Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1859-11-19
RICHMOND w HIG.
TO CORRESPONDENTS.
AFFAIR. Abou, CharI..,own.


Affairs About CharIe.town.
The Charlestown Independent Democrat, Of Monday
last furnishes the following items illustrative of the
dition of affairs in the neghborhood of Charlestown
doubt growing of and connected with, the diaboi-
cal foray of Old Brown at Harper's Ferry
"a bold attempt made about ten days ago muir
der Mr. Lucas. lie bad retired bed and had his lamp
him reading. He had not been in that position
long before he heard noise, and in observed
the fash Of gun outside the window. He Immediately
sprang from his bed seized his revolver, and rushed
the door. As be reached the door he a wheel
his horse and ride off furious rate Of speed The
man had left the gate open, and had little difficulty il
making his escape. Who he was, what proyocaton
he had for this murderous attempt, Mr. l.. is entirely
ignorant Of The affair has been kept thus long
order detect the wretch should he attempt to repeat
his horrid design. Mr.. LIS loss hiswheat will be
about $500. Several barns and sockysrds have been
burnt during the past few days and is feared by many
that the country is infested by band of abolition ncen-
diaries Should this turn out TO be true, and of them
caught in the act, it is probable they will not
have the benefit of jury.
''FIREs,-A rick of wheat belonging 20 the Hon VIM
Lucas, containing about +50 bushels, burned on
Thursday morning last IL was undoubtedly the work of
incendiary. A white man observed by Mr. L.
proWing near the field where the wheat was shocked
and supposed be is individual who set il on IRE
'On Saturday evening last, stSble belonging TO Geo
H. Tate ESQ, together with his cArTiage-horses
buraed TINS also supposed 10 be the work OF an
irceudiary. 4 negro boy saw white lurking near
TIE premises Just before the TIRE discovered Whs;
rs OF czCus had gone 10 the scene Of coaiarra-
ton. suspicousookag individual who Las been work
ing about the vicinity for sometime past attracted the
attention Of the Town Guard and arrested a. the in
ccntaEy. TIE negro boz Eho had the uan az Mr. T.
was sent for bu; he could identity him beinS tie
person although he sid he looked very much Ike him
SKILL ASuTHKR-
We learn that The barn OF Col J. W. Ware Of Clarke
together Sith zoo bushels % wheat and large GUAM
ry Of provel3eT, consumed by IRE Saturday night
last; the work again, Il : supposed OF ineendiary
This makes the fifth eouhsgraton which has occurred
IN one week IN radius Of fifteen miles, taking Charlie
town the ceatre This fact needs no eommeu at our
hs,1s-eI our citizens VII hope be on the alert
Shoad any Of the ineeudTy villains be caught we hope
that instead Of sending them Jail be dealt with a-
co-ding 70 toe SLOW process Of laws they viii he
-e1 70 the stake aud the elements applied 10 their
ytnou- carcAsss which the! have been applying the
proper! @. our citizens
whether the above recited acts of incendiarsn con
stuie basis OF Col DAVIS telegraphie application
for further military aid night before last we have no
OF determining, the this present writ
ing Further information of an authentic and satisfae-
tory character will doubtless be received by before this
issue of our paper goes press and which if received
viii be found in Geographic column.
Certain tits, the condition of affairs in the nechbor-
hood of HApers Ferry and Charlestown is Of the most
deporabe character There is general uneasness and
alarm pervadng the minds of the people in that section
which has extended ITSELF in degree throughou,
the State Nor is it ut all unnatural unreasonable for
the torch Of the Abolition ncendiary has already been
applied to the dwellings and farm houses of several of
most worthy and respectable citizens And who can
tell whose dwellings and farm-houses may next be devo
ted to destruction by the fendsh sympathzers of Old
Brown, who are lurking in midst and annoying and
injurng people, in obedience to the instructions
perhaps Of the miserable Abolition party of the North
In such state Of uncertainty aud insecurity who can
wonder At the uneasness and alarm which now prevails
within our hitherto quiet and peaceful borders And
YET in view OF the incendiarsm and murder and attempts
at murder which have already been perperated upon the
unoending citizens of Virginia. we are admonshed even
by our sincere and steadfas friends at the North 10
Keep eootF Now, we make no pretenson to the alb
surd and impracticable philosophy Of "keepng cool
under such aggravang and alarming circumstances If
our Northern enemies would attack us openly and boldly
and not as midnight assasns and incendaes we should
perhaps be able TO conform the suggestion that has
been made to US and keep cool" But il is not in hui
man nature to Keep COOL" so long as there is even
suspicion that cowardy assassins are lurking in our
midst, ready at safe and unexpected moment TO
butcher US or to fire dwellings
We arc more and more convinced every day that jus
tice and sound policy alike required the execution Of Old
Brown and his coniederaes the moment they were IA
ken. If that course had been pursued, there would
have been 10 room for sympathy for him among the
hordes Of fanatics and villains at the North In that
event it would never have been sought TO make hero
and martyr Of so hcndsh wretch; and what is more
the prevalent uneasness and alarm would not now ex
s and our people would have been almost as happy and
contened as they were before the foray took place
But as it is such the apprehensions felt By our ci,i.
zens in the neghborhood Of Charcstown aud Harpers
Ferry, that alarms constantly occurring which i'm.
mediaely spread themselves throughout the State TO
the general annoyance and uneasnes Of all our people
And such condition is almost as bad a. state Of actu
al war For one, infinitely prefer actual Open manly
war with the North, to the seal,hy and cowardly sys
tenn Of annoyance and injury which portion Of it, c
Sens practising upon US.
10 conclusion, as We have already and often said
since the ioray at Harpers Ferry, is time for Ngnia
TO put herself in q state Of defence And we trust
that the eiug Legislature NAV take the whole subject
into calm and serious consideration without moments
unnecessary delay