Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-12-22


the preacher, was OF a different character;
the sentiments and sometimes the words OF
these inilamEia;cty Pamphlets which the
meek and charitable OF cther States have
seen cause 20 distribute as fire brands ir the
bosom OF our society, have been read What
shall be thought OF those herds who. having
20 interest 10 onr community, nevertheless
seek TO sxrite servile wsr-a war witch
e2hausts itself in the massacre ef snofIend-
ing women ard children on Che orc SIDE, and
on tie other, in the sacrifice of all who have
borne part IN the savage undertaking. Not
only should the severest punishment be in
fiicted upon those distusbers of our neace,
whenever they or their Emissaries are found
within our reach, but decisive measures should
be adopted to make all their measures abor-
tive. The public good requires The negro
preachers TO be shenced, who. full Of igno
rance, are incapable OF intoxicating any thing
but notions OF the widest superstition. thus
preparing ut Instruments in the hands Of The
crafty agitstors 10 destroy the puts.ic tran
guilty.
Is the means OF guarding against The pos
sSle repetition of these sangEnaly scenes,
cannot fail 10 recommend TO yoar early atten
ton, the revision Of all The laws. intended 10
preserve in due snbordiuanou, the slave 20
pulaiion Of our State. Ia urging these con
siderations upon you, lei me not he under
stood as expressing the slighies, doubt or APP
prelehsion Of general resn!,s, al tomaun.-
ties are liable to snffel from the dagger OF
the murderer aud m!dni.h assassin, and it
behoves them TO guard against them.
With Us the iirst returning hight dispeis
the danger, and soon witnesses the murderer
in chains
Though means have been taken by those
Of other States TO agitate our community, and
discomfort our slaves, and inc,te them to al
tempt an nnattansble object, some proof is
also furnished. that for the class of free PEG
pie Of eolcr. they have opened more enlars-
ed views. and urge the achievement OF a
higher destiny, by means. for the present
less violent, but not differing IN tie end, from
those presented 10 the slaves. hat class OF
The community eur laws have heretofore
treated with indalsent kindness, and many
instances OF sofcitcdc for their welfare, have
marked The progress of Legislation. II the
slave is confined hy law to lhe estate of his
master, as i, Is advisable he should be = the
free people Of color nlay nevertheless convey
al the nccndtary pamphlets and papers With
which we are sought to he Inundated This
hostile arrey against any and every measure
designed 10 remove Them from amongst rs.
Though it VIII be indispen4abiy necessary for
them to withdraw from this community, yet
in the spri; Of kinduess mich has ever cha
racteriscd thc Legislature Of Virginia, IL is
submitted, whether as the last beneiit which
we can confer upon them. y u,ay not be wise
10 appropriate annually sum uf noney to
Al 4 l,ts
VI hilsl rccelit events had created apprc
hensioas IN the ns,nds OF few, s1se agita-
ton was also more extensively fell; where
fore it was deemed prudent TO arn the mill
Tia ia the manner calcGilted to qiiet all ap-
prehenaions, aud arms were accordingly Eur
nished to nearly all the regiments Oh the
Eastern frontier The policy OF disarming
the militia ii l. believed was pursued as a
measure OF economy, as the inep AMI 9TH
GERS had been celpahly Negligent In their al
tenticn to their preservation, 50 that many
were lost, or bv neglect beeu;1e unit Tor
service Now, however, tire necessity for
preserving item is distinctly felt, and .
doubt cannot be entertained, thatmorc care
wi he taken Of them III future could not
weigh the cx,rnse incurred by this measure,
against The possible Sacrifices Of HE. much
less the possible repetition Of the scenes Of
southampton.
The course Of Legislation adopted By your
predecessors during the last session OF the
General Assembly. has excited a strong IN
,erest With all classes ol enr fellow citizens
in the Improvement OF our STATE important
routes have been surveyed and Respectable
associations formed, hariHg FOR the ultimate
end the construction Of @oiks OF great use
l,inass ard .trong no 90 are EnterLaineJ
that you will contribute ali that wisdom and
pradenre NAY reaalte TO attain objects OF
snei, inexpr, ssible value TO Virginia. The
people expect rem youf energy the attain
,;1ent 10 ali those measures. aud again await
your tlerision - on are now called npon by
ever, consideration which can be presented
TO The representatives OF a free people, TO take
such measures. as wiil revive The declining
hopes OF the country, invigoiate her weak
enac energies and ensure her repose With
ample means within your reaeh-coEst'iu
tional power sufficient 10 efectnate every
good, with generous ana indulsent constitu
ents. YOU cannot fail to put In operation such
| a system OF measures, rs wiil icau 10 a h'Eu
| degree Of prosperity. aud secure the future
grandeur OF the Commonwealth
| Ia changing from iisiless course oil IN
adequate Legislation to eiie Of energy ana
| decision, none caa condemn; II VIII bacont
apparent to all that il IS net the impulse o
| bold innovation. but the woik oil wisdom anC
| sanitary caution-Done can contemplate roe
| wants aud wishes OF The inhabitants OF th'
various regions of this widely extended Com
| monwealth, without being iorci6iy impress
| ed with the necessity oil mutual concessions
| and sacrifices, TO attain the greatest soo'