State V Mann

The anti-slavery side argued that since Mann was renting the slave that he did not have the same rights to the slave as the owner Elizabeth,therefore does not have the right to assault a slave.The anti-slavery side also brought up how it didn't only violate the slave but the rights of the slave owner nearly killing the owners property.
The pro-slavery side brought up the point that slaves are not counted as people in the south.They also brought up the point that when Elizabeth leased out Lydia to Mann he then had all the rights to the slave that she has,therefore he could do whatever he wants with the slave.
 I think that the pro-slavery side made a better argument for Mann with the fact that when the slave owner leased out the slave that Mann then had the same rights as the slave owner,which means that he cannot be charged with battery.

http://www.northcarolinahistory.org/encyclopedia/268/entry/
http://ncpedia.org/state-v-john-mann