The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1867-08-12
Nat. Turner's Massacre.

We rcSrCttCu W ScS tHae, III WV AA'
citation Of the Shiloh district of colored
Baptists, held in Manchester few days
since, the horrid massacre set on foot by
NAT. TURNER in Southampton in 1880 was
alluded to with the appearance OF mucn
ecldt and parade. The delegates from tha'
county were referred to as coming from the
county "where NAT. Turner struck the
first blow for freedom" and they were
marched forward, and there was muc''
shaking Of hands and general felic'tation
upon the occasion. Now this was all very
bad and very much out Of place. VA.
TupxrR,s massacre was the most barDarous
and brutal of all the human bntchei''' "
this century. Studying the moon more !,
than he did the Bible and the ian'aS''cai
shapes in the clouds more than 'iio p''no'-
pies and sentiments Of justice ana human
ity, the poor monomaniac TURNER SCI On
foot the bloody and savage massacre IN
which men, and women, and innocent glris,
and oven helpless babes, were slaughtered
by his insensatc followers. 1t was hor-
ror Of horrors, brutal and phrensied
shedding of human blood, such as has
never been exceeded in its unprovoked and
brutal character.
It was bad -hearted act in the Modera-
tor WILLIAMS (colored) to call up such q
horrid "Reminiscences as worthy of special
commentator. We suppose that few per-
sons of the colored congregation present
were aware Of the true nature OF the
Southampton feast Of blood. That very
wear the people of Virginia were strongly
inclined to the abolition Of slavery. MIR.
JEFFERSON had cxerted a powerful intiu-
ence on the public mind by his views
against the practical benefits of slavery,
and his serious app-chensions as to the in
iury it would inAict upon his State. The
Convention Of lS29-'30 came near adopting
measure for the prospective abolition of
slavery and but for the cfliciousness Of
Messrs. ARTHUR TArpAH, his brother, and
GARRISON and others, it was then believed
such o measure would have passed the
Convention. The horrors Of Southampton
reversed the tide of sentiment in the Lc-
cislature which succeeded the Convention,
and abolition was postponed indefinitely.
"First blow, for Freedom" indeed! 1t was
the deadlicst blow to kind feeling for the
blacks and to the growing sentiment ID
favor of abolition which could have been
inflicted. 1t was an event horrible to all
men, civilized and savage, and which
should not be revived by any one save for
depreciation and regret.
The Rev. Mr.. WILLIAMS would much
better subserve the cause Of Christianity
would much better advance the interests
of the coored people and inculcate the
kind and conciliatory feeling which is in
dispensablc to peaceful and prosperous re-
lations between the blacks and the whites
if he would refrain from reviving such
bloody and revolving rccollcctiOnS. But
to revive them only to endorse them is an
act Of hostility. 1t can receive no other
Interpretation. The Rev. Mr.. CoLvER, o
Massachusetts, who is reported to be .;
kind hearted and philanthropc man, wa
present, and would have done himself ere
dit and subservcd the cause of justice b.
excepting to the use made of that horro
of horrors-thc Southampton massacre.
The bad teachers Of the blacks Of Nir
ginia, who fluid it to their interest to scpa
rate them from the great body Of the PEG
pie for party purposes, are weaving II
with their orations such "reminiscences a.
may accomplish their objects; all Of which
tend to foment bad feeling aud sugges
distrust in the minds Of the freedmen o
the people amongst whom they live, ane
upon whom they must depend for employ
ment-the people with whose welfare
theirs is clearly identified.
But these things will pass away. TIL
blacks will find out the shallow hearted
ness of the unscrupulous and selfish pei
sons who are widening the breach betWee
them and those whose prosperity is theirs
and whose peace alone can give them re
pose; and they will curse the day whc
they listened to the cunning and heartles
stories Of the hypocritcs now misleadln
them.
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