Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-01-21
MISCELLANY.
VIRGINIA OPINIONS TWENTY-EIGHT
YEARS SINCE.
From tho National Era.

From tho National Era
The Southampton insurrection occurred in
August, 1881. 1t seems to have originated
spontaneously among the negroes, at time Of
profound peace, when no northern 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 Har-
per's Ferry affair, produced profound state of
alarm and excitement. The whole South flew
to arms, and stood ready to defend society
against the horrors of servile insurrection which
their own fears created. All parties in the
South pledged themselves to stand by the i'm
stitutions' of their country; and one would
naturally infer that the tendency to emancipa-
ton was permanently checked.
But the result was quite different. The re-
volt of the slaves, in August, called forth the
strongest expression of opinion against slavery
from both political parties in the ensuing legis-
lature which has ever yet been made. A strong
emancipation party was formed. The magni-
tude Of the movement will be better appreciat-
ed when We mention the fact that its organs
were the most influential papers 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 speech
es made on the occasion will be sufficient to
show that the speakers avowed radical anti
slavery sentiments. They denounced the insti-
tuition of slavery, as not merely impoEtic and
dangerous, but wrong and cruel
Mr. Moore, of Rockbridge, said
"In the first place, l shall confine my remarks
to such OF those evils as affect the white popu-
lation 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 tce look back through the long course Of time
phich has elapsed since the creation 10 the pres
en moment, zoe shall scarcely be able TO point
out a people tohOse situation ,cds not, IN many
respects preferable 10 our Otcn, and that Of The
other States in ,chich negro slavery crisis True,
sir, we shall see nations which have groaned
under the yoke of despotism for hundreds and
thousands of years, but the individuals COM
posing those nations have enjoyed a degree OF
happiness, peace and freedom from apprehen-
sion, tchich the holders Of slares in this country
can nerer knOw."
How eloquent, and how true, is this passage
1t embodies the most secret and inward
thought of every Virginian at this moment. II
follows them, waking and sleeping, like spec
tire. They feel its portentous truth.
Mr. Rivers, of Campbell, said:
~ 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. have moi
heard, nor do | expect to hear, voice raised
in this Hall to the contrary. Sir, the gentle.
man from Buckingham few days ago sketched
to us, and sketched it too with mastery hand
picture of the withering and blighting effects
of slavery. That picture is before this House
and l will not attempt to add to it shade ol
another tint: will not, sir, lest instead of ad
ding to its effect might, with less skiful hand
diminish it. Sir, Virginia, the much loved ant
venerated mother of us all, from being the frs
State in this great confederacy, is now the third
and possibly the fourth; and her declining for
tunes have long been the source of melancholy
reflection to her patriotic sons. What, sir, il
the cause of this declineP Whatever other,
may think, to my mind it is clear that the an
swer to this interrogatory is, her slave popula
ton. Hinc alg lachryme."
Mr. Preston of Jefferson, the county in which
Harper's Ferry is situated, said
"Sir, Mr. Jefferson, whose hand drew the pre-
amble to the bill of rights, has eloquently re
marked tnat we nau invoked IOr ourselves tnl
benefit of principle which we had denied t.
others. He saw and felt that slaves, as men
were embraced within this principle"
Mr. Summers of Kanawha, still promincn
citizen of western Virginia, and few year
back the whig candidate for Governor, said:
"But, sir, the evils of this system cannot b.
enumerated. 1t were unnecessary to attemp
it. They glare upon us at every step. WheI
the owner looks to his, wasted estate, he know
I and feels them. When the statesman examine
the condition of his country, he finds her mora
influence gone, her physical strength diminish
ed, her physical power wasted, he sees and mus
| confess them. Sir, we shoult
take courage from the goodness of the cause il
which we are engaged. 1t is one on whcl
Heaven will smile. We shall not be left unaid
ed in our exertions. Slavery is a national ca
lamity. Such it has been regarded by thos
who are entirely free from the evil. Nine o
the non-slaveholding States have generously
offered to the South the common treasury 70
| the removal of the common evil. Such, too
was the purport of the resolutions submitted t,
the Senate Of the United States by Rufus King
at the close of his long and useful public life."
Mr. Chandler, of Norfolk, said;
"But sir, will this evil--this curse--not in
creaseP Will not the life liberty, prosperity
happiness and safety of those ,oho may come al
ter as be endangered by still greater degre
| by il? How, then, can we reconcile il to our
selves to fasten this upon themP Do We no