The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1852-06-10
REV. J. c. BAC0N-J0HN CoRNETT-PALsE
STATEMENT CORRECTED.
Editor of he National Era

To the Editor Of the National Era.
In your paper of the 9th inst, in an extract
from person you say is "a reliable CORES
pendent in Carroll county" in speaking of the
recent mobs in Grayson county, Virginia, the
writer says
After the execution of the negroes in that
county, some time ago, who had been excited
to rebellion by certain Methodist preacher
by the name of Bacon, of which you have
heard, the citizens held a meeting, and nst-
tuted q sort of inquisition, to find out if posi-
bic, who were the accomplices of said Bacon
Suspicion soon rested ON man by the name
of Cornut,' (Coynett) "and on being charged
with being an .accomplice, he acknowledged
the factn
Now, | wish to say, concerning the above
statement, that Mr. Bacon never excited or
tried to excite those negroes TO rebellion and
though he would be glad if every slave in the
United States were to elope, yet from the fact
that he thought it would be likely to hedge up
his way from successfully proclaiming deliver
ance to the captive, spreading the principles
OF the Gospel, of freedom, and equal rights to
all, and thereby producing moral revolution
he did not while residing and preaching in
Grayson and other counties in Virginia, ad
wise any slave or slaves to elope; and far be it
from h'm to advise them to violence for he is
thoroughgoing Peace man.
wish to call the attention Of your readers
and the public to Il few facts further concern
ing MIR. Bacon, aud his treatment in Virginia
Alter being tred* three or four times before
the courts IN Grayson county-courtsD too com
posed of shareholders, who were extremely anx-
ious to convict him, and acquitted-paying be-
| tween three and four hundred dollars expense
and after they could find no fault in him, except
his believing and saying slavery was Il violation
OF Gods law, of mans inalienaLle rights and
therefore ought to be abolished the same
men who prosecuted him called public meet.
ing at the Court House, collected three hun.
dred of the leading men in the county, consist
ing of lawyers, preachers, and other profess
sional men, and sent thirty of their number to
go and warn Bacon to leave the State inaan-
ter and if he refused to comply with their
edict to bring him forthwith to the meeting
lmob) notifying him at the same time, if they
had to take him to their meeting, that they
should take has life, regardless of all lac And
thus Mr.. Bacon, man of spotless character
was driven from their midst About this time
some slaves eloped, and were pursued, and
rather than be taken, they resisted the men
who were in pursuit of them, and took one of
tifeir hves As the publlc was lncensed at the
treatment of Mr. Bacon, AS the mob wanted
some pretext for their dastardly conduct, they
at once raised the cry that Bacon and the
| Wesleyans had excited the slaves to rebellion
The very fact of their driving Mr.. Bacon Of
rs they did is evidence Of his innocency Could
they have proven him guilty they would have
done SO, and have had him legally executed
Concerning Mr.. Cornett | wish 70 say that
he never trutbfully land he is man of truth,
his enemies being jsdges) acknowledged that
he was an accomplice of Bacon's in exciting
slaves to rebellion. The writer is personally
acquainted with Mr.. C. and his views and
know that he Is opposed 70 such measures
ANY port in Storm Yours for truth,
j. MCBRInE
Ryerson's Station, Pa May 81, 1852
tTricd for giving the Narrative Of Il. Douglas
and Roy. +. Smiths Bible argument Slavery L
free white persons.