Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-08-19
FOR THE ARGUS.
bfR. PLEhSANTS,

bfR. PLEISANTS,
II IS with astonishment and in
dignation that perceive we have So soon
forgotten the direful evil which threaten
ed, and was SO near bursting upon our me-
tropotis, tut few short years past; and
although the calamity was at that time
Warded of, we must acknowlede that we
we've indebted for our escape more to the
interpretation of Providence, by that me-
morabie conVu,siOn of elements which then
took place, than 20 any exerticns of our
own These premises will bring to your
recollection the insurrectipn of August,
$500 and you will remember, and we
ought all to remember, the tenor of the
confessions of the miserable sufferers, and
the testimony Of the witnesses who were en-
gagged in the plot.
Did not all the Information then obtain
ed go to prove, that the very seeds of that
solution, were sown at meetings; particu-
larly those OH funeral occasions And did
1t not also appeal that very extensive COM
munications were by those means carried
on ali their plans concerted, and enlist
ments made at those meetings, convened
for those purposes under the disguise of
religion And is it not still fresh in the
recollection OF every person of observation,
that tor several years previous to the in
surrection, meetings on funeral and other
Occasions were more frequent and more
numerous than had been usual repeat,
that it is with astonishment and indignant.
on, that Iperceiye we have so soon forgotten
the dreadful calamity which so short a time
ago was arrested at our very doors lam
astcnished that we should so far have for
gotten our recent danger q the circumstan-
ceS connected with it, as still to permit,
nay even countenance, and encourage those
funeral meetings and other numerous as.
semblageS Of negroes ON Sundays, notwith-
standing the portentous warning we have
had ot their fatal tendency. And my in
disnation is excited by those who cannot
plead ignorance in excuse for their conduct
and who permit and encourage meetings
of the above description on their planta.
tons.
Several recent instances of this prepos-
ferrous and baleful conduct has occurred in
my neighborhOod, within very short time I;
and no less than two within four miles of
me on Sunday the ninth instant to both
of which great numbers resorted from
Richmond and 10 doubt from other places
equally distant. These great assemble
ges were furnished with considerable guam
tites Of cake, toddy and other refreshments
What Will be the consequence of thus suf-
feriDg those people to convene in such vast
bodies and so frequently Past experience
will furnish us with an answer-That
they will produce plots and instructions
no one ought to doubt--Should not then an
austeTe police be observed to remedy this
growing evil, SO disastrous in its conse-
1ucDccs2
Humanity cries aloud to those in autho.
rity, in mercy, arrest the progress of the
impending calamity ere it be too late, and
snatch from destruction those evil fated and
1eluded human creatures who else must
Inc vitality fall a sacrifice totheir own pre-
pCstercus Vaccinations We have only
10 look to St Domingo to have pre-
sentcd 10 our view the horrors of a formi-
liable successful insup rec ION Of slaves tit
is true that in this otherwise happy conn
Try the proportional number Uf slavcs is far
too small 10 afford suf,icir nt ground Of hope
IN the one hand. or fear on the other, that
any attempt &c insurrcCtion will ever ter
inmate OthcIw S. than abortive; but the
presumption Of ignorance is immt asura-
BE and therefore notwirhstard ng this
disparity IN numbers, and every ether dis