Nashville union and dispatch. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1866-1868, 1867-08-22
I ni0n aud 9ispatfh.
TnURSDAT. August 2. 1867.
largest Circulation in City and State.
MURDEROUs TEACmENes.

The Richmond Dispatch states that I'm
the Association Of the ShilOah District Of
Colored Baptists, held in Manchester Top
posite Richmondl few days since, the
horrid massacre set on foot by Nat. Turner
in Southampton, 10 1881, was alluded %
with the appearance of much ecldt and
parade. The delegates from that county
we're referred to as coming from the county
where Mt. Turner struck the FIRST blow for
freedom, and they we're marched forward
and there was much shaking of hands and
general felicitation upon the OCCASION"
That the public may see the significance Of
this revival Of bloody recollections, to
which the freedmen must have been in
stigated by those white enemies OF society
who, for their own evil and malign pur-
poses, are constantly sowing in the minds of
the blacks the seeds of deadly hate towards
the white race, il il well to recall the char
acter Of the insurrection referred to, and
its effect upon the condition Of the slaves in
Virginia. The leader ofthe instruction was
a slave, by the name Of Nat. Turner, about
thirty-one years Of age, the slave Of Mr..
Benjamin Turner, of Southa aptca county.
He had been the victim ofsuperstition and
fanatacism from his childhood, and in
confession which he voluntarily made when
in prison, said that in his childhood cir
cumstance occurred which made an indel-
ible impression on his mind, and laid the
grou ndWork of the enthusiasm which
terminated so fatally to many. Being at
play, Che said, with other children, when
three or four years old, | told them some
thing, which my mother oyerhearing, said
it happened before ! was born, and which
caused those who heard it to say, in my
hearing, surely will be prophet, as the
Lord had showed me things which hap
pened before any birth"
1t is to be presumed, Of course, that Tur-
ner had previously heard of the matter,
through some source, Of which he spoke
but his ignorant parents strengthened the
idea Of his coming miraculous quality
by saying in his presence that they had al
ways thought, from certain marks on his
head and breast, that he was intended for
some great purpose, and in a full persua-
sion Of this he grew up to maturity. After
a variety of revelations from the spiritual
world, Nat. says, in his confession, that,
con the 18th Of May, 1898, heard loud
noise in the heavens, and the spirit ins
stantly appeared to me, and said the ser
pent was loosened, and Christ had laid
down the yoke he had borne for the sins of
men, and that / should take it on and fight
against the serpent, for the time was fast
approaching when the first should be last,
and the last should be first and by signs
in the heavens that it would bemade known
to me when ! should commence the great
work, and, until the first sign appeared,
| should conceal it from the knowl-
edge of men, and on the appearance of
the sign, Qhe eclipse of the sun, Febru-
airy, 1881 l should arise and prepare
myself and slay my enemies with their
own weapons. Accordingly, when the
eclipse appeared, Nat. stimulated his com
panions to Join him in the mission, de-
claring that he had been commissioned by
the Saviour, and that he was acting under
inspired directions in what he was going 10
accomplish. In August, 1881, he put him
self at the head of a body of sixty or seven
" slaves, who arose upon the white in
habitants of Southampton county, and
massacred ffty-five men, women and child
rem before their progress was arrested. 1t
was one ofthe most cruel and horrid mas
sacres on record. Women, children, in
fants in the cradle. were slaughtered as
well as men. Among other victims were
one old lady and ten children in single
family, and forty-three out Of the ffty-tiye
who were killed were women and children,
Such was the demoniac scene, engendered
by the most besotted fanaticism, which is
now commented on in the Manchester
meeting as worthy to confer honor upon
the delegates from Southampton county in
the meeting, and as the first blow for
freedom" in Virginia.
As to this being the first blow for free
| dom in Virginia, it is well known that
it did more, in conjunction with ofiicious
intermeddling and dictation from abroad
to reverse the current of public opinion
which was setting in the direction of emsn-
cipation than any other event in her his
tory. Most of the great men of that State
Washington, Jefferson, Madison, Mon
roe. Marshail-had believed that slavery
| was injurious to the State, and their infu-
ence was gradually moulding the public
| mind into conformity with their own far
reaching views. Certain it is, that about
this time there was an abrupt revulsion oil
public sentiment, which, there can be lit
lie doubt, may be traced to the incendiary
and violent agencies which we're employed
for the overthrow of slavery. Howevel
that NAV be, it is sickening to think tina
deeds of horror, which make the blood 0
civilized men run cold, should at this por
tentous moment, be held up in a religious
assembly as worthy Of honor and congrat
ulation. To what are we coming? 1t is L
be hoped that ere the seed of mischiefthu
sown shall ripen into harvest of blood
the freedmen will discover the true char
acter of the men under whose infiueuc,
they have learned to look upon Nat. Tur
ner's midnight wallowings in the blood o
women and children az worthy of ap
-.