Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-12-22
TO our aid. under the command Of Lieu

| PSSe " uueS a. likewise to the
officers and soldiers under his com.
mand, for the promptitude with which
they also repaired to our assistance SO
soon as 1t came tn their knowledge all
necessity tor their cooperation had
ceased be(ure they reached their point
OF destination; but they are not the
less entitled to communication on that
account.
All OF those who participated in ,hc
bloody tragedy have cxpia,cd their
crimes. by undergoing public cxecu-
ten, whilst some who had been con.
denned have been rcprie,cd for rea.
sons which were deemed satisfactory.
There Is much reason 10 believe tina,
the spirit OF insurrec,ion was not con.
hned tn Southampton; many convic-
tons have taken place elsewhere, and
some lew in distant counties. From
the documents which I herewith Law
before you. there is too much reason
to believe those plans Of treason. in.
surreot'on aud unurder, nave been de.
signed, planned and ma,ured by un.
restrained fanatics in some Of the
neighbouring States, who find facilities
IN distributing their views and plans
amongs, our population either through
the post Office, Or by agents sent for
that purpose throughout our territory.
Upon inspecting these documents,
and contemplating that state Of things
which they arc intended to produce,
felt it my duty to open a correspon-
dence with the Governors IF some of
the neishboring powers Of this coufe
deracy, to preserve as far as possible.
the good understanding which exists,
and which ought to be cherished, be-
tween the different members of this
/ Uhion. The result Of this corrcspon-
dence will be made known TO you, so
soon as u is aScertaIncd.
/ The most active among ourselves,
IN stirring up the spirl, of revolt. have
been the negro preachers. They had
acquitted great ascehdancy over the
minds ot their fellows, and infused all
their opinions, which had prepared
them for the development Of the ii,al
design. There is also seine reason TO
believe. these preachers have perfect
understanding IN relation to these
plans. throughout the eastern counties
and have been the channels through
which the inflammatory papers and
pamphlets, brought here by the agents
and emissarics from other States, have
been circulated amongst our slaves
The facilities thus afforded for plotting
treason and conspiracy, to rebel and
make insurrectIon. have been great !;
through the indulgence of the Magis-
tracy and the laws, large collections
OF slaves have been permitted to take
place, at any time through the week.
Tor tho ostensible purpose Of INDUCING
in religious worship; but in many in.
stances the real purpose with the
preacher, was Of different character.
The sentiments, and sometimes the
words, OF these infiammatory pamph-
let's, which the meek and charitable Of
other States have seen cause 10 dis.
tribute as 6re-brands IN the bosom OF
our society, have been read. What
shall DO thought Of those Gends, who.
having no interest in our community,
nevertheless seek TO excite n servile
war Pa war, which sxhausts itself in
the massacre Of unoffeudlng women
and children on the one side, and on
the other. ia the sacrifice OF all who
have borne part IN the savage under
taking. Not only should the severcst
punishment be inflicted upon those dis
turbers Of our peace, whenever they
or their emissarIes are found within
our reach, hot decisive measures should
be adopted 10 make all their measures
aboriivc. The public good requires
the negro preachers 10 be sIlcnccd,
who, full Of ignorance, nre incapable
Of intoxicating any thing but notions Of
the widest superstition: Thus pre-
, pairing ilt instruments III the hands OF
.. the crafty agItatOrs ~ destroy the pub
lie tranquility.
A. the means Of guarding agains,
the possible repetition Of these sanguI.
nary seems, | cannot fail to rccOm
mend to your early attention, tbe reyi.
, sion of all the laws. Intended TO pre-
serve in due s7bordina,IOn the slave
/ population 81 our State. la urging
these considerations upon you. let me
not be understood a. expressing the
slightest doabt W apprehension of ge.
neral resul,s--all communities are Ia.
bic 20 suffer from the dagger Of the
murderer and midnight assassin, and
j, bchooves them To- guard against them
J With US, the FIRST returning light die
: prls the danger and soon Witnesses the
murderer ~ chains.
z Though means have becn taken by
. th0se Of other States % agitate Oui
! community. a,Id discomfort our saves
aHd Incite them 10 attempt az unst
I. iAinable object; some proof Il sls'
: furnished. that fof the class ol Tree