Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-10-15
DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE.
Frew TIC N,w York Ereniag Star.
TRANSACTIONS IN MISSISSIPPI.

TRANSAi HUNS IN MlSSissifIi
Ds,R SIR: Lately sojourner at the immediate
scene OF the disturbances in Mississippi, have,
snce NV return, witnessed 50 strong an interest
aud curiosity, as TO the events in question, tina,
trt., shall he doing a thing not unacceptable To
the puhlic in giving the following authentic par
sicuiars OF the leading facts. have consented to
do 50 the ,nore readily, because the circumstances
which can relate, may serve to correct many
MISREPRESENTATION and cxaggeraii0ns, that cast a
shade of o1um upon the good people OF the region
in which these extraordinary and agitaiing tac,,
have happened.
| was al a friends house, IN the neighborhood
q. Livingston, Madison county. when the plot it.
sefwas discovered, aud visited that place every
day during the excitement, couierriBg freely all
the while, with the citizens and members oi the
committee of safety, 10 whom had been person.
ally introduced. had, therefore. far oPportn-
nifty OF becoming fully acquainted with all the
circumstances which he'd 10 the disclosure OF the
diabolcal design, the measures adopted 10 arrest
and punish it, aud the means oil precaution and
defence put in practice aud these | will proceed
TO detail, as thc> passed under my own obscrlo-
ton.
NARRATIVE.
On Sanaa, Eren,Hc 2sth June, Mc,srs. Lee
and Latham, (near Beatic's Bluff, Big Black o.
vcrheard some slaves in conversation refer TO 4
contemplated Instruction.
NoadaV, 2otb.-They communicated tin, inci-
dent to several of their ncighbors, who thought it
advisable to invite the attention of the citizens Of
the county 10 tie subject.
Tuesday, 30th.-Thr citizens assembled at
Livingston, aud comforting together, became salts
fed thai tlirfc great truth IN the 1oatirg ru-
nors, and much ground of experimenting mmcd-
ate danger Retiring TO their habiiaiious, there
L.. ID
mean, Of >aiei, Tor lis family and himself. In thi,
view, several families congrecated at one habiia-
ton: collecting and preparing every weapon for
de.ence, and expresses Nric sent to the neighbour
ing towns aad villages TO pat them on their guard.
"Wednesday, ltJuig.A greater number of CT
tizens assembled at Livingston, under increased
apprehensions aud cxciicmcn'. Two negroes,
one the property Of Rua Blake, and the othcl ol
VIM. Johnston, being seized on suspicion, and
brough; there a> prisoners were examined and dis
charged
Thursday, 23.--A great asscmblaee Of citizen,
a, Livingston, exchanging reports and eounclIne
with each other The two negroes, who had been
discharged the day before, were aeain taken up
they having meanwhile acknowledged ticir partlri-
patton in the conspiracy, n confessed thai they had
had been drawn into it BY white men. The two
were seized by the populace and hanged. At TN,
time plot OF most extraordinary and daboltcal
character was developing itself. Ii VII ascertain.
ed that general di,nllccton and the plan Of am I'M
,urrection bad been spread among the ucerocS, by
aband OF dcsperadoes that infested not only that Sec
ton OF the United States, but the whole country
from Maryland TO Louisiana.
1t was soon d.scove ed, in the progress OF the
examination, both at Livingston and AZ Other
towns, that the citizens had To contend with an or
ganized bad OF rufians; and ,spicion lit upon
~. Il
These two men were arrested from, among the
crowd, together with Mitchell, blacksmith, and
Infatuated were the citizens that they would
have massacred them instantly and perhaps, in the
natural fury excited by facts SO airoeiots, would
have plunged into the widest excuses, but for the
wise Interference and prudent suggestions OF We
~ spirited and en,crprisnp Young gentleman, DR..
- Pugh, who, harangung the multitude pro
posed this resolution, which wls unanimously
adopted
"That Il Committee of Salct, be Immediately
organized composed of thirteen citizens upon the.
responsibility I. the rest, vested with ample au-
thorlty 10 devise mean, of defence, 10 try acpuit,
condemn, and punish white or black, who should
be charged before them
Whcreupon the following persons, ool>pcuou,
for wealth. and intelligence, aud Distinguished for
integrity and energy, were selected DR. NJ d.
Mitchell, james Grafton, Israel Spencer, VIM.
Wade, Nelson Taylor, Harden d. REYNOLDS. John
SimonS, Jesse Mabrcr, Chas. Smith Robert
tladge, Thomas l1udnal, Lac =. Gee and David
Harley. William Boycc and Mr. or, acting AZ
Secretaries.
This committee Immediately organizing itself
appointed Dr. NJ ID. Muchcll To preside over them:
and retiring To room selected, posted a guard at
The door, TO prevent the interference of the multi
mdc; and deliberately commenced thcir painiu
and serious duty, fully impressed with the ,nprrlou
necessit, which created their power and the inn
portanoc OF their trust
Accordingly, Joshua Cotton and - Saun
dcrs "efe atfaignrd before the committee, and for
maliy charged with melting the negroes in NS,iS
s'ppl to lnsurrcction, and aiding and abc,ing ohc
white men in the same.
Tnis evening they were committrdto nriSon. nm
der charge OF Capt. james Study The same eve
hing patrols were detailed by the committee am
placed under the control and direction of DR. PupI
together with the regulation of the town Tn
patrol we're on duty the whole night, ,irilantl
securing the surrounding country, whilst the sam
discipline Was kept up in the town.
Friday a.-Fhc committee convened At
O'Clock, \. NJ, and continued the whole day
Trying the Two prisoners, Cotton and Saundcr,
VINO, ID HE course of the Investigations inculp3tr
each other. The testimony aud circumstances bc
coming stronger, many orders of arrest were issue,
to the different squads OF patrols aud the citizen
urged TO be vieilant.
SATURDAY, 4h.-Cotton and Saunders conyi,
tel, and sentenced by the committee 10 be lortbv,
hanged. The populacc Immediately marched rho,
a a. aid ial aud