How did the experience of free blacks in the south compare with the experience of free blacks in the north?

Free blacks in the south still faced a large amount of systemic racism and legislation designed to keep them from enjoying the full fruits of the Constitution. With the imposition of black codes, the Jim Crow era, and concepts like red-lining, many southern cities and towns did their best to veritably exclude blacks from living day-to-day life on a par with that of whites.

I believe the answer is: c. ruled in favor of government regulations.

The case revolve around the creation of state regulation which banned women from working for more than 10 hours a day in factories and laundries.

The basis of the court ruling is that 10 hours a day is too much even for average men, and women at that time were still expected or required to take care of their household after they're done working.