Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-10-24
MOI An In.nrrectIon.

Not An Instruction!
Tho recent outbreak at IIarper's Ferry was,in no sense,
an insirrtetion, The slaves had no part nor lot in the
matter, except in so far Us some of them were forced TO
take part by the mensces of ''old BRowS' aud the four
teen white men under his command. There were five
free negroes engaged In the aHap, bUi notd single 'iGr' :
And even the free negroes thus engaged were not Ni'
g;nia free negrocs-that is, not residents Of this State
hut residents orthe Northern States whom BRowN brought
along with him TO aid hin in his fanatical and dabolical
scheme.
We repeat that the affair at Harper's Ferry was not an
inmrrection nj all-thAt the slaves bad nothing to DO
with it-thAt, on The contrary the slaves themselves were
terrified and panic stricken by the audaciOus invasion of
these Abolition couspirstors. We desire the Northern
peonle-especially the Northern Aboitionists, who pirate
shout the oppression and discomfort Of Southern slaves
TO remember the striking and significant fact that the
slaves were not participants in the late affair, aud that
the affair itself was, therefore, nota sidrs Instruction, in
any sense or to any extent, but a pure aud absolute con-
,piracv and invasion on the part of Northern Abolition
;.s alone We wish them 60 put this great and instruc-
five fact Ia their pipes, and smoke it al their leisure snd
they viii learn therefrom another great, Instructive, and
,ncontroyertible fact, to Wit that the slaves OF the
South are contented with their lot, peaceably disposed,
L,yaI TO their masters, and hate a medding Northern in
,nder aud Abolitionist with a perfect hatred. Let them
remember this truih, too, that the chief unhappiness OF
Oattheru slaves " produced bN e VI tf
nv a ,pnrebensiou ON their part that the Abolitionisis
viii some time OF other, and some how or other, iorcihly
.hduct them from their humane masters and comfortable
homes and take them 20 the free North or TO Canada!-
r,;. GO, IN , he uer 10 the Northern Abolitionists but
,.,.-.-,baIess q fact and should be allowed 10 have it,
;,., and nroper influence upon the Northern mind. The
sl.ves both fear and hate the Northern AbohuonistS anu
look upon them, as they really are, a. their Wors'a ana on
ly enemies. With here and there a single individual eN-
cep.ion the slaves Of the South have neSsr dreamed OF en-
gazing In instruction nor can hey-Tit such exceptions
A. We have stated-ever be induced to participate in any
such enterprise. We doubt Vheiher there are a hun
dred slaves in Virgins, whom any amount OF Abolition
t.np-rns and persuasion could diafeet and seduee in
20 an insurrectionsry movement Certainly, hlet alone
If not tampered With, and no, ATTEMPTED to be seduced
and debAuehed by Abolition emissaries and eutthroat-
the slaves Of the South would live foreTer in quiet, and
uaaoa and LOYALTY, Nth no wish or thought Of freedom
Of the freedom to return 10 the condition OF saTages, AMI
10 steal aud stArve and lie uncared for, which the North
ern Abolhionists hold ont to them, II the Aboitionists
would let them alone, aud not force or inatigate them to
insurrection. and pilAge, and undertakings they
would never attempt, or dream OF attempting, with
out being iustgnted by Abolition misunderstood
en masters and their families and neigbbors would
repose forever in a state of uninterrupted and
absolute sec1Fity. The Southern whites wonld live
UnllhIlfDp0. tNsta u Aho n AN NAH vs. N' 49,
or a lock upon their doors. There is no earthly dan
ger to he apprshended from Southern slaves il the
erEDrv7 n1u hsssi ---=-AA-L-th North or their more mis-.
In the South-if any such there be-wonld Just let the
slaves alone, and not try either TO persuade or force them
into rebellion to their masters. Even in the event OF q
civil war between the North and South, We, for one,
should be greatly surprised and amazed, IL the slave did
not constitute a willing and efficient body-guard for the
defense and protection Of the white families Of the south
ny -
voluntarily desert their masters and mistresses under any
circumstances on the contrary, they wouldstand by and
cling to them, through good and through evil, and
repel the assaults Of our invaders with a hdrlity and q
valor almost equal to their masters.
The Northern Aboliuonists know nothing in the world
Of the loyal and contented disposition Of Southern slaves.
The wrongs and expressions which these fanatic
"shriek' over, are purely imaginary. The Southern slave
is the happiest of human hborers, the best treated, the
best cared for, the least inclined to be rebellious, and the
least willing 10 exchange his comfortable condition is q
servant for that OF q desperate and starving so-called
freeman, which the Aboiaonsts, in their fanaticism aud
madness, would confer upon him. If Northern men, and
especially Northern Abolitionists, would examine the
condition OF Southern slaves for hemselves-would
calmly study the philosophy and practical workings Of
the patrarchal institution itsof-we have 50 abiding
confidence that never again would they indulge in ride
ulous "shreks' or still more ridiculous efforts for The
freedom OF Southern slaves. We believe, on the contr1-
~, that all of them, who are not absolutely maddened by
fanaticiam, would al once come 10 the conclusion that
the relation Of master and slave in the Southern States is
the best, the wisest the most benefcent, aud the most
necessary that il is possible TO conceive o. In the ope
rations Of this humane system Of labor, they would find
no Earring, no discord, no wrong, no misery, no unhap.
piuess, no discomfort no danger-they would at least
End it freer from all these clements than any other sy4
ten Of labor that now e~rists, or has ever existed in tse
world.
But, our purpose simply was, to remind the people Of
the North, and the people Of the South, and the whole
world that the late outbreak At Harper's Perry was pure.
ly a conspiracy and invasion on the part Of Northern
Abolitoni-ts, and in no sense, nor to any extent. an IN.
surrection on the part Of the slayes'