evident the Stuff they work with cannot be honestly acquired." The petitioners declare that this "Honourable House will be sensible that this Practice must be prejudicial, not only to the Proprietors of Materials for building, but highly detrimental to your Petitioners, Who are thereby deprived of the Means of gaining a Livelihood by their Industry." They therefore pray that a law be enacted "as may prohibit Negroes from undertaking Work on their own Account."
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Repository: South Carolina Department of Archives and History, Columbia, South Carolina
