Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1856-07-31
poGtital.
The Exile from Virginia.

/
The N. Y. Evening Post publishes the
following nste from Mr. ]. C. Underwood
delegate to the Republican National Con
vention, held at Philadelphia, from Vir
ginia, who has been driven from that State
because he spoke in favor of Freedom.
WILLARD's HOTEL July Z, 1856.
DEAR SIR: thank you for the kint
notice of me in the Evening Post of the Isl
instant, but would correct one or two slight
errors in gour notice Of that date. You
speak of Clark county as the largest slave.
holding county in Virginia, and having
more slaves than freemen. This is not
strictly correct. Clark is very small coun-
ty BY the way not being more than ten by
fourteen miles in extent. / believe it is
generally considered, by its citizens at least,
one of the richest farming counties in the
State. 1t has greater porportionate slave
population than any other county ives. of
the Blue Ridge. The last census gives the
following: Whites, 1914; slaves the same
precisely 1914; and free colored, i24.
Your error was mortifying to me, Cor you
say am an extensive planter-I only con-
slder myself an ordinary farmer. | am
certainly not planter, for the sweat of
unpaid labor has never moistened my fields,
and. while should beunwilIing to ackn,w
ledge ary man master, | would scorn to
call any man slave. One month ago sup
posed owned 800 acres of Virginia soil,
but perhaps the respectable gentlemen who
have driven me from the S.ate have confis-
Gated my property by new code establish
ed very recently. My wife, who reached
me on Saturday evening, informs me that
when she appea led 10 the respectable gen.
tlemen who demanded either my blood or
banishment from the Stale, to know what
law of Virginia had violated; they replied
to her that they did not know that l had
broken any law, but that had broken the
"rules of Virginia" Now, as am not ac-
quanted with these srules of Virginia"
think it very possible that they may apply
to property IS well as personal freedom. 1t
seems to me that conissation is just as
suitable s'ru!e" as exile to apply to free
dom Of opinion. One Of the old rules Of
Virginia, as had supposed. was free speech,
and, in the language of Jefferson, | had
thought that even "error of opinion might
be safely tolerated where reason is LETT to
combat T."
On my return from the Philadelphia Con-
vention, received at this place letters
from my friends, assuring me that l could
not 60 home without meeting personal vio-
lence. In this difficulty General Sinner, of
your State, kindly offered his assistance,
and after an absence of two days returned
on Saturday evening, with my wife and a
part of my family to this place My poor
wife was almos: broken down with loss of
sleep and excitement, having been haunt
for two weeks, with visions of murder and
She is now, however, much
improved by the rest of a quiet Sabbath, and
by the generous sympathy which has SEEM
ed to breathe like new atmosphere around
her.
We intend to leave this city in day or
two, seeking temporary refuge in some
of the Quiet hills of the free North.
Yours truly,
]. C. UNDERWOOD.
What kind of freedom is this which exists
IN the old Democratic State Cf Virginia!-
For holding political fellowship with
great party, which holds to the doctrine
that the curse of Slavery ought not to be
extended to free territory, here isa Virginia
farmer driven from the State. and erlle from
his home, and with his family cast out from
he soil of his fathers. This is Virginia
Democracy Buchanan Democracy! Talk
IF despotism in Russia and Austria! Go to
Virginia Democrats, if you wish to find
pure unadulterated despotism! People often
lsk why the millions of non-slaVeho!dln
whites of the South do nof speak ont. II
,on want reason, ask J. G.. Underwood
pts Gazot!e.