The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1857-01-29
SECURITY OF SLAVE SOCIETY.

The following editorial from the Richmond
(Va.) Enquirer, of January 9th, is quite sug-
gestive. Recollect-a few months ago. the
solid preparation of Virginia for state of war
was Wanted loudly by that paper and by Gov
ernor Wise, in manifestoes without number.
Virginia was match for world in arms. A
very little thing was the Union to Virginia.
Virginia held the Federal Government to be
lighter than chaf-at twenty -four hours notice,
could put one hundred thousand armed men in
the field, thoroughly disciplined, amply pro-
visioned, ready at moments warning to. cap
ture the United States forts and arsenals, march
upon Washington, and take possession of the
President, Cabinet, Archives, and Congress to
boot
Agaln-what paper has so eloquently set
forth the manifest blessings of Slavery? O,
the failure of free Society," o, the triumph of
slave Societyl How docle how subordinate,
| how affectionate the slave; how welded to the
master; how productive; how fat, and cosy,
and jolly; how free from responsibility and
care; how well trained to appreciate his high
privileges: how beautifully harmonized the re-
lations Of Labor and Capital At last, the
world is beginning to open its eyes to the
| sublime truth, the revelation first made to the
South, that Slavery is the only refuge on earth
| from the curses Of free society and hireling la.
bor-and the time is coming when the poor,
starved, degraded white laborer, convinced by
our arguments, will knock at the door of that
blissful heaven now vouchsafed alone to the
negro.
| Bear in mind these charming representations,
while reading the following very practical ar
ticle from the Enquirer:
! NECESSITY AND PLAN OF AEPERMANENT PA
| TROI.
| No doubt, the recent rumors Of impending
| insurrection have excited sensation of unea-
siness and apprehension throughout the COM
munity. 1t is fortunate, indeed, that we have
only to depore passing panic, since the de-
| velopments have revealed so very prevalent q
| spirit of mutiny, If not a general purpose of re-
volt, among the slave population. If the affair
/ is to be turned to proper account, we may con-
graduate ourselves on securing the safety of
| the community at the trihing Inconvenience of
a momentary alarm.
There is reason to fear, we know, lest this
| happy escape may induce the belief that the
cry of danger in the first instance was false
alarm, and people may now be disposed to
ridicule their idle apprehensions. In such an
event, the negro population will be INDUCED
in a still greater license of conduct, the rigor
of our police will be still further relaxed, and
our social system will be more exposed than
ever to the peril of a sudden servile revolt. In
this way the salutary lesson of these recent dis
turbances will be perverted to our own inse-
curity and we may have to suffer the penalty
| OF a foolish contempt of a providential admo-
| milton.
Although no actual outbreak has occurred
among the negro population of Virginia, yet
nobody can deny that they have very generally
discovered an insubordinate impulse and very
generally entertained some indefinite idea OF
Instruction. Now, this lisa fact of the gra-
vest consequence. Shall we make no pro-
vision against the danger to which we find our
selves perpetually exposed? All sensible men
will acknowledge the pertinency Of this in
quiry.
In every community on earth, the security OF
society is protected by adequate arrangements
for the prevention and suppression of sedition
or revolution. But, in Virginia, a long exemp.
ton from any sort of social violence has begot.
ten sense of security which scorns either
police or military protection. Few people I'M
derssand how utterly d1si..ii.s this State "a Of
VIC -fcs uiI We have no permanent patrol (:
and it is quite impracticable to provide an eff
cient system on the spur of sudden alarm
Besides, that would be to lock the stable after
the horse is stolen; for the end and function
of q patrol is to detect the earliest insubordi.
nate movement, and to prevent any combina-
ton Of malcontent spirits. And not only are
we thus exposed to the hazards of an unex-
pected outbreak, but are absolutely destitute
of the military force for its suppression.
The last report Of the Adutant General of
the State discloses condition of things which
should not he suffered to continue for another
moment. To be sure the Governors staff is
large enough for the Generalissimo of ar inf.
mite army, but the entire military force of the
State might be garrisoned in country meet.
ing-house, or paraded on the playground of an
old-field school. 1t is questionable if the abo-
lition of the old militia system was a polite
measure; it was certainly unwise to supply no
substitute, and to leave the State without any
sort of military establishment. But for the
holiday regiment of the gallant Colonel August,
and an occasional company in some of the in
terror towns, the military forces Of Virginia
would not suffice for salute on the fourth of
July. Yet we have an abundance of raw ma
terial, in arms and ammunition, and in the
brave spirit of our people.
This statement should convince everybody
Of the need of some more satisfactory prepare
ton against q possible outbreak among the
slave population. Our deficiencies indicate
the points to be protected and We should be
careful to secure our social safety by some
adequate agency of prevention and suppress
sion. The people are very generally agreed
that the Legislature must establish some mill
tary system or other, whether on the voluntary
principle, or after the good old fashion of our
G. ba IoI % al,
country on the day of muster. in shirt sleeves
and with walking cane. But less thought
seems to be bestowed upon what we regard the
more important regulation, viz the establish
ment OF a permanent patrol in the country
The existing system, or, rather, no system of
patrol, is not only inadequate to its purpose,
but is liable to much abuse. Now. the plan
We propose contempla:es the organization of
patrol force in each magisterial district of
the State, to be composed of persons of good
character, to be supported by a levy on their
respective BALL wicks, to be held to rigid off
cial responsibility, and to be constantly en-
ployed in preserving order and quiet among
the negro population. Perhaps, by increasing
the pay and numbers of the present constabu-
larry, the duties of patrol might be imposed
upon them. The two systems readily admit of
such combination.
We submit these suggestions with the view
OF directing the public mind to the subject. If
any crude idea of our own may be developed into
practicable system by some more capable per-
son, we shall be very happy to present his plan
TO the public. All are agreed that the safety
of the community is not now sufficiently pro
tected; let every one contribute what he can
to supply the deficiency. Our columns are
open to correspondents.
Are not our friends in the free States resting