Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-04-12

number Of lives had been saefiacsd ~
Rreatest Consideration pgeyailed. (lDI.o
excitement among the slaves Wa Ps
duced by the negro preachers. leo ~ "
Of them who was named Nat. Iurs.
The first family murdered bore the ns.s
OF Trnvers. The number OF the insurgen ~,
was not at any timelarge. but some OF sn s.j
were mounted and armed and thus eio. ~
the efforts which were promptly u ehn,u
by tho State authorities 70 cap.1 ,,smntsd
to reach the Dismal swamp, not many ui LIZ
distant, whore they would have been sp ~
TO 60 into secure hiding and depreoaso ~
the neighboring farms until some go 80
cophagration IN dry summer should uil,o
them from their fastness. Several rencohii
tres took place between the outlaws anu
the militia. At length. on the 5Hn q
August. the instruction was. ~ an c ~
but the leader was not caught untn sno
30th OF October. He Was founo iu Tbe
not far from the scene Of the horrors. "a
insurgents we're all caught, tried. convlcleuts
sentenced, aud executed BY due proces, ~
law. Their offences had been the mos.
heinous known 10 the times In that ps.is
Of the South the slaves were kindly tiea..u
almost without exception. The leaders ~
the revolt were the most favored ana mos
intelligent; they appeared 10 have oseA
most cruel TO those masters and tneli ian ,d
lies who had been most indulgent anu
altogether 1t was causeleSs reoeii ia
atrocious in its outbreak and progress ana
happy in its speedy suppression oy WV
firm hand Of official powerful
The Southampton instruction iet az
uneasy feeling In Lower Virginia and MOTH
Carolina, which caused a Tightening OF tne
lines on the part of the masters. hiartla,
law was proclaimed at Wilmington anu
other plnces in Eastern North Carolina. ana
the militia we're called out. Free neefoes
were arrested. several blacks We're trleu
for conspiracy to commit wholesale nuI,
der. and executions took place III ss.Sl11i
States. "a Many white women ana chill
dren fed to the swamps. Ii was con
siderable time before tho terror aoatsu,
and there was never again IN the south
feeling of security. Some notion OK tne
general unrest may be derived from tne
recommendations of the Governor OF VIZ
ginia in his annual message to the Legs
lature. He advised that slaves should oe
confined to the plantations OF their mas
ters, and recommended an appropriate
for the removal of free persons OF color.
Rut while the insurrection excited natu-
rally such feelings as these in all the slave
States. another spirit seemed dominant
among the thoughtful public men OF VIZ
einia. In December of the session OF
ls3l-'32 the subjects of emancipation and
colonization arose in the Legislature. Inc
debate lasted thirteen days. The decision
was against the expediency of present ac-
ton, although " the great evils arising rom
the condition OF the colored populatlon
were admitted. In the resolutions adopt
ed sympathy for the scheme OF colonial
ton was extended in accordance with pub
lio sentiment. The Richmond Enquirer
and Whiq and other newspapers OF the ntate
urged the enactment of law OF gradual
emancipation. The Enquirer, then one OF
the most influential journals OF the coun-
try, held this language: Are we forever
to suffer the greatest evil which can scourge
our lend not only to remain, but 10 IN
crease in its dimensions? Means, sure
bnt Gradual systematic but discreet,
ought to be adopted for reducing the mass
of evil which is pressing upon the, south
and will still more press upon her the
longer IL Is put off."Q5) Some OF the lead
ing advocates of emancipation were
Messrs. Moore, Thomas j. Randolph,
Charles ]. Faulkner, Rives, and Boiling;
of the opposition. Messrs. Leigh, Brown.
and Gholson.
Considerable eloquence and acumen we're
displayed on both sides OF the discussion.
The emancipationists insisted that the
origin of slavery was in fraud and vio-
lence; that it was against moral senti;
ment, civic policy, and sound, industrial
principles; that it had degraded Virginia
from a first to third-rate Common
wealth. that from the increase OF the
black population there was danger OF ser
vile instruction and the extermlna-
ton of many of the white people.
These arguments were met by o quaiined
defence of slavery (16) as an existing lnsti-
tuition. This was the last great appear
ance of the anti-slavery sentiment IN the
South (i7. The lines were too tightly
drawn henceforth for much IL anything 10
be manifested of that historic aboiitionlsm,
which Judged of slavery by practical
knowledge of its ills and not by senti-
ment which might nave been tinctured by
political jealousy.
Q2) The first rumors were gross exaggerations.
Il was said that from 800 10 500 negroes we're
under arms.
OBJ For general facts see Niles, September
November, Inclusive; also, Governor floyds
message, Niles for January, 1882, page 800. The
Governor says that sixty-one persons were mas
sacred, mostly women and children. de also
states that "the banditti OF slaves his-e1pres-
sion-"neyer exceeded seventy In number"
The following description OF general MAJ;
Turner was given by its owner, p. X. Beverly, OF
Alexandria, Va. -,
Whereabouts, not corpulent but very muscular,
has or had eighteen months ago, when he ran on,
a wart on the upper lid OF one Of his eyes about
the size OF large duck-shot and scar, not very
large, on his forehead" etc. Further he lie said
90 have been an expert as seine-hauler ana
plantation hand, had a "smoOthe tongue, large
feet and hands, thin, but strong frame. He often
showed q specious smile. He was about forty
years OF age. Mr. Beverly says that Nat ran on
from Old Point, where he was at work, with
thirty dollars OF bis masters money. AT Old
Point he became a Baptist preacher and claimed
10 have been inspired.-Clipping from Baltimore
Gazette In Washington Globe, September %,
1881. correspondent OF the Richmond Wing,
who was present at the trial, says that Nat.
Turner only pretended 10 be Baptist minister.
QA Washington Globe, September 20thi Ad-
hOnat Intelhgencer, September goth; hdes's Re-
gister November 10th, December 10, 1881 also,
Tor brief mention several State histories as
Moore's North Carolina.
Q5) Enquirer, January z, 1882.
Q6) Richmond Enquirer also, Daniel X. Good
loe's "SOuthern Platform pages 1894.
QO The statement in the text Is true, notwith-
standing the strong movement In Kentucky at
later day, and the efforts Of emancpationists In
Tennessee and other southern States near the
border.