Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1860-01-13
VIRGINIA OPINIONS TwENTY-EIGHT
YEARS SINCE.

mated spontaneously among the negroes, at
time Of profound peace, when no north
ern or southern 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 af-
fair, produced profound state of alarm and
excitement. The whole South flew to arms,
and stood ready to defend society against
the horrors of servle insurrection 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
emancipation was permanently checked.
But the result was quite different. The
revolt of the slaves in August called forth
the strongest expression of opinion against
slavery from both political parties in the en-
suing legislature which has ever yet been
made. A strong emancipation party was
formed. The magnitude Of the movement
will be better appreciated when VIC men,
ton the fact that its organs were the most
influential newspapers in the State, then, and
now, viz: the Richmond Enquirer, then ed
tied by the late Thomas Richie, and the
Richmond Wbig, edited by John Hampden
PleasAnts.
A few brief extracts from the leading
speeches made on the occasion will be suf-
fcient to show that the speakers avowed
radical anti-slavery sentiments. They de-
nounced the institution of slavery, as not
merely impolitic and dangerous, but wrong
and cruel.
Mr.. Moore, of Rockbridge, said:
"In the first place, shall confine my re-
marks to such of those evils as effect the
white population exclusively. And even in
that point of view l think that slavery, as it
exists among us, may be regarded as the
heaviest calamity which has ever befallen
any portion Of the human race. If aOe
look back through the long course of time
a6hicb has elapsed since the creation to the
present moment, aOe shall scarcely be able
to point ont people Dhose situation DaS
not in many respects, prgerableto our osOn,
and that of tie other states an a0hich negro
slavery eriStS. True, sir, we shall see ma
tions which have groaned under the yoke
of despotism for hundreds and thousands of
years; but the individuals composing those
nations have enjoyed degree Of happiness
peace and freedom from apprehension achich
the holders Of SLAVES an this country can
never knoaO."
How eloquent and how true is this pass
age! Itembodies the most secret and in.
ward thought of every Virginian at this
moment. 1t follows them, waking and
sleeping, like spectre. They feel its por-
tentous truth.
Mr.. Rives, Of Campbell, said:
"On the multiplied and dcsolating evil.
of slavery he was not disposed to say much
The curse and deteriorating consequence:
were within the observation and experience
of the members of the House and the peo
pie Of Virginia, end it did seem to him
that there could not be two opinions aboutit.'
Mr.. Powell said:
81 can scarcely persuade myself thai
there is solitary gentle man in this House
who will not readily admit that slavery Il
an evil, and that its removal, if practicable
is a consummation devoutly to be wished
Ihnve not heard, nor do I erpect to hear
voice raised in this Hall to the contrary
Sir, the gentleman from Buckingham few
days ago sketched to us, and sketched j
too, with mastery hand, picture of th
withering and blighting effects of slavery
That picture is before this House, and vii
not attempt to add to it a shade or anothe
tint; will not, sir, lest instead of addin
to its effect, might with less skilfu
hand diminish it. Sir, Virginia, the muc
loved and venerated mother of us all, fror
being the first State in this great confedel
acp, is now the third, possibly the fourth
and her declining fortunes have long bee
the source of melancholy reflection to he
patriotic sons. What, sir, is the cause {
this decline? Whatever others may thinl
to my mind it is clear that the answer t
this interrogatory, is her slave population
Hince lilac lachrymae."
Mr.. Hreston, of Jefferson, the county j
which Harper's Ferry is situated, said:
"Sir, Mr.. Jefferson, whose hand drew th
preamble to the bill of rights, has eloquen
y remarked that a0e had inVoked for ou
selUes the benefit of a principle e0hich Il
had denied to others, He saa0 and felt tht
slaves, as men, ,Oere embraced aOithin III
principle"
Mr.. Summers, of Kanawha, still prom
inent citizen of Western Virginia, and fe
- years back the whig candidate for Cover
he or, said;
ed "But sir, the evils of this system cam
ri. be enumerated. 1t were unnecessary to a
lg tempt it, They glare upon US at eve
lg- step. When the owner looks to his waste
vim estate he knows and feels them. VIII
ed the statesman examines the condition of
he country, he finds her moral influence gou
alo her physical strength diminished, her ply
de- ical power wasted, he secs and must conte
ere them.
&C. Sir, we should take courage from Il
m goodness of the cause in which we are e
on. gagged. 1t is one on which Heaven W
smile We shall not be left uuaided in 0
exertions. Slavery IS national calanlit
led Such it has been regarded by those who a
Nj entirely free from the eva. Nine Of
to non. slaveholding States have generous
to offered to the South the common tredsu
in, for the removal ofthe common evil, Sur
ats too, ,Oas the pmpou of the resolutions 50
on n,itted to the Senate of the United Sta
ate By RVas King, at the close of his long a
ent usJvt public lye."
the Mr.. Chandler, of Norfolk, said:
ide "But, sir, will this evil-lhis ourse-r