Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-08
GOVERNORS MESSAGE.
F,elioar- Citizens Of The Senate
and nj fbs yTn,,s. ar n.ga.s...
ExEcurIvE DEPARTMENT.,
December 1871

| Z
Fslio,r- Citizens of the Senate a
and Of the House Of Delegates.
You are again assembled under circumstances caculat
ed to inspire the community with just expectation that
your deliberations will be followed by measures equal in
energy and decision 10 the crisis in which your country is
placed. an expectation which will not be dis
appointed The deep interest which the citizens in every
part oil this Commonwealth have felt stcd in rcl
ton To occurrences OF grave and distressing character
which have taken place since your adjournme
expected, and heretofore unknown the Satc-,o-cthcr
with the anxiety felt in the future some of the
subjects which were agated at your last Session.
unpleasant aspect of Fedora. relations all co,pir. TO
cause the people 10 turn their eyes upon YOU this time
with profound and fixed attention You alone possess the
power OF accomplishing all the great objects which the
public desire, and much Of the future welfare of this Re-
public depends upon your present dclibcraonsdc
tons which doubesswill be first turned the me ancho
~ subject which has filled the country with affection and
one oil the iarest counties in the Commonwealth with
mourning. tt
Willis, we enjoying tho abundance Of the las, sea-
son, reposing IN the and quit of domestic
and safety, suddenly aroused from that security
by receiving information that portion Of fellow c-
had fallen victims the relentless fury of asssns
and murcrcrs, whilst wrapped in profound sleep and
that those bloody deeds had been perIetracd in spirit
oil wanonncss and cruelty. unknown savage warfare
even In their most revolving form.
In August last, band of slaves cons sting of but few
at hrs and not at aay time exceeding greater
than seventy, rose upon of the unsuspecng de-
fncclcss inhabitants Southampton and under circum
stances OF the most shocking and hod barbay put to
death persons of whom the greater number
women and helpless childrcn-Much of this bloody work
was done on Monday morning. and the day following
about ten o'clock the last murder was committcd-The
citizens of that and the adjacent counties promptly assem-
blel, and all real danger speedily Terminated
The conspiracy at first believed TO be generals
wherefore was induced TO call into service force s
cicnt to crush at single blow, all opposing power
ever might be is strcngh.To this end attachments of
Light Infantry from the Seventh and Fifty fourth Rcc
mcnts and from the Fourth Regiment of Cavalry and
Fourth Light Artillery under Captains Harrison and Rich
arhson, ordered To repair the action with
all possible speed, and report TO Brgaicr General Eppes
who had been desired TO assume the command, and call
out his Brigade. Arms and ammunition were amply fur
nishcd and thrown into all the Counties which were sus
pectcd OF disaicction-Two Regiments in Brunswick and
Greensviile were called into BY their commanding
officers under the law vcsing them power TO do So
for such purposes. These troops being within the Brad
commanded by Brigadicr- General William IT. BroJnax
that officer assumed the command remained in the
field until all danger bad passed.
1t gives great pleasure communicate 10 the &C.
neral Assembly the high satisfaction in bearing tcs
nmony to the zeal pronptitude and dispatch with which
every officer discharged his duty the cheerful aac
~ with which every citizen obeyed the call OF the law
Though the call upon the Light troops promptly
obeyed yet before their arrival the revolt subducd
and many OF these deludcd fanatics either captured
or were placed beyond the possibility of escape; some
had already been inundated by an excited people.
feel the highest qualification in adding, that the rcadics
aid was afforded by Commodore Elliot of the United
Navy, and detachment of sailors from the Ship Natchcz
under his command who notwithstanding they had lust
returned from long and distant cruise, repaired TO the
scene OF action with highly credabe alacrity Much
- also due TO Col House, the commanding officer For
ess Monroe for the prompude with which he detached
part OF his force aid, under the Of Lieu
tenant Colonel Worth to whom similar praise is due; as
the prompudc with which they also repaired our as
Sistance as il their know edge all neccs
Tor their cooperation had ceased before they reached
their point of destinations they not the less entitled
TO commentator that account.
All OF those who participated in tho bloody tragedy have
cNtated their crimes, by undergoing public execution
whilst some who had been condemned have been re-
pnevcd for reasons which deemed satisfactory
There is much believe that the spirit of ns,rrcc
ton not confined Southampton; many convictions
have taken place elsewhere and few in distant con-
ties From the documents which herewith lay before YOU,
l,nl, sapla,,
surrcciion and murder have been designed planned and
ma'urcd by unrcsrained fanatics in OF the neigh
bouring States, who find facilities in distributing their
views and plans amongst orr population either through
the post Office orby Agents sent for that purpose through
ont our territory.
Upon inspecting these documents and contcmplano that
state OF things which they intended produce felt il
my duty to open correspondence with the Governors
some OF the ncighborng of this conicderacy
serve as far possible the good understanding which
lists, and which ought be cherished between tie differ
cnt members of this Union. The result of this
encc VIII De made known 10 is ascertain
cd.
! The most active among ourselves, in stirring up the
spirit oil revolt, have been the negro preachers They
nai acquired great ascendancy over the minds of their
fellows, and infused all their opinions which had pre-
pared mem Tor the development of the final design
mere - also some 10 believe those preachers have
perfect understanding in relation plans through
OUT the eastern countie-and have been the channels
through which the iniammatory papers and pamphlets
brought here by the Agents and cmarics from other
StacS have been circulated amongst slaves The ia
cics thus Afforded plotting treason and conspiracy IN
rcoci ana make insurrection have been great through
the indulgence of the Ma@isacy and the laws large col
ieciions oil slaves have been permitted take place, AT
any line through the week, for the oonsble purpose
indulging in religious worhp but in many instances the
real purpose WIN the preacher, OF different character
The sentiments and sometimes the words of these nan-
mallory pamphlets, which the meek and charitable of other
States have TO distribute rc-brands the
bosom of our society, have been read What shall be
thought OF those cnds who, having interest
mtty; nevertheless seek TO xcic seryile war?a war
winch cNiaists itself in the of unoicndinc wo
men and children the eide and OH the other in the
"a hnxr. IL
taking. Not only should the seycres punishmcn, bc i'm.
hctcd upon those disturbcrs of
their cmssarie found within our reach but
measures should be adopted tomakc all their
tive The public good requires the negro preachers TO bc
scuccd WHO, full of Ignorance. incapable ncucat
preparing m instruments in the hands OF the crafty acita
! tors 10 destroy the public tranquility.
Ns The means OF guarding against the possible rcpc.
on oi these sanguinary scenes, cannot fail TO recon-
mend to early attention, the revision Of all the laws
intended TO preserve in due subordiuaio the slave pop
aiion OF our StacIu urging these considerations upon
you let not be understood expressing the slghics
doubt or apprehension Of general resultsal communities
arc liable To scr from the dagger Of the murderer
midnight assassin, and il behoves them TO guard agains
ihc'n"iih IA, the first returning light dspes the
! Ecr and soon witnesses the murderer in chains
housh means have been taken by those other State
ITO aSatc our community and discomfort our Slaves an,
ncitc them 10 attempt unattainabIc object some PROC
- also furnished that for the class of free
they nave opened more enlarged views, and urge thu
achcyencnt OF higher destiny by for the prcsen
ies violent but not differing in the end from those pre-
scntcd 10 the slaves That class of the community On,
laws have heretofore treated with indulgcn kindness an
many instances Of solicudc for their welfare have marx
"a TIC progress Of EogislaonIf the slave Is confined M
law 70 INC esatc O his master, II is advisable he shout