Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1832-02-16

,orcal narration i, no, entirely fabulous. Perhaps
hc may sing %! this batilc, aud toll how
this redoubiahlo General and tho immense
army under his command, ono morning Just
before the break of day, catc with hope, and ami
mated with victory, reached tho residence OF
Il private gentleman, when To- there rushed
upon him, little Spartan band, consisting of
three men and two boys-And Gen Nat aud his
army were more! sfsir, the poet tells this, and
nothing besides this, he will approach the precints
of truth more nearly than any of his predecessors
but if not satisfied with this he ventures OIL TO
sing, of the alarm and the confusion and the
CONSERVATION, which growing out of this incident,
spread themselves over this wide extended Em-
pre-; poS'crIty may well doubt whether an indi-
vidua, who could so shake and unstring the
nerves Of people, proyerbially brave could real
" DC put down by three men and two boys.
Although dId not have an opportunity of ac-
curing military rcnown, was enabled to obtain
IT, travelling through the county of Southo,upton,
much information deemed Of the utmost utility in
conducting us TO rational and lust conclusion,
as TO the true character of that iusurreclionarv
disruption. My attention was constantly directed,
while there, and with the most anxious solcitudc,
10 every sign and circumstance, calculated to un.
fold the true character OF tho transaction-to as
certain the nature OF the scheme-the cx,ont of
the conccrt-and to what degree, disaifcction en-
listed among the slaves.
The idea entertained by many at tho time, md
by some now, that the spirit of characterization
was extensively prevalent, even in the neighbor-
hood where the occurrence took place is entirely
iaacious. | saw that the slaves wcro as much
astonished, and alarmed, ut the unexpected Gala
nifty that had fallen on that unfortunate county as
the white population itself l became perfectly
convinced that lagc majority, in the immediate
vicinity, 50 far from being, desiring TO DO en-
gagged in scheme OF instruction, looked on Nat
and his vain attempt with unmixcd sorrow and
disgust.
VI watched their countcnances, and noted tho
movement of every fcature-listoned with silent
attention To every word that escaped tho lips of u
slave in my presence, while there-cIamncd in
fact every source of information open to me, with
tho sole view of understanding the nature of the
plan, and the extent of the concert. And Sir,
the conclusion, to which my mind irrcsistbly
comes, is, that there was no general intention, or
desire TO rcbcl-no maturcd plan, concert. III
any gentleman doubts this, let him visit that coun-
ty, and he will find an abundance of evidence to
establish indubitabo faith and attachment, on the
part of the slave, evory where breaking out, in
signs which could not be misunderstood There
were not two or three, but repeated instances, in
which escape, and narrow escape was effected by
! the timely, voluntary assistance, and information
OF slaves. voluntary communication made by
his own slaves of the intended movement on his
residence, saved DIR. Blunt and his family from
the massacre that awaited them; but for this, they
would DC now sleeping with the dead BY this volun-
tary disclosure, DIR. Blunt enabled to prepare
Tor that defence, he so molly afterwards eXcrtoi
! Thoy not only gave information of the anticipated
a tack, but stood ready during tho combat to fight
with the whites, should their assistance he rouuir
ed. Again Sir, there time when this ban.
| dit, To the mind of ignorant slave might seem
! 30 be ascendant, when slaves might have imarin-
cd hc had some distant prospect of success. Did
they Join him then? No Sir, it is remarkable
fact, that most of those who did unite their for.
tunes to the success of the little party with which
the effort comm enccd, did so under tho appro.
tensions that they would be put to immediate tor.
ture and death, should they refuse. They were
men impressed not CHlSting.
These incidents have been advered TO with
such particularly, because the lights which
flash from the smoke and the gloom of this
instruction, arc the lights, and the only lights
which are to illumine our path in whatever
of cgislation may resort to on this disturbing
subject. 1t was highly desirable, therefore, that
the ground should be distinctly seem and carefully
examined. 1t was we'll to strip this transaction of
the decorations of fancy, and unwontcd excite
mcnt, that it may be and understood as it re-
ally is.
Mr.. Speaker, design now to consider, for few
moments, the only question which can reasonably
address itselfto the serious attention of this House
1t is this admitting tho evils of slavery, depicted
in ;hc eloquent remarks of gentlemen, to be not
imaginary, but actually existing evils, II hope il
is seen that they have been much exaggerated, }
have available to effect their eradiea.
ton? IL affords me the most unaffected pleasure
10 tender to the gentleman from Petersburg, Mr.
Brown,l my hearty thanks forfhe ability with
which he mas examined this essential branch ofthc
subject. Ns well my feeble intellect would per-
NIT, have given its whole power and attention to
the discovery of the means by which this dreadful
cvIl was sought to bc remcdlCd and removed; but,
sir, my efforts have been entirely nugatory.'
The gentleman from Kanawha, amidst the
corruscatons of his genius, and TIE persua-
siTc tones of his own cloquonce, mistooR, /
think, the other day, the resources of his own
powerful intellect, for those more practical re.
sources $50 far this subject is conccrncd,) with
out which, effort is vain and action idle. Sir,
when take 4 calm and sober peep into our
treasury box, TO our utter CONSERVATION, find it
in a state OF the most grcyous Cmptincss-or, at
any rate it requires great skill to perceive that
it Will he so by the time are prepared to return
to our homes. Our treasury box surely is the last
place IN which man OF financial tact would ever
dream of finding surplus funds. Shall we then
tax the people? You know, sir, that ono of the
unalienabe rights, in the estimation of Virginia is
freedom from taxation We have been called in this
House, Arstocrats in Eastern Virginia, in allusion
it was said, to the wealth of our people; but, sir
those who charge us with the crime of poverty,
guess much better at our pccunary situation
We are poor, and have great adherence at the
idea of becoming more The East cannot, and
will not suffer inordinate taxation. The West
certainly will not, and cannot submit to heavy
taxes And surely they ought not 1t would, in
deed, be pretty story to amuse constituents
with, to tell them, that owing to the dreadful 1car
which broke out last summer in Southampton, we
had found it necessary to raise supplies to meet the
oXlgcncy: that therefore, we had taken tho liberty
to lay moderate system of taxation by which,
eventually, they would only pay hundred mil
lions of extra taxes. Sir, the sovercigns Of this
land, would, upon the reception of this informa.
ton, reply TO us in an argument of most tangible
charactcr-an argument, if not convincing, of
poten! and rcsistless operation. We should be re
iicvcd from the unpleasant and irkscme duties of
Legislative life, and should have th. extreme plea.
sure of seeing in o1r uncomfortable seats, mon,
vino If they did not understand zinc t.,...s..
would certainly c..,.ra mend more clearly the
s's.a %. tro,- alnst ,uouts
In Total despair at tDc miserable condition Of
hnaua'n, expectancy 7t hons. 1874, arc abruptly, and
f. "aremonously hurried abroad. We are