State vs Mann

In class the first two moot court groups argued the State vs Mann case, where a slave trying to flee her master was shot in the back and severely injured. The two sides made very strong cases as State was up first. State's opening argument was that slavery as a whole was unconstitutional and that Mann was not only a murder but did not have the right treat his property in the way that he did. Unfortunately for them, slavery is not directly denounced by the constitution, the slave did not die, and according to the law of property Mann can pretty much do what he wants to his own personal property. Mann's argument was simple in that they said common slavery was legal in North Carolina and that a runaway slave was to be returned by any means necessary. Unfortunately according to the laws at the time Mann had done nothing wrong and was not forced to pay a fine.