Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1825-07-26

c. w. TALIAFERRo, sec'ry.
TO THE EDITORS OF THE Enquirer.

From the viciah, Of Ale ,ad,,,'l
Gentlemen: | rode 10 Alexandra last Monday
and suprised-indeed, | can hardly say sur.
PJiSed for my mind has long been prepared for
more serious occsrrences--by an account given ne
OF rio there the evening before among The negroe-
The circumstances related to me are these
The sable gentlemen, most OF them slaves, lad
been lndulging III dinner party, and ere probably
somewhat eyhil rated by the quick circulation OF
the bottle. In this they sailed in ti-, at
iernoon TO visit house IN the upper Part of the
town, ',it on the main street, ard usually The resi-
dence oil southern raiders in negroes. Those which
are bought by such persons kept there--if veil
disposed, they are permitted TO 20 at large--are
well fed and clothed, and treated with kindness and
humanity. Gentlemen from The south who purchase
negroes 10 be employed on their estates, place
them as boarders in the establishment adverted to-
until their journey is undertaken. The rioiers de-
manded of landed proprietor, of great respectable
ty, who happened to be fortunately at he House
when they appeared there, that some persons whom
he had purchased for his own service should he
produced 10 them He expressed willingness
hat such as wished 10 enter for the purpose Of
visiting his servants might enter, but declined per
hitting an interview between them in the street
On this the prerneditated uproar commenced--abu-
sive epithes were applied abupdantly to all who
dared to purchase slaves, either as traders or cult
vators OF the soil, and The language and gestures
menacing and insulting.
The peace officers who interposed to restore or
der were abIsed-resisied violently or beaten
down:-A Justice of the Peace, residing near the
scene OF actIon,-a gentleman cool ia temper firm
and intelligent, prepared TO defend his family with
arms, seeing that his authority was entirely disre-
garded: whilst he on the point of signing
reqsition for military force subdue the inftri-
aed--what shall denOminate them? nstirrentsS
Many of the most prominent of the mob have been
arrested, and will be required TO appear at the Fall
term OF the Court in Alexandra. Others | am in
formed have eluded justice by escaping to the
neighbourhood. The design of The rioters was be-
yond doubt to commence system ofintimdation-
first, TO deter from purchasing, the traders whose
pursuit, IT is true, is not popular one nor cred-
table to them-then to prohibit all transfers of pro
perty of the kind IN question-and then, possibly,
to effect, OF themselves, the end which some OF
our statesmen profess to have so much at heart. So
we 20.
Each day affords some new illustration of the
blessed consequences of urging to its last possible
extreme, the maxim that 90 all men are by nature
equally Free Ssc.---and abusing this principle by
making it the foundation Of perfect political and
social equality.
assure YOU, sirs, that find il exceedingly diff
cult to restrain my servants, preserve any sub
ordination among them. This is very general
complaint ia this section Of the state Yet thev
are exempt from almost every real care which
saddens lle ard the whole black population. as IA,
rs my observation has extended, is in al in6niieIo
better condition, far relates to all the confors
OF life, than most OF the labouring classes in anv
part of Europe.
But these people (the labouring class of our
southern states) are made unhappy by de,igni,o
men who affect 10 consult their welfare. M.ny
are taught TO read IN the families they serve and tey
teach others
newspapers are resorted to by them, and these
with tracts written o. the horrors Of the slave trad,
the evils OF slavery, &c. furnish interesting
topicks Of discussion in the kitchen and the cabin
Speculations natural rights, and principle. Of
government TOO, are becoming quite common.
do not know how these things are with VOC
and farther south; bat / assure you write with .
knowledge Of facts to support me in the Representa-
ton have given Of their state here. Does not IN.
aspect Of our internal concerns, influenced rs the,
are By foreign interference, aided BY the co-opers
ton Of party among ourselves to effect the sam,
end, semsnd the serious consideration Of ever,
Yifgini who loves his country and respects ID
establishments,
so deeply an impressed bg what spDesrs 10 mi
70 be The design Of certain politicians thai II ppt
without imp'ety, quote sentence from the divip
oracles and apply it in any other than sscrc
sense, would say to my iellow-ciiizcns. yVhe
Z" 1t Is evening, ye say, 1t will be fair weather: 70
=" the sky is red. And in the morning. i, viii b
foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lower
ing. We can discern the face OF the sky; but ca,
ye not discern the signs Of the tines5" CD