Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-26

dead. Tho gait the nogrocs travelled, served to
sirkO additional horror. For they never rode ut
less than full speed and their horses became Ii
rod they pressed fresh ones. u2iiiy Astis against
whose name there sccms prescription, was con-
opicuous amcng the insurgents; when pressed into
service, he wcp like child, but having once tasted
blood, lac was like wofict into tho fold. rortur-
od 10y his conscience, and too proud to surrender lie
WAS his own d, stroycr. In future years, the bloody
road, will give rise TO many sorrow fm legend, and
tho tranplimg of hooiS III fancy, visit many an cx-
cited imagination.
Below is correct list of tho whites who have
been murdered: Joseph Travis, wife and three chill
drcm; Mrs. Elizabeth Turner, Hagtwcll PEBBLES and
Sarah Ncwsome Mrs. Piety Reese and son Will.
am; Trajan Doyal; Henry Bryant, wife, child and
witc's mother; Mrs. Catherine Whitehead son
tichard four daughters, and grand child; Salathci
Francis; Nathaniel FrauciSs ovcrsccr and so chill
dren; John /. Barrow, and George w. Vaughan:
Mrs. Levi Waller and ten chidrcn VIM. Williams
w'tr and two boys; Mrs Caswcll Worrell and child
Mrs Rcbccca Vaughan, son Arthur, and niece Ann
T.. Vaughan; Mrs. John X. Williams and child: Mrs
Jacob Williams, and three children; and Edwin
D:ury, amounting to itty-iivc.
| have now hurried through my promised nara
tive, ana feel relieved at quitting gloomy sub
lcct, bat must trcspass yet few moments longer on
thc patience of the fcadar. Rumor- have no doubt
zone abroad, relative to the number of blacks
killed; I few remarks this head, will not then
ne deemed Improper. From the best evidence
which have been able To obtain, likewise from
" nat dClu'ilsN saw liic number III VIII include
cvc'y nsurgrmt who with thom for the lc5st
tl;nc, throughout their whole route. The fact OF
their being mounted, and their irregular mode of
riding, caused their number to appear much
greater than it really Our Court has mani
ic*'c;! great ccmcacy III listening with unwcaricd
patience to the examination of a multitude of
witnesses, and to long and elaborate Arguments of
counsel. And their judgments reflect credit upon
our county. when ii is remarked that there is not
an individual who disaPprovcs of of their
convictions. They have condemned to death one
and twenty persons. Thirteen have been cxccu-
ted, accumulation of punishment III several cases
recommended, and there something like five
and twenty prisoners vet t. be tried. a commute.
ton in several cases have warmly supported and
here add my appreciation Of the course pursued
By the court when the testimony seemed to call for
it. Those who have been condemned to death
and those actually shot, exceed the number attrh-
utcd to the insurgents.
Il follows then, as Il necessary consequence
shat several innocent persons must have Suffered
For those whc have been bcrct of their relations
by tins un!ortunatc occurrence, many allowances
are 10 hc niIdc but tD another class, who have not
even this plea for shedding the blood of the inno-
cent, should not the violated laws Of their country
call them to settlement? They must bear in mind
that tho matter has day TO be adudicatcd nc
fore an impartial Judge Scarcely a mail arrives
that does not bring some account of an isolated
conviction for instruction in remote countless
thus Spottsyiyania, Narscmond, Prince George
~ Should the views here taken b. nc prove
thaJ The IuSIrrcciiOn Vas not general ore, and
thereby the life Of human being. / shall he
more than compensated COR the sine consumed, to-
g"thcr with the Odium called down upon me, by the
expression OF my opinions. In remote counties,
cannot conceive how isolated conviction can
tnkc place for Instruction. unless the Cour believe
the prisoner to have had some knowledge Of the
affair here. have doubt but that many super
s'tlous remarks made by the slaves, on the cousc-
qren2ea of the singular appearance Of the sun,
tiuconncctcd i'll their minds with any other subject
have been construed into knowledge of insur-
roc,ion. Likewise, if mere declarations made by
slaves, relative to what they would do II Capiaia
N"f came that way, the instruction, being at that
time suppressed, Mars party Dispersed ana IN st
OF them shot, are to he construed INTO evidences
al guilt, there can he end 10 convictions The
excitement having subsidized, which induced
many to think wrong, and prevented many who
thought right from stcmming tine tide. it becomes
Us as men TO return TO duty. Without mani.
Testing fear oil the blacks, by keeping s.ationod
armed force in any section of our country let 1ls
adopt more efficient plan, by keeping up for some
time, regular patrol, always under the command
of discreet person. who viii not by ndiscriminatc
punishment, goad these miserable wrctches into a
state OF desperation.