THE MOVEMENT IN THE VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE OF 1832
TO ABOLISH SLAVERY IN THE STATE
The Southampton Insurrection, which occurred in August, 1831, was one
of those untoward incidents which so often marked the history of
slavery. Under the leadership of one Nat Turner, a negro preacher, of
some education, who felt that he had been called of God to deliver his
race from bondage, the negroes attacked the whites at night and before
the assault could be suppressed fifty-seven whites, principally women
and children, had been killed. This deplorable event assumed an even
more portentous aspect when it was realized that the leader was a
slave to whom the privilege of education had been accorded and that
one of his lieutenants was a free negro. In addition there existed a
widespread belief among the whites that influences and instigations
from without the state were responsible for the insurrection.
The General Assembly of Virginia met in regular session in December,
1831, and the effect upon the popular mind of this tragic occurrence
was evidenced in the numerous petitions presented praying for the
removal beyond the state of all free negroes, or the enactment of such
laws as should provide for the abolition of slavery. The institution
itself, the feasibility of its abolition, the status of the free
negroes, the danger to the state from their presence, were thus
brought before the Legislature. It was a body containing many able men
but elected without reference to this great subject, and with no
previous interchange of views or formulation of plans among the
advocates of reform. The discussions which followed were more notable
for the fierce arraignment of the institution than for the
presentation of practical plans for its abolition.
Henry Wilson, in his _Rise and Fall of the Slave Power in America_,
says of this discussion:
"It was one of the ablest, most eloquent and brilliant debates that
ever took place in the Legislature of any of the states. Most of
those who participated in it were young and rising men who afterward
achieved high positions and commanding influence."[57]
Mr. Ballagh records that:
"Day after day multitudes thronged the Capitol to hear the speeches.
The Assembly in its zeal for the discussion set aside all prudential
considerations, such as the possible effect of incendiary utterances
that might make the slave believe his lot one of injustice and
cruelty, and so give him the excuse of a revolt, or might encourage
further aggressions by Northern Abolitionists."[58]