State v. Mann Case

State V. Mann is when the Supreme Court of North Carolina decided that "slaveowners" have authority and control over their "slaves" and that they are not guilty and/or violate anyones right if they commit violence against their slaves.  

The decision came after the story of a slave called "Lydia" who was rented by John Mann from her former owner Elizabeth Jones, was shot by Mann when she was trying to escape lashing. The case was taken to court where Mann had to pay a $10 fine, as a result Mann felt humiliated and claimed that based on the North Carolina common law it states that an owner has an absolute power over the slave. 

The Judgment of the state stated "the power of the master must be absolute, to render the submission of the slave perfect” which was wrote by Thomas Ruffin. Thomas struggled between deciding whether it is inhumane to injure someone even if he/she was a slave but also, couldn't break the law and still thinks that the owner must have power over his slave. 

The state obviously doesn’t agree with slavery but they also can’t break the law and the case of Lydia was basically asking the court to break the law. The judge didn’t break the law but the people found it inhumane to do such an action and therefore their emotions lead them to believe that this is an unethical and an unacceptable action.