New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-10-11

The mind, feeming 70 extinguish for tia m,ment
in those Individuals affected BY il, all judgment ard
common sense, and exposing them to be frightened
out of their wits BY the most ridiculous add i'm.
probable stories Such was the case in Texas-
the story there being that the negroes bad pro-
yided themselves with an unlimited quantity Of
stry chime, with which they were to poison all the
wells and thus extermnate the white population.
The story By which the City Of Norfolk, and the
neishboriDg rural districts, are now consteraated,
il of about equal common sense and Prob
ability. We are assured that plan
of operatiops has been maturing eg3r
since last Spring it being fhrewdIy surmiSed that
the mad fanatics who originated it had come design
on Gov. Wise aDd bis family, on account OF the
firm and decided stand he took 10 the capture aud
execution of John Brown. One Dick Ryao, free
negro, had it is alleged written to the North and
engaged the services of parties who were just about
this time to arrive at Norfolk or Old Point in
vessel. with arms and men, to assist in hberatDg
the SLAYER. This story is said to rest on the con
fessioI of another free negro, arrested on sus-
picion. Fortunately, however, for Gov. Wise
and the Norfolk shareholders, the plot has
been discovered in time. -Four as respects-
b,e gentlemen AZ can be fCuDd in Norfolk
County, upon the strength of thls alarming
information, addressed a letter to Mayor Lamb of
the City of Norfolk-so The Norfolk Day-Bo0k as
cures us-and that most efficient magistrate, being
thus forewarped will take the necessary steps to
"dcyelop the scheme" and t. arreet the vessel,
should il arrive. Thanks to the four respectable
gentlemen of Norfolk, the vigilance and prompt
tude of Mayor Lamb, the valor aud energy of Gov.
Wise. who is resident 10 the neghborhood, and
more than all, to the seasOnable confession Of Dick
Ryan, the free negro, Norfolk, it is hoped, may
escape tie visitation Of the vessel from the North,
with arms and men, and the consequent freeing OF
the negroes and murder Of the whites. Meanwhile,
however, the neighboriDg rural districts are IN
high state of alarm and excitement. Confessions
are be ng extorted from the negroes by the free
application of the lash and the slaves on several
plantations have taken fright at the excitement pre-
yalng about them, and have fled to the woods
Ofcourse, paroxytm of this sort could not pass
without few murders. The patrol of Norfolk
County have shot dead white man, an lrishman,
apparently, one of party engaged in ditching, be-
cause he fed when they approached the tent in
which be and his fellow. laborers were camping
out. A free negro has also been shot while run
ming away from some gentlemen who were endeay
oripg TO arrest him for some "i1cendiOus express
e" sion" he had used A number of negroes are in
jsil at Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Princess Anue
aud hot pursuit is being made after the redOnbable
Dick Ryan himself His capture might unravel
the whole mystery, but it is unprecedented that, &C
cor6ipg to the Southern method Of investigating
these instruction plots he will be shot down be-
fore anything can be got out of him.
Even the most ardent admirers of the Slave Ia
Dor system must admit that these Slave insurrec-
ton pancs are somewhat of q drawback on its
fecites. Who would liketo live in community
which any knave or any fool may throw at any
time into paroxysm of bloody terror, aud where
the public peace is at the mercy Of every free
negro or white vsgabOnd who drops an ambiguous
expression or any negro who, under the applica-
ton of the lash, repeats confession dictated to
hlm7