The Massachusetts spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1831-1858, 1831-12-21
ON SLAVE LABOR.

mond Wing, from the county Of Fiuvanna,
Ivy the ladies of which county it Is under
stood it will I've extensively signed:
To the Gemeral Assembly of the Common |
pect!a Of Virginig i
The Memorial Of the female citzens =, oi
the conn., of Fluvanna, most Respectfully
sheweit.,:
fCui memorialists have hfiherto oeen
blessed with ccntentment IN the nappy pr
vacy Of domestic retirement, where tney
have enjoyed peace and security unuer lhe
wise institutions of free government no,
have they until now, had occasion to appear
to the guardians of their countrys righis
for redress of any national grievance, having
shared the prosperity OF their heaven-favoI-
ed land with feelings e: gratitude to the
Author of all Good and to their natural
guardians and protectors. They retain
grateful recollection of the patriotic exer-
tons Of your predecessors IN ONCE, when
the land Of their nativity wore the letters oil
foreign thraidem, and the destin;es OF a
mighty nation were involved in your DELHI
eratons as Legislative body. The spirit
now an.nates your counsels which there tn
umphed over the oppression of Great Brit
ain, and bore rs safely through the perils OF
an unequal contest. The same wisdom per-
vades your deliberations which framed for
our emancipated realm, system of laws I'M
equalled in the universe. Under this saluta-
ry code, we have seen our sons arise to
manhood, unfetteretl by affect restrictions,
and our daughters fill their allotted stations
among the bonored matrons of free land.
But blight now hangs over our nation
nj prospects, and cloud dims the sunshine
of domestic peace throughout our State.
Our ears have heard the wailings of distress
and mysterious dread, mingled with fearful
~ picion, disturbs the sacred quiets of our
homes. We have heard "Rachel," as it
were, sweeping for her children, because
they are not" and uncomfortable sympa-
thy with distant murmurs, quickens the
throbbings of our once tranquil bosoms.
We cannot conceal from ourselves that
an evil is among us, which threatens to out
grow the growth and eclipse the brightness
of our national blessings. A shadow deep
ems over the land and casts its thickest
gloom upon the sacred shrine of domestic
bliss, darkening over us as time advances.
We reflect with gratitude, that no error, in
the trainers OF Or. constitution, entailed this
evil upo2 us. We drew the faint from the
bosom that fostered us, and it has gradually
mingled with the vital principle of our ma
tloaai existence. 1t can no longer remain
dormant and inert in the social system, but
calls loudly for redress from the sages of
our land. We are feelingly aware Of the
arduous difficulties of the case in question
and nothing but the fullest confidence in the
wisdom and prudence. of our Legislative
council, joined to a sacred trust in the God
Of nations, could induce us thus to intrude
on the important avocations which engage
your time and your attention. We feel con.
fdent of your sympathy in all real dangers
and trust that none of your revered body
will impute our interference in this delicate
matter, to culpable degree OF timidity
neither will you impute to us the extrava-
CANT expectation that your utmost exertions
can effect an immediate removal of the evil
we Geplore. We are prepared to endure a
large proportion of the affection, during our
brief term of existence. But we look for
ward to the time, when our children's chill
dren will occupy the places which must
soon know Us no more. Should your wis
dom devise a method of alternating our ma.
tional misfortune, posterity will be indebted
to you for the security of the domestic
sphere. Our daughters, and their daugh-
tiers, are destined to become, in their turn
the tender fosterers of helpless infancy, the
directors of developing childhood, and the
companions of those citizens who will occii-
Py the legislative and executive Offices OF
their country. Can we calmly anticipate
the condition of the Southern States, at that
period, should no remedy be devised to ar
rest the progressive miseries attendant on
slavery? We shuddered for the fate of our
fop1al.a daccop1arNs ,,,b;l
stlfie the too importunate apprehensions OF
our own bosons. 1t will be their province
MS 1t is ours, TO impose the salutary restraints
OF domestic discipline, and, in the absence
OF their lawful directors, to maintain tenn
porary sway over the household. Can this
post of duty be safely filled by helpless fe-
male, amid the impediments arising from
the increasing evils of slavery? Will the
absent fathers heart be at peace, when.
amid the hurry of public affairs, his truant
thoughts return to the home of his affec-
tions, surrounded by doubtful if not danger
GUS subjects to Precarious authority :
Perhaps. when deeply engaged in his legis-
lative duties. his heart may quail, and his
tongue falter, with irrepressible nppre-
henson for the peace and safety of objects
dearer than life itself.
Such will he the trials Of our posterity,
unless efficient measures are speedily put
IN operation to avert them from the unborn
myriads Of our native land.
We presume not to intrude our sugqes-
tons as to the method of accomplishing this
stBpendons undertaking, but we are content
TO leave the choice of measures to those on
whose wisdom we can rely. II is sufficient
that we are allowed the privilege of en-
treating our iawgiyers to commence, with
out delay, work which must he slowly
and gradually performed We can only aid
the mighty task 10y ardent outpourings of the
snrit of duplication al the Throne of Grace.
WeM..!H call upon the God in whom we trus,
10 direct ypSE counsels by his unerring wis.
dom, and guide you with his effectual spirit.
We now conjure you, 10y the sacred charities
OF kindred, by the solemn obligations of JUS
tlce, by every consideration Of domestic al
ieciion and patriotic duty, TO nerve every
faculty Of your minds, to the Investigation
oil this important suiject-,and let not the
united voices ofyour mothers, wives, daugh
tiers, and kindred, have. sounded in your
ears in sai0
SHOCKING CAsUxLTv. On Tuesdsy evening.
she 9th INST, the wife Of MIR. J. p. Barnes IF
'S"uth Natick, was burnt to.dealh. She, with
1er 'e9iy child. little boy two years and a hall
~, Was alone in her dwelling house, AND is
SUPP AGED 70 have tainted, or fallcni into the fri
in fit. Wien found by her brother and sister
who lives IN bonse opposite, her head was iy-
ing in tbs Tsiddieoi the fire. aud the greater
part Of her body wes literally reduced TO ashes
There was no appearance Of Der having s,rug.
rio af al L.. a.