Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1831-09-26
The Richmond Nhl..
COMMUNICATION,
Foa rnR WING.
SOUTHAMPTON RESURRECTION

Il
vi and likewise conscious, shat Justice To the in
nocent requires, that the causes, this extent and
number OF persons involved in the late insurrcc-
tion should he correctly understood, l h,v, re-
solved TO enter upon the task.-Prufcssonal duties
prevent me, from bestowing as much attention To
tine drawing up of this narrative as | would wish
And must therefore, submit il To tho nibl;c
crude and undigcsted sketched amid scenes bu,
al calculated, TO support in nv opinions
Another induccment, exclusive of any sanctioned
by humanity, is, that there many r,imors
ahoat, and 80 many misstatomenis in the public
prints, that sacred duty to my country demands
q correct view of this tragedy.
II is only since tn. affair appears 10 be acttlcd
that have thought seriously upon the ,ubjeat-Iu
almost every section of our county, conversation
instead of being as it was month since lrht and
cheerful, is now cloathcd in dismal forobodincs.-
Some of our citizens will leave us--and al agree,
that they again feel 81 TO- mover again be
happy. But let us examine into their apprehen
''oh', ana SEQ II we can administer no comfort.
have heard many eIprcss their fears of n gene.
raj insurrcction, they arc ignorant who believe in
She possibility of such thing.-What tho relative
proportion OF black to white is, in tho slavchol-
ding states know not-having no means of OBJ
tanning correct information at this time; but sup.
pose the prcponderancc to DO in favour OF the
blacks - any extent; and you cannot create cause.
Tor alarm. Is II possible for mon, dchascd drErad-
ed as they are, to concert effective mca-
surcsI Would the slares alone in st. Domingo
evcr have attempted insurrccton1 I hnmbIv ap-
prehend not. TWAS the march of intoliact among
The tree blacks that first garr impulse 10 The tide
which poured its torrents throughout the Island
Can any person entertain serious approximations
from this portion of our population; situated az they
are-without arms, without concert, what can be
eifoctedl Why nothing-and Il serious attcmpt
will never be made while they are thus situated.
But if any desire there was increase this shirt
among our slaves, 1 would advise our citizens, TO
permit coloured preachers to go on, as they have
for several years past haranging vast crowds
when and where they pleased, the characte.
OF their sermons known only to the. congrega-
uons-Nor do think some or white brcth-
rem, exempt from ccns1rc, when they FL their
discouTscs with rdniing cant about cquality.-If
our insurrcction was known, beyond the nc;ghbo--
hood of its commemorative cause must ne at
tributed TO the misguided zeal of good men, prca-
calng up equality; and to ignorant blacks, who
again retail the same doctrine, with such com
ments, as their heated imaginaions may supply, 10
their respective circles of CONFERENCE.-The my
own part, think when Il minister goes into pull
pit, flies into passion, beats his fist, and in fine
plays the blolckhcad that he gives warrant to an
negro who hears him, to do whatever lac peases
provided his imag ina alton, make God sanction
tiff the insurrcction was general, it is Fortunate
that 1t happened ut this tme.-For lift had been
delayed longer the minds of the blacks would have
been better prepared the plot more extensive, and
consequently the carnage much greater. But bclicv-
ing 1t highly improbable, that serious attempt
Will ever be made while they remain in their pro
sent state of ignorance; satisfied that no general
concert, can be effected, unless by the means
of oducation; and conscious from the advantage
sf the whites the blacks in moral 6rmncas, that
an attempt under any circumstances, would be fu-
tile and frivolous, / feel perfectly easy.
But would caution all missionaries, who are
lettering the &C ndiion of the world and all phi
ianthropists, who have interest much ut
stake, not 20 plague Themselves about our slaves
-. leave them OK ciiis:vc!y 70 own management
The only possible crisis, in which our slaves can
ever become formidable, is in the event OF civil
Our instruction. general or not was the
work Of fanaticism-CienerGl Nat was no preach
or, but in his immediate ncghbourhoOd ne
had acquired the character of a prophet; like
Roman Sybil, he traced his dvination in
characters of blood, leaves alonc in the
woods; he would arrange them in conspicu-
GUS place, have dream telling him Of the circum-
stance; and then send some ignorant black bring
them to him, TO whom he would interpret theiE
meaning. Thus, by means of this nature, he nc
quired immense influence, such persons
he took into his CONFERENCE.-The, likewise, pre-
tended TO have conversations with the Holy Spirit;
and was assured by it, that he invulncrablc.
His escape, he laboured under that opinion, il
much to be regretted. Ills true that Nat hns 70.
some time, thought closely this subject--for
have In my possessIon some papers givon by his
wife, under the lash-thcy arc flied with hero
Slyphcal characters, conveying definite mean
ing. The characters the oldest paper, apparent
ly appear to have been traced with Blood and
each paper, crucx and the sun, is distinctly Wis
ibc; with the figures 5000, 10000, 10000, Sc
There is likewise piece of paper, of late date,
which, all agree, is a list of his men; if So they
wore shot of twenty. have been crcdibly nfor-
med, that something like thee years ago, Nat
cciycd whipping from his master, for saying that
the blacks ought to be FREQ aEd that they would he
free one day or other. Nat in person, is romar
kabic his nose is fiat, his stature rather small, and
hair very thin, without any peculiarly Of express
sion. AS proof of his shTewdness, he had acqui-
red Il great influence over his neighbOurhood
qulir.tance, without being noticed by the whites
prctcnds to be acquainted with the nTt Of making
gunpowder, and Likewise that of making paper.
NV own impression is, he hos left the Stationary
believe him be yet lurking in his ncighbourhood.
There are various rumours OF his having been from
home, many days at time, preaching in RiclI-
dnond, Petersburg, and Brunswick. They are
however, entirely without foundation. Tho truth
is, have never heard Of his preaching any where
lie exhorted and sung ut neighborhOod meetings,
worked upon for years, by pretended Visions with
a mind satisfied Of the possibility of freeing him
self and race from bondagc; and this by suPornatu
raj means To one thus situated, is it wonderful,
that the singular appearance of tho sun i'll August,
should have tempted him to execute hIs purpose
particularly when it's siireTy surface was dciaccd
by black spot, which Nat tCiprctcd into positive
proof that he would succeed in his undertaking.
Nat encouraged his company their route, by
telling them that as the black spot had passed
over the sun, SO would the blacks pass over the
earth. Having assigned the cause Of the insurrcc
lion, it becomes necessary to examine it's extent.
As far back, as u knowledge OF this affair can be
attributed to six seven, upon credible tes-
timony, is Sunday forenoon, 2lst of August, and
this credible testimony consists in the declaration
=