Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1831-12-22

Exrcursvr DrrARr~Exr, ,
December 6, 1851. (

| -. Decemoer u, 1881.
Fellow Ci6sens of the Se,,a,.-
aud IF tie Hease of Dei- y.:,e..
lou are again assembled under cir.
cumstanees calculated to inspire the
community with jast cxpec tatiou tina,
your deliberations will be followcJ nv
measures equal in energy and decision
TO the crisis in which your country j.
placed: an expectation which am
sure will not be disappointed. The
deep interest which The citizen. in
every part OF this Common NC al,h have
feit and manifested in relation 20 oc.
currences OF q grave and distressing
character, which have taken nlace
since your adjourmcnt--ncw. uoex.
pected. and heretofore unknown IN
the State-togethcr with the anxiety
teit IN the future fate of some ,f the
great subjects which were agitated at
your last Session, and the unpleasant
aspect Of our Federal relations, all
eonspirc to cause the people TO turn
their eyes upon you at this time, with
prafound and fixed attention. You
alone possess the power accomplish
ing all the great object. which the pub
lic desire, and much of the future vel
fare Of this Republic depends upon
your present deliberations -drlibera
tions which doubtless will be 6rst
turned to the melancholy subject which
has hlled the country with affection.
and one OF the fairest counties in the
Commonwealth with mourning.
Whilst we were enjoying the abun-
dance Of the last season, reposing in
the peace and quiet of domestic com
tort and safety, we were suddenly a.
reused from that security By receiving
information, that u portion of our fel.
low citizens had fallen victims To the
relentless fury of assassius aud mur.
derers, even whilst wrapped IN pro-
found sleep, and that those bloody
deeds had been perpe,rs;ed 10 n spirit
OF wantonness and cruelty, unknown
To savage warfare, even IN their most
revolung form.
In August last, banditii If slaves,
consisting Of but few at FIRST, and not
at any time exceeding a greater mum
Der than seventy, rose upon some ol
the nnsuspecting aud defencclcss in
habitants of Southampton, and under
circumstances oil the most shocking
aud horr,d oarbar,,y. put to death six
~ one persons. OF whom the greater
number were women and helpless chill.
dren. Auch OF this bloody work Vas
dune on Monday morning. and on the
day following. about ten o'clock, the
last murder was committed. The ci-
'iZens Of that and the adjacent coun-
ties promptly assembled, and all real
danger ~as speedily terminated.
The conspiracy was at FIRST believed
to be general: wherefore vas induced
to call into service a force sufficient
to crush al a single blow. all opposing
power, whatever might be its strength.
10 this end, detachmeGts Of Light In
fantry from the Seventh and Fifty.
fourth Regiments, and from the Fourth
; Regiment of Cavalry s. 4th Light Ar
tillery, under Captains Harrison and
Richardson, were ordered 10 repair
10 the scene of action with all possible
; speed, and report to Brigsdier Gene
raj Eppes, VINO had been desired "a
assume the command. and call out his
Brigade. Arms and ammunition were
; amply furnished and thrown into oil the
counties which were suspected at dis
affec ton. Two Regiments in Bruins
wick and Greensyille, were called into
service by their comma nding officers,
: under the law ves,ing them with pow
er to do so, for such purposes. These
troops being within the Brigade com
handed BY Drigadier. General William
III. Brodnax, that officer assumed the
command. aud remained 30 the held
until all danger had passed.
Ii gives me great pleasure TO com
munIeate TO the General Assembly
the high sstisfae ton | feel IN bearing
: Testimony to the zeal. promptituh,
aud despatch with which every ofIiceI
discharged his deity, and the cheerful
| aiacrity with which every citizen obey
, ed the call of the law.
Though the call upon the Ligh
troops was 90 promptly Obeyed, We
before their arrival, the revolt wa
subdued, aud many Of these deludet
fanatics were either captured or were
placed beyond the possibility Ut escape
some had already been Inundated b.
an excited people.
, Ifeel the highest qualification 10 add
{ ing, that the readiest AID was afordes
: by Commodore Elliot of the UnIte'
: states NAVg. and a detachment @
8 sailors from the Ship hatcher uude
has Command, WHO. notwithstanding
E they had Just returned lrom a long an'
G distant cruise. repaired u the scene q
i acton with highly credfabls alaerl
yity. Much - also due to Col. House
. the commanding oftcCf ~ F0sffes