Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1835-10-01


southern Slareru. infhe most expiicd terms
| las will appear fully on examination Of the
:. Advertiser and " Gazette" from July q
Scpiember,l this 1853, | saw. found 4 con
vepient TO refer to my opinions upon the
abstract question Of slavery. as part o.
the political system OF the country. 10 such
terms as to produce the impression upon
Virginians, that was an iutiammaiofy &
furious propagation OF abolition sentlmentsl
a charge. which all said, or did or wrote
while ia Virginia, will be found upon a far
and candid examination, 10 prove as false
as the author of H. To the fullest proof
that the question can be subjected 10,
am ready and willing 10 put the whole
matter. and as TO rosrardiiness on my
part, --if you, Mr. Editor, 10 whom am
already under obligation, will say that = :
the wish of the people OF Rockhridse. that
should come among them and put tbs
question Of nv npirions, sentiments, and
and actions, TO the test OF mnaie and
deliberate examination before any jury
there, whether Of the country, or Judge
Lynch. ~ am ready al any moment thus
TO confidc myself and my cause 70 your
scrutiny. Your correspondent would then
have an opportunity oftaking east o. my
head, if not tho head itself as an ADDITION
TO his chronological collection.
The truth OF the matter, 10 few words,
i. this: Invent TO Virginia, before The cx
element began. for my health While
there. heard the subject OF Slavery ire
qaently and warmly discussed. and on ma
nv points IN tho discussion, myself took
Part, occasionally. Bui fnevef took ground
il favor, but ever against all northern IN.
reference on the subject Of Slavery, far
Their than the south would freely and can
didly favor the discussion. ! was con
siantly expressing these opinions N my
letters TO friends al home, as beng iound-
ed upon my observations and experience
in Virginia. and to those letters, which are
in print. land with which ! wall furnish
YOU | fearIessly refer you for corrobora-
ton of what have here said.
Upon one occasion, coming from The
Warm Springs. TO Lexington, Captain
W. ------, OF your place. was fellow.
passenger in a coach. taken by hlmselland
myself, and two Of my friends and fellow
travellers. ION our way TO the Natural
Bridge. There was much conversation
chiefly between Mr.. S., from Ala
bama, and myself, on the subject oil Sla
very, and the effect Of the measures taken
by the people Of the non slavehol'lIng
States, in raising the grea! excitement then
raging al the South. Ia The whole oil that
conversation, distinctly reprobated fuch
interference and uttered no word That
could. bv The remo.es. construction, seem
in any wise 10 favor il. The fact Is, was
then already ont. in print, on me o'i,er
side OF the question, as you NAY sfe W
tie passages marked in papers that are
herewith transmitted. ! also contended
that +" Lynch's Law" as il is being adm
nisfered OF the south, was contrary to good
order and the rights of the people, hnd m
the heat of argument remarked, that
rreat deal of il was bravado. also said
that the excitement was, in many parts oil
the country, for political effect, The per.
sonal character OF some OF the northern
friends Of abolition being attacked, J raia
wba, knew Of the individuals alluded TO,
and defended their character and motives,
when knew them 10 be dcfensible. al
so voluntarily Acknowledged having eat 20
the Convention al Philadelphia. On arri-
wing at Lexington. Capt. w., ca
sually alluded TO the conversation 10 the
coach, and some uDeasiness was excited
among the people WHO heard only DIS
;oinfed uortions OF it,--~and on the very
fret appearance OF the excitement, vo-
unfairly offered myself 10 the most mi
nu,e and particular examination The
I" seizure your correspondence spehks OF,
was. you remember. but formal. adopted
AZ The Magistrate avowed, from consider
alton 10 myself, and soon relinquIshed -
Cant. W., himself, said al the time,
thai had said +" nothing in the conversa
tion alluded 10, that could warrant action
on the part Of the people" That's The
whole of my story:
mThc very head and front Of my oaendlng
Hath this extent-no more T"
And the reply TO the Argus article, 'ha'
bas added fuel 10 the embers, which, 10 the
honor OF your town, were so readily ana
kindly tramplcd under foot. wall more iuily
en!igh,en public opinion upon the subject.
And Ia conclusion, permit me 10 say,
Mr.. Editor, that long before saw You OF
yonr place OF residence. whatever opinions
had ever entertained Of the policy, JUS
tee, expedieney, safety. or possio'i'y OF
,be immediate emancipation OF the slaves
or our country had been charged by my
own observation. and by the arguments OF
those. upon whose opinions and superior
intelIicence have ever placed implicit re
lance. That that change arose, not from
q cowardliness." as remotely limited by
your correspondent, but from deliberate
observations, previously 10 my reaching
yonr place OF residence, the passages mark
ed in the papers send you, taken 10 con
nection with their dates, will most clearly
convince the most scepilcal
remain yours. respectfully,
JAMES r OTIS.
p. s. As an act ofjusiice, will the Rich
mond Euqpirer, and other papers which
have noticed this matter, transfer the above
letter 20 their columns, with the parers
furnished herewith 7 y. ~