News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-07-26
NAT TURNER'S REBELLION.
The Uprising of Negroes Under the
Lead of an Old Preacher.

During the famous Nat Turner's re-
/ bellion in Virginia in 1881, there were
sixty three white persons killed, mostly
in their beds or houses, and without
notice of danger.
This instruction was inaugurated and
carried into effect under the guidance of
/ Nat Turner. Nat was a negro and be-
longed to Widow Frances, and in her
, infancy had been her nurse. He was a
Baptist preacher, and his mistress cher
husband Frances being dead allowed
| Uncle Nat to keep O horse, and to go
and come at his will. He ranged through
several counties, and was popular with
both white and black people, and it was
, during these long travels attending as
sociations that he cautiously informed a
few of his friends in different counties
that "the last Saturday in August would
be black day" Hundreds, and per-
haps thousands, had heard that much
and no more, and they not unfrequently
inquired to know if there was to be an
eclipse on that day. In that year Aug
ust had five Saturdays, and Turner
made the fatal mistake of beginning on
the fourth, taking it for the last. Had
it not been for this mistake the bloody
work would have been on larger scale.
AS it was, the rebellion was put down
before his accomplices in other counties
had made any movement further than
being ready for the black day.
Turner's mistress, before this revolt,
had married a second time to man
by the name of Day, and he allowed
Uncle Nat all the privileges that he had
previously enioyed-to go and come at
pleasure, and he was, in fact, as FREQ as
his master. But Day and his wife and
child were the first victims, and were
butchered while in bed by the hand of
Nat himself. 1t was a week OF longer
after the rebellion had been put down
before Nat was arrested. When brought
into the town of Jerusalem there was
much excitement, and vengeance was
if not threatened; and l pen
the occurrence mainly to show the diff |
ference in the temperament of our peo-
pie at that day and at the present time.
Judge Parker was the presiding Judge |
of that district, and was in town when
Nat was brought in. He saw and knew
that summary justice was in cOntempla-
lion, and in a few words quieted the
angry multitude. He said to the crowd:
'Virginians have always been noted for
heir submission and obedience to law.
The man is charged with the very
,ravest of crimes. but the State believes
hat no one will violate her criminal
avs, and guarantees to every man
harged with criminal offence a fair
fearing before an impartial jury, and is
o be deemed innocent until his guilt is
airly established by proof. 1 hope no
-iolence will be offered to this man. He
will be put in your county jail until the
next term of your court, when his case
will be heard He remained unmOlest-
I'd in the county Jail until court, hal his
rial, was convicted, sentenced, had the
Usual time allotted condemned criminals,
nd paid the penalty OF the law by hang
ng.
Up to the time of this outbreak Nat
'urner had maintained the character of
peaceable and quiet man. He was
monomaniac, superinduced
y religious fanaticism and infammatory
lhuence. He had brooded over this
ubject until he was brought to believe
nat he was a chosen instrument to carry
ut the decree of higher power.