Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1859-11-05
The Outbreak at Harper's Ferry.
Opinions of the Press.
From the New York Express.
CITY Rumors-Stranpe Stories

ment IN Virginia, and thinking it would be
just as well to hear the opinions of the
colored people of New York ON subject
in which they most naturally take deep
interest, reporter was despatched from
the Express for the purpose of spending
day among the educated portion of that
class of citizens, with the view of ascertain
ing what they think of the matter.
Accordingly the reporter bent his steps
towards those quarters of the city where
the better sort of the colored people "most
do congrcgatc," and these arc the result of
his observations:
lie found them disposed to "kecp.sha-
diy" on the subject, and it was hard to
draw from tlen, any opinion whatever on
the matter at issue, This is charactcris-
TIC OF the negro rScO, even in the most tri-
vial matters. In fact, if there is any one
organ, phrenologicolly speaking, more fully
developed than another in the cranium of
the black man, it is the organ of sccretivc-
ness This, perhaps, arises from natu
rally suspicious disposition towards the
whites, engendercd in state of slavery,
and fully developed through upwards of
two centuries of seryitudc. 1t was not,
therefore, to be expected, that when the
matter in discussion wasinsurrection, which
probably would, if it did not already, in
yolve large portion Of their race in the
grave consequences of an extensive scrvilc
war they would readily break through their
characteristic reserve; nor is it to be won.
dercd at, that their language was in rid
dies, dark as the Dclphian Oracle. Enough
was gathered, however, to impress the
mind OF the anxious cnquircr with the fact
that the colored people of this city, at least
the most respectable portion of them-ap-
prchcnd that ga dark cloud" hangs over
the Southern States on the Eastern Coast.
Several of them threw ont hints of
regular bureau being organized even in
this city, for the especial purpose of CO.
operating, if necessary, with the Insurgents
OF V1rginiSj whose aim, they express their
belief to be, is to get upa servilc war, with
the view of cmancipating the slaves in that
section OF the Union. In regard to certain
fumors that are afloat of tclcgraphic mes
sagcs being sent to and fro, between the
alleged burcatt of Abolitionists in Now
York and the insurgents, opinions are divi-
dcd. Some profess to believe that The idea
is an absurdity, from the simple fact that
no such messages would be sent by the op-
orators; while others suggest the proba-
bilitS of sending Them on in cyphers, so as
to keep each other posted as to the posture
OF affairs and the measures to be adopted.
Nearly al agree, however, that there is
some mysterious method Of conveying in
telligehce, similar to the Underground
Railroad. All this is piercly inferred from
scraps of conversations held with different
individuals, and hints thrown out separate
ly, which, being put together, begin to as
strme somcthipg ike tangible form and
substance. Direct information is almost
impossible, and is hardly to be expected.
Some of the most cautious of the coorcd
people condemn, or profess to condemn,
the action of the Abolitionists, in precipi-
tatinc matters to a crisis. They think, or
affect to think, that moral suasiQn should
be used in the cndeavor 20 put down slave
ry, bcfleviBg that resort to arms will only
have the effect of exasperating the slave
holders and the whites generally; and thus
rivetting the shackles of slavery more firm
ly than ever, besides causing an unneccs
sary effusion' Of human blood.
On the other hand, thcrcis another par
ty, who so in pure and simple, for the "ir-
repressible conflict" They say, Mr.. Sc.
ward tells them THAT that conflict must
come, sooner or later-and, if that be the
case, they do not sec why it may not as
we'll come to-day or tomorrow, as years
hence. They further say, they cannot
blame sheir brethren in slavery for resort
ing ~ arms, and fighting for their liberty.
They particularly point to the retaining in
slavery, and even the sale of colored chill
dren by their white fathers. This alone
they say, is sufficient to stir the blood of
the co!ofed man to fever heat, and to cause
him to'arm and strike for frecdom, at any
cost to himself
Among this party there appears to be
firm belief that though the in5urrectien at
Harper's Ferry has been put down, through
lis premature explosion and the activity of
the Federal aud State troops, "yet the end
is not yeti" but that the flames lighted nip
in Virginia, though prematurely quenched,
will hereafter spread through lfaryland,
the Carolinas acd Georgia, to the banks of
the Mississippi, carrying in its train wide
spread desolation, and resulting In the
complete emancipation of the slaves.
Such seem to be the opinions and i'm
pressions of the colored classes of this city,
obtained not without persevering effort,
and given with much reluctance, rather in
dark hints and inueHdos than IN direct as,
/; sertions. ~, ,.,.,, .ul ;..n nt..l...,.
From the Richmond Enquirer.
The Harper's Ferry Invasion rs PARTY
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