Worcester daily spy., 1859-11-24
THE PANIC IN VIRGINIA.


panic in Virginia is beyond measure surpris-
ing. Some believe it all mere clap-trap, em-
ployed for some political purpose; but the
alright seems real; and, although the politi-
cal managers of the slave interest usually
scruple at nothing, we must believe that there
pretence of alarm. The Baltimore Patriot
says:
eve were present during the night of wild
excitement at HaIper's Ferry, when the
| frightened farmer, Jesse Moore, mistaking the
cry of the whippoorwills on the mountains
| for the screams of his neighbors, rode INTO the
town calling to the people to arm themselves
| and proceed to the assistance of the people IN
the valley, who were being murdered by Capt.
| Cook and his band of Abolitionists."
The entire population around Harper's Fer.
ry were frightened by this mans story and
came f1ocking into the town for safety. SINH
lar rumors and terrors have caused that mus
tering of troops of which we have heard so
much. If the people of Massachusetts, should
give way TO such panic and show such cow
ardice, they would not very soon hear the last
of it. But there is difference between Mas
sachusetts and Virginia, in many respects. A
Virginian writes very doleful letter to the
New York Times, in which he says the people
there are "dismayed and distracted to a degree
which no change in the present state of affairs
can materially affect or remedy" He says:
"a feeling of insecurity in respect of life
and property has narrowed down the sphere
of patriotic labor to a concern about oAe's own
peculiar or individual interests. This is but
the natural result of want of confidence in
the Government and laws to give due protec-
ton to life and property. As a consequence
of this conviction l understand that several
leading and wealthy families of the state con-
template selling out and moving to England,
or some part of the continent OF Europe, there
to enjoy that security which their own Govern
ment is unable to extend at home"
This panic may do something to expel slave
ry from Virginia; but wealthy families who
sell off their slaves will not go to Europe.
This Virgnian writes as follows in regard to
the slaves =
"The effect of the present excitement in the
South upon the negro population will be inju-
rious in the extreme. All the incidents of the
present crisis, the discussions relative to it, the
preparations and musterings to repel abolition
forays, are passing before their hearing. With
very rare exceptions, the negroes are unable
to read, and they rely almost entirely for in
formation on what they can catch up, while
waiting on the dinner OF breakfast table, There
is generally some caution in keeping from them
whatever would be calculated to enlighten
them; but the existing excitement is SO uni
versal and SO intense, and the discussions and
preparations SO unreserved, of necessity, as to
make conceament impossible They are thus
more enlightened within the past few weeks
than they would be during an age of compare
tive peace, when such movements and discus
sions would not be necessary. The effect will
probably be to arouse some dangerous aspira-
ton, incompatible with the condition of slave
ry; and once insubordination sets in, the in
tegrity of the institution is at stake"
BRoDERIcK's SUccEssoR.--H. p Haun, of
Marysville, has been appointed by Gov. Wei
Ter, United States Senator, to fill the vacancy
occasioned by the death of Mr.. Broderick.
The Marysville Democrat says that Judge
Haun will start for Washington in the steam
er of the 9Th of November. The San Fran.
cisco Times says of the new Senator:
"Of Judge Haun's qualifications for the po-
sition we know very little. He is a lawyer of
ordinary ability, native of Kentucky, and is
intensely Southern in all his political ideas.
He has the reputation of being sharp, shrewd
politician. Some suppose that the Governor
has done well in appointing him, for the rea-
son that he is competent to look after DR..
Gwin, and is not particularly friendly to him."
WITNESSES IN THE FEDERAL CoURTs.-In
the House, Mr.. Griffin, from the Judiciary
Committee, has reported bill in relation to
the writ of habeas corpus. 1t contemplates
the act of Congress, passed in 1916, concern
ing witnesses in the federal courts, and pro-
vides that every person arrested or imprison-
ed under chapter 95 of the United States laws
of 1916 may of right and of course prosecute a
writ of habeas corpus, according TO the provis-
ions of the 111th chapter of the Revised Stat
utes, and the Personal Liberty Act, and shall
be relieved and protected from such imprison-
ment or restraint, if it proves to be illegal
Every writ issued by virtue Of this act may be
directed to any officer competent to serve civil
process, and shall be made returnable to any
judge of the Supreme Court. The bill was
placed in the orders of the day.
T ~