The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-13

TO discuss those conditions and to seek
the causes oE those evils. Their inYesti-.
CATION lead them TO the conclusion that
the causes of the inequality OF which
they feel the burden are to be sought
IN the defects OF religious systems The
debates disclose truths which crystalize
Z into practical form. The ambassadors
rich and poor consecrate themselves to
the PRINCIPLES which they find revealed.
and believe that their discoveries will
lead to tangible ana potent changes in
methods of promulgaing and perpetu-
They formulate their beliefs. they devise
atinS them, and they deliver to the world
the world of economies and religion.
a plan for new church, an outline Of
new social order.
TIE sOUTHAaIPToN1NS
by William Sidney DreArv- The Neale
Company. Washington, ID. c., pub
fishers.
The author of this scholarly and enter
tanning book is a native Of Virginia, a
graduate of the University of Virginia,
and now honorary scholar in history,
Johns Hopkins University. He Is brother
of MIR. John c. Drewry. of Richmond.
In the book under review Mr.. Drewry
has given the most complete and, we
doubt not, the most accurate account
ever printed of Nat Turner's famous
Instruction. for the author tells US that,
in order to separate truth from fiction"
he visited the scenes of the insurrection
in company with pesons thoroughly
acquainted with the country and with the
facts ard conditions under which they
occurred. Among those interviewed
were members of every family that
suffered at the hands of the insurgents.
From dts very inception Mr.. Drewry
traces the instruction. faithfully por-
trhying social tand political conditions
in Southampton at the time. following
the insurgents over every inch of their
bloody march, and giving every detail
of the outrages which they committed.
The whole story is told clearly. and
with thrilling circumstance: yet the book
is something more than a narrative. It
is scientific treatise, as well, of the
slavery, question, and it pictures the
home life of the slave in such way
as to refute the slanderous charges of
tie Ahoii:ionists against the Southern
whites Mr.. Drewry points out that
slavery in Southampton was simply
domestic servitude. under practically eff
cient garantees against i'll treatment"
that the system was more on the order of
that in the Mosaic law, where the slave
was a member of the family. and to
insult or maltreat a slave was an insult
which had to be atoned for on the field
of honor He notes. also. an incident.
winch Inc LINES dt The lllHt, Siliu
employed as the ext for an editorial
that of the old negro down South who
was acquitted of an infamous crime, the
evidence against him beii<S circumstanti al,
on the good character he proved in
court. The Judge scongra tuated him,
and the old man declared that he owed
his character to the training which his
master had given him.
Mr.. Drewry's book makes plain the fact
n M hal a kind and
master, and could not plead bad treat
ment as an excuse for his rebellion. The
fact is. that Nat was the son of a woman
who had been imported directly from
Africa. and was, it is said. so wild at
the time of Mats birth that she had
to be tied to prevent her from murder
ing him. Nat was fanatic, but he was
of his insurgent band were the acts eff
savages, who grew more and more
ferocious with every murder committed.
Those who have read DR.. Barringer's
paper on the negro. which was recently
reviewed by The Times. will study with
keen interest this phase of the South
ampton insurrection.
But we are trespassing upon space,
and must close, not. howevr, without
emphasizing the fact that Nat Turner
and his gang were all fairly tried In
court of justice, and able lawyer was
assigned to defend them. No attempt
whatever was made to lynch the negroes
after they had been caught. Lynching
is a, thing Of our modern civilization.
The fact should also be emphasized
that many of the Southampton slaves
were faithful to their owners. and, in
some instances. risked their own lives to
protect the lives of their owners.
From whatever point of view. Mr..
Drewry's book is a valuable contribution
to southern litera turc, and should be
read by all who are DESTROYS of learning
the truth about slavery in Virginia. and
the relationship between master and
servant