Lynchburg Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1829-185?, 1835-08-17
70 Tie Editors Of the Enquirer.

! as an cmISsaty OF the Northern aDolliiohStS, from
the Richmond Enquirer of the lih inst. -
tn the Edtorsot nc Enquirer.
CHARLOTTE, July 9th, 1885.
From pcrusal of the enclosed, yuu will see the
importance to the individual involved of prompt
and decided action in the case and nothing need
be added, feel persuaded, To ensure il from you
and those to whom he addresses himself. am
sir, your ob't. scry'i,
PAUL 5. GARRINtiTON.
:. Mr.. Robertson mentions that he became
acquainted with Mr. HUTCHINSON Of Richmond,
merchant, he believes. p. 5. G..
To tie EdHors Of TIE Eaguitcr.
HALIFAX COUNTY, Aug. 9th, 1885.
In Your paper of the 3lst ofJuly the statement
is made that, " the ist No. of Human RIGHTS
had been picked up on Thursday last. in the cab
IN OF the Steamer keniuck9, on her way from
Norfolk to Richmond. Reports were now circu-
lated that the man had come TO Richmond, &c.-
That he had circulated several papers of the same
description in Richmond DC. \ printed hand
bill has been sent from Richmond to Raincs' la
vcrn, in Prince Edward county, and from that
place to Mount Laurel in Halifax in the neigh
! borhood OF which place | now am, stating I am
informed Il have not seen the hand-bill that sus-
plclon attaches to young man. foreigner, lust
from New York, named Robertson who left Rich
mond on Friday morning in the stage for Rainc,'
Tavern, &c. Now, sir, am that person. | am
given notice, that, if cannot clear myself of the
charge brought against me, cannot remain in
safety where ! am. am likewise told. that. if
am dismissed from this neighborhood with these
suspicious entertained against me- cannot return
in safety the road travelled TO this neiyhhorhood
so excited IS the public feeling against me- ON ac-
count OF my supposed conduct.
In tins state OF things, ii seems to me, that Tho
only course left TO me- is TO address myselfto vou,
who presented the case to the public and through
you to the Mayor and Council ofthe City of Rich
mond, whose attention the case has already en-
gagged. Understand me- am not complaining of
You, OF them, or of any onc-i only ask TO be fair
~ heard and fairly ulgcd.-i say then, arry-
cd in Richmond on Tuesday evening in the Steam
Boat l Thomas Jefferson, " not the Steamer Ken
lucky" remained in Richmond "Wednesday and
Thursday, at the house of Mrs. Christian near the
Capitol, and left Richmond on Friday morning, )
O'Clock, for l'aines'. | brought on a trunk from
the North for Mrs. Dr. Rice, of ilginia, and left
II at Mrs. Christians. mention this circumstance
that II may be recoected at Mrs. Christians that
| was ce 'tainly tle,c. Then, Sir, if was in Rich
mond Wednesday and Thursday, | could NOT have
been the individual who was in Norfolk. and ON
his way from Norfolk on Thursday, dronprd fine
lst No. of" Human Rights" a. never was in
Virginia before July, 1885 | never wa, in Nor
tolk-l came i'll packet within 10 aIile. of Rich
mond, and travelled the 10 miles in the boat Tho
mas Jefferson, paying s., and not racordinp my
name at all, not being called ON TO do so, and NOT
knowing that it was required proper to do so.
| am anatve of Scotland, an entire stranger whore
am, having been here but few days-my occu-
patton is the peaceful and quiet one of a teacher.
never have mcddled with the slave question: and
do not entertain the sentiments OF the aboionist,.
/ have been acquainted nearly three wears with
the rev John breckenridge, and would refer any
gentleman to him for IA knowledge of my charac-
ter ask, Sir, as an act of Justice, that You pub
lish this plain statement, and likewise that the Nav
or and Council of the City of Richmond inquire
INTO the circumstances and publish their decision
write in great haste, that may be in time for the
mail but 1t does not occur to me, that omit any
circumstance that is important TO mention.
am, Sir, DAVID +. ROBERTSON.
pcrIsal of the foregoing articles suggests two
roicctions-onc specially applicable to us of the
South, and the other to the Northern inccndiarics.
The first is, that, in the evil times upon which
we have fallen, caution is doubly the parent Of
safety. We should be strict in scrunzing time
rant strangers, but We should also be prudent in di-
vulging our suSpicions-and, above all, we should
not proceed to punish supposed cuprits on mere
conjecture. We know that thousands of our Nor
Wv IL " ''"'H, u lil'S NOT as SENSITIVE
tins subject as ourselves, (not having the same in
tmate connection with it, are at least a, decided
~ opposed to the movements OF the fanatics rs
we arc. But we arc not able, of course, to dis
crmInatc between an enemy and a friend, at sight:
and we should therefore be careful to examine
before We punish. If Mr. Robertson. for exam
pie, had been caught in Lynchhuro when the in
formation first reached us of his supposed conncc-
ton with the abolitioniSts 50 satisfied were we of
his guilt, he would, in all probability, have been
Scourgcd, and tarrcd and ieathcrod, ON the
Instant even had he escaped still moro solemn
sentence. Let us, therefore, be circumspcc1 for
1t Is better that many guilty should escape, than
that one innocent man should suffer-
The second reflection is, that the people of the
North must perceive from this and daily RECURRING
incidents of like character, the inevitable tendon
cy OF the Abolition movements to raise a compIctc
barrier to the tide of emigration from the nom
slavcholding to the slaveholdng States. and to IN
tcrrupt If IT do not even destroy all personal inter-
course between the two sections The duty of in
vcstigating the character and designs of every
Northern man who crosses the Potomac must in
short tImo prevent the visits even OF trave Hers.
who cannot submit 10 system of espionage. NOT
the less Irk'omc and degrading to them, because