New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-01-17
LIE sHAmE. OF VIRGINIA.

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THE SHAME OF VIRGINIA.
Virginia has proved herself unworthy of being the
birth place Of Washington, as is shswn by recent
legal decision of that State for which all lis citizens
are resronsibe Mrs Douglass, lsdy Of Norfolk was
some tine since accused readers may member
Of tie crime Of teaching little nggers TO reld This
case has been finally ajudged by the court at Norfolk
TIE teacher was found guilty ard sentenced TO one
MONTE imprisonment which sentence was immediate
Il e.irred into effect and the lady now lies in jail ex
plating her crime.
We have lately been looked to by European nations
struggling for their liberties, land of promise
Unsuccessful insurrectionaTy leaders have to man
almost come over here as to country free from the
detpotism OF which they complain. We are not able
TO discover what reason there is for lovers Of freedom
anywhere to expect sympathy or aid from America
when one of the accredited sisters Of the glorious
stelatios pronounces it penitentay offence to teach
human beings how TO read, and the national policy
Executive Legislative and Judicial, is maintained in
accordance with such fat.
Virginia, which hse just pronounced the abOvenamei
decision was the birthplace of George Washington
and Thomas Jefferson. We do not wish TO lay too
much stress upon that fact but we may briefly hint
that the memories Of those men are said to be held
in honor along the Potomac, clear up to the White
Sulphur Springs and thereabOuts it is well TO compare
the intelligence Of the State as exhibited in
its most forcble and majestic form, the Law, with
the assumed reverence for the name and fame of
any historic parsonage.
Washington, though not an original motor of the
spirit of the Revolution, never behind its wants
when fairly set in motion. We look in vain for any
trace Of doubt encouragement in his glorious career
after he had at once assumed the position of delegate
or Of generaln-chief lie was thus emphatcaly
OF progress. He took hold of the political and
social status at point Of development and left it,
with the assistance of his peers another He found
America province, dependant on distant and strange
authority for the regulation of Its highest interests and
be left it nation. lie found the genius and talent of
this country depending for its highest sanction the
approvols of thick skulled immobe court and left
them free to work out their problems, aud
Immortality. Living lie did not add to slayeterritory
or slavewoes; dying, he freed MI his slaves, setting
thus the eternal seal of his reprobaOn the accused
system.
Thomas Jefferson also found Virginia encOmpassed
with divine right Of the moDarchica pattern dying he
left it, far the whites concerned endued with
Democracy; prmogenituTe, entail-sl the lumber of
baronial origin, displaced by the mild philosophy of
which be was a great apostle. In the Declaration of
independence as it stands, the rights Of all human be-
iDgs, irrespective of race color, defined with
unsuTassed rhetorical beauty and logical conciseness.
We hold that all men are 20 endowed with rights,
says tie author Of tbat immortal instrument And
true to The fundamental ideas of Democracy, Jefferson
was an Abolitionst. In one of his most memorable
passages which has a Jeremah's depth of the grief
coIjored to the prophetic ken Of an Isaiah, he
trembles for his country when he reflects the inqui
ties Of Slavery
II is LOW more than fifty years since Washington,
WHO dying sec tie seal Of reprobaton on Slavery,
passed from the earth. But half century, which
should bring such vast changes of thought and action
for the better presents the dismal spectacle Of the
State of Virginia forever bOastpg ofher light her liber
t and her progress sezng with rude and brutal hands
lady TRUSTING her into prison along with criminals,
branding her a felOn Outragng the dignity of NO
manhood in her persOn-and all this because she taught
little children to read
There have been various proposition 70 the dispO-
sion which ought TO bs made of the remains of Wash
iDgtoD. One thing is Virginia is unworthy to
bold them since she has unfurled the banner of dark
ness and made education crime. 1t is in vain to
spout foreign tyranny it is folly to hold up to
public view this that despotc prince-nothing can
be shown worse than State which makes the illum
nation Of the soul felony, and ofhe genaes offices
of woman IN Cfiense to be hunted down with ACCUSE
ton, tlial conviction and imprisonment Such an
currence blasting to the dignity of the whole COME
deration.