The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1859-11-24
THE SOBER SECOND THOUGHT.

enI UOnent L ne ihst VeStfges OF conServa
tism in the South seem to have been destroyed
Reason has fed to british beasts, and men ar,
no longer capable of weighing evidence ol
judging dispassionately. No mans life and
reputation are safe in the South while the pres
ent reign of terror lasts, because any man i:
liable to fall under suspicion; and to suspect 8
man of being an abolitionist is to condemn him
to ignominious punishment.
Such is the feeling of the hour 1t looks
discouraging to the cause of Freedom and
Progress, and might lead the superficial OBJ
server to the conclusion that the Pro-Slayery
sentiment will for years remain at fever heat
1t seems to Danish all hope of the prevalence
of liberal opinions in the South, and to inan
gurate the reign of despotism.
We confess that such was, for a moment, our
own responding view of the case; but the more
we look at the matter in the light of history, OF
common experience, and of reason, the less we
are prone to indulge in gloomy forebodings. A
reaction must come; the public passions must
calm down, and with returning reason must
come the consciousness of the constant and
frightful dangers which forever environ Sla-
very. This terrible fact even now impresses
itself upon the minds of the Southern people,
and is the real cause of the excitement which
reigns among them. In vain will they attempt
to disguise it. There is no escape from it.
They may denounce the AbolitioEists and the
Black Republicans as the only cause of the
difficulty; they may talk of crushing out Abo-
itionism, of settling the Slavery question, or
even of disunion, as a sovereign and certain
remedy for their grievances, but they cannot
hide the fact from themselves that Slavery is a
terrible evil. We doubt if an intelligent man
in the whole South would have the hardihood
to dispute this proposition at the present time.
Six weeks ago, the blessings and beauties of
the system were the theme of daily eulegy; but
since the Harper's Ferry invasion, we have not
met with the first syllable of praise of the bless
ings of Slavery. The Southern journals and
politicians are furious in denouncing its enc
mics, and defending Slavery as just and moral,
but not word is said of its blessings
1t is highly interesting fact, and corrobo-
rotes the above remarks, that by far the great
est debate on Slavery which has ever taken
place in Virginia, or in the South, was caused
by the most formidable instruction of slaves
that has yet occurred. The "agitation of the
Slavery question" is now deprecated by the
South, as tending to produce instructions !;
while the great fact in the case is, that "agita-
ton was the consequence of instruction.
The slaveholding interest is therefore mis-
taking the cause for the effect They will very
probably find, as they did in 1882, that insur-
rections are to be deprecated, among other rea-
sons, on account of their tendency to produce
"agitation."
The Southampton instruction occurred in
August, 1881. 1t seems to have originated
spontaneously among the negroes, at time of
profound peace, when no Northern or South
ern abolitionists "agitated" or threatened the
repose of the South, or gave any advice to the
blacks. 1t was the most extensive and bloody
revolt which has yet taken place, and, like the
Harper's Ferry affair, produced a profound
state Of alarm and excitement. The whole
South flew to arms, and stood ready to defend
society against the horrors of serviIe insurrec-
ton which their own fears created. All parties
in the South pledged themselves to stand by
the " institutions +" of their country; and one,
would naturally infer that the tendency to eman-
cipation was permanently checked.
But the result was quite different. The revolt
Of the slaves, in August, called forth the strong
est expression of opinion against Slavery from
both political parties in the ensuing Legisla-
ture which has ever yet been made. A strong
Emancipation party was formed. The magni-
tude Of the movement will be better appreci-
ated when we mention the fact that its organs
were the two most influential newspapers in
the State, then and now, viz the Richmond
Enquirer, then edited by the late Thomas
Richie, and the Richmond Wing, edited by
John Hampden Peasants.
A few brief extracts from the leading speeches
made on the occasion will be sufficient to show
that the speakers avowed radical Anti Slavery
sentiments. They denounced the institution of
| Slavery, as not merely impolitic and dangerous,
but wrong and cruel.
Mr.. Moore, of Rockbridge said
" In the first place, 1 shall confine my re-
marks to such of those evils as affect the white
population exclusively. And even in that point
of view, think that Slavery, as it exists among
us, may be regarded as the hedUiest calamity
which has ever beiallen any portion ofthe human
race. II 1Ce look back through the Iona course of
time a0hich has elapsed since the creation to the
present moment, shall scarcely be able to point
ont a people 1chose situation toas not, in many
| respects, preferable to our Oaom, and that of the
other States IN sohich Negro ISlaregy crists.
| True, sir, we shall see nations which have
| groaned under the yoke of despotism for hun.
dreds and thousands of years but the individ.
uals composing those nations have enioyed a
degree of happiness, peace, and freedom from
| apprehension, IChich the holders of sIdyes in
THIS country can neUer knoU."
How eloquent, and how true is this passagel
1t embodies the most secret and inward thought
of every Virginian at this moment. 1t follows
them, waking and sleeping, like spectre.
They feel its portentous truth.
MIR. Rives, of Campbell, said:
"On the multiplied and desolatinp evils of
Slavery, he was not disposed to say much. The
curse and deteriorating consequences we're
within the observation and experience of the
members of the House and the people of Vir-
| ginia, and it did seem to him that there could
not be two opinions about it."
| Mr.. Powell said:
al can scarcely persuade myself that there
is a solitary gentleman in this House who will
not readily admit that Slavery is an evil. and
that its removal, if practicable, is consumma-
ton most devoutly to be wished I hare NOT
heard, nor do erpect TO hear, Uoice raised in
this Hall to the contrary. Sir, the gentleman
from Buckingham few days ago sketched to
us, and sketched it too with mastery hand. a
picture of the whitening and blighting effects of