The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1860-09-20
Tha Tcx an TragedY.

9AG IA aAkh n
We have twice ventured, each time
giving our reasons therefor, to doubt the
existence Of any negro plot whatever in
Texas, or ofany purpose of revolt among
her slaves. From the first the story has
rested upon such fimsy foundations as to
be incredible, and has not, from the be-
ginning. been supported by single par
ticle of direct evidence Undoubtedly,
many persons at the North believed in
its truth just as undoubtedly, everybody
at the South believed it to be a lie With
the former tie wonder is that slaves do
not oftener rise in instruction against
their masters, and they give implicit
credence to every rumor of such catas-
trophe, but the Southern people know
the almost insarmountable practical OBJ
slacles there are in the way of any slch
attempt at achieving freedom or compass
ing revenge on the part of the negroes,
and they know also, when these are sur
mounted, how frightful the retributioa is
which oyertakes the master who bears
rne first onset Of such a storm. Neither
In the acts of the negroes, nor in the con-
duct of the whites has there been any ev-
idence Of the existence of servile in
4urrection, though the papers for more
than two months lave abounded with
statements OF pretended proofs. What
ever may have been the purpose of these
stories, ahey are met at length with a
correction that may not be doubted
The Ae's Orleans Rcayuse of the 8tb
inst says:
The Investigations which have been prose-
euted in the disturbed districts Of Texas have
not developed, with any degree of distinct
ness, Il existence of any other plot for ruin
than what few desperate characters, with
out connection With or hope Of help from any
ether quarter might have formed. In some
cases the negro population have been demor-
allied evidently by the inSldious pfomi es Of
these white men and the work Of ruin wrought
has doubtless been mainly their work. But
not half Of what has been confessed seems to
be borne ont by later facts. The strychnine
said to have been discovered in the hands of
negroes turns out 10 be very harmless, having
no affinity with the deadly poison which it
was supposed to be. The wells tkonght to
have been poisoned, late accounts declare to
Gc untainted with any deleterious substance
Texas, like all of our frontier States, has been
the peint where desperate men have congre-
gated, and her whole history is full of vio-
lence and outrage inflicted by the foes of So
eiety. Aroused by the present danger, the
citizens have now taken the most etfectual
means to bring such offenders to Justice, and
10 break up all combinations for their pro-
tec!ioan
\ newspaper published at Houston,
Texas, had already borne similar testi-
mony, aud it may now be considered as
an established fact that the pretended
pot was pretense and sham In
doubtedly, however, it had its purpose,
aud that, as we have already suggested,
was to suppress with the strong hand a
rasccut Anti-Slayery feeling among the
people Of Texas, ana more especially aim
ed at tho &etio4!sts, with seae- Of whom
hostility 10 Slavery was a religious con
viction. In this suppression it has un-
duubtedly succeeded in SO far that it has
put to death number Of the citizens who
held - the heresies Of the Sermon on the
Mount and the Declaration of Iudepen
deuce. But the blood of the martyrs Is
the seed OF the Church, and through the
madness Of the Pfo-Slave9y party, We
doubt not the feeling against Slavery as
an iuhuman and God-detyiug institution
j. stronger in Texas to-day than it ever
was betore.--N T. Tribune, 1lh.