Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-11-25

L.. n
Mr. VerP'anek, will be noticed hereafter.
| TO THE EDITORS OF THE En,oy,,pcp
ihe late insurrection in the county of son,hsmnon
and the horrd cruelties and barbarities 80; ~ ~,
Few miserable wretchss who were engaged in il, upon
the helpless and unofiending women and eAildra, ~,
!e" victims TO H. has called forth gener i,eln -,
| horror and indignation throughout this State and
ne country al large The Impressions which have
oeeh made' even by the bare recital of Ills hor
rid tragedy, have been more ke, nIy felt by ~.
,In's' because II has been acted more immediate
among us; aud secondly, because the virsinians
pc cuiar temperament OF feeling aud character
wmcn makes them revolt with indignant horror At m,
a s', dagger, or the midnight murder However
s..';ns ne as. which Is perpeuated may bsto their
uonc IN the broad and open day light.
But this peculiar temperament of feeling which I
M OIL ana which Is certainly Characteristic
me 'rginians Is apt while acting under the immeJi-
ate influence OF 1t, to carry them beyond the bounds of
reason and discretion; and this which has been
committed Is not discovered until il Is sometimes lnos,
TOO late to have il corrected.
in consequence OF the late disturbance In The county
OF southampton, and the feelings which have been pro-
a Iy H. 'ne papers have lately teemed with
rous plans and propositions the object OF all which
10 guard against and prevent recurrence Of similar
events. This is certainly right and show the good anil
pariotc feelings OF those who are the authors OF bem
But must at the same time saw that las far AS / am
capable OF judgng,) although e,lher the plans pro
posed would eiecualy remedy the evil complained Of
o! any future danger TO be from the resi-
dence OF this class of population an,ong us vet, Think
see consequencesto be spprehe nded the most dsas
troas and overwhelming (rom the adoption Of some Of
The plans propose) TO the future welfare and prosper
~ oil our beloved country. But before proceed TO ex
arnae the various schemes which have been proposed
US hrst inquire into, and ascertain far as we can
he particular character OF, and which may have
led TO and produced the late
IN the county OF Southampton; and having done So we
sha hen be better prepared apply the proper
tive to the evil complained Of
As far as the information which has been pub,isbed
mas gone, relative 10 the late horrd they
appeal 20 nave been committed by few miserable
"te'ches, headed by monster in nquity. As far as
we are Informed, the spirit which produced them ap
pears to have been confined particular district of
country; or more generally felt it more gene
rally manifested. From all other parts of our State this
portion oil our population have remained in state of
perfect peace and quieness and of those who are i'm
'he dis'rct oil country in which reside have ney or
seen or heard (rom all information receiyed either al the
time oil the late Instruction, or sinceO any symptom
OF dlscontent discovered but cheerful and willing obe
dience has been shown in faithful performance of all
The next Inquiry Is what are the causes which are
hkeIy to have produced the late disturbance IL has
1eeh sa.a Sy some I'm consequence presume. of the
leader oil this murderous bandit,i calling himself Pro-
phef, and pretending to receive immediate revelations
rom HeaVen,l that IL proceeded from what is called
rehgous ianadcism But let such persons be assured
ha was In consequence OF the absence of all religious
feeling and the leader OF this banditi associates
being given up to the natural uss and passions of their
depraved and wicked hearts, that produced the
| Atrocities OF which they were guilty True relieion
has its seat in the heart and has the effect of subdnne
all these horrid natural passions and incnaions and
| %
man, sincere, heartfelt desire to do an the good we
caa to our feo,7creafures Where these fruits are not
produced, there is religion.
What then likely 10 have BEEF the caITses which
may have been Instrumental in producing this ns,,r-
rectionary spirit which have lately Witnessed! NV
own opinion Is, that the principal may be found
IN inc freedom with which some Of good brethren
oil the North have spoken OF the injustice and cruelty of
te people OF the South, continuing TO hold In state Of
slavery this portion oil population. Their papers
have been filled for several years past with the most
tyolent publications. tho sutJo~t-Ndy, the angry
feelings which they have felt aud which they have 50
frequently and imprudenily expressed their
ves have carried into the public councils OF the nation
and there giving free them upon more than
one OCCASION agitang and convulsing the
bodies IN which they were, have shaken very
tire, the foundation OF government The second cause
which would assign tending produce the late bar
oarues mas been the strange and inconsistent course
which has been pursued by the members of what is
called tho Colonization Society. When that Society was
hrst established, the sole object of it, as ayowed nv Il.
iends ana members, was TO settle in part of Afr
ca colony TO be composed of class of people in this
country, called the free people colour long as
this object was solely and steadily pursued there
no' reneeung or patriotic man in the community but
VINO must nave wished to promote it, But soon after
The members Of this society enarging their views EN-.
braced in their scheme other objects not mentioned by
them at the time OF their first formation They openy
avowed, that their objects fold to coonze the
free people Of colour, and to promote the gradual
emancipation OF all the slaves of the country This Sc
cond purpose thus acknowledged, have no doubt was
suspected by many to have been of the primary oh.
Jects OF the Society at the time that il was first esa
blished But this unexpected and open acknow ledge.
ment OF II, removed all doubts upon the subject and
created degree of hostility which, but for this wonId
never have existed. The owners of slaves perceved
IN this declaration OF the Society, Interference In
their rights OF property, the authority make which
they were not willing to acknowledge, existing in any
individuals or setcreated Society, and they saw fur
Their that il calculated produce spirit of dissa
tsaction and INSTRUMENTATION among the slave popula.
ton, who before that time were perfectly satisfied and
conteDted and whose situation in many cases wa, far
superior TO large portion OF the white population OF
the world Is there any one who doubt for mo-
mon,, that these things have been communicated
generally TO the black people of this country aud thai
they have been made the frequent subjects of converse
lion among them, and considering the
which have been made (hrough igDorance) of all that
has been said and written upon this subject who does
not perceive the effects which such strange and ne
subjects were calculated TO have upon them?
| We come now TO consider the various Ilans and
schemes which have been recommended through the
public prints, TO prevent OF the events
which have recently taken place in the county OF
southampton. One scheme proposes, that shall i'm.
mediately rid our country Of the free people of COLOUR
another that we shall get clear of all our slaves Py
the plan proposed il is thought that this may be accom-
pshed in Fl rs years. To effect this il is recon-
Inended that the revenue tax upon every species Of
property now subject to taxation be increased and
tnued Tor such length OF time, will be sucicn 10
raise sum equal TO third of the whole sum which
may be necessary to transport the whole slave popua-
naming two-hirds of the which, is thought, will
be requisite for this purpose loans be made by the
State, redeemable at long periods.
In considering this paDj the following objections sug-
gest themselves: First that the principal part oil the
taxable property of the State consists in lis slave popu
lation. That the which will be Immediately want.
ed for the purpose cone mpaied will be coDsi erabe
one, exceeding in amount any idea which we could
form OF IT, without minute calculation. That II will
be, therefore, necessary 10 raise the much
Than II Is at present. ever known before in This
county. That this tax will have TO be continued for
several years, in addition the ordinary taxes which,
d ma v 40 q ut