From the disposition which the enemies of this country have already shewn, there is but too much reason to suspect that the late proceedings in this colony will be represented in England in a light the most unfavourable to the people; and perhaps some actions may have been committed, which, to those who view them from a distance, and have not felt the provocations which led to them, may appear violent and unjustifiable. To enable mankind, therefore, to form a proper judgment of what has passed, a plain narrative of facts seems necessary, a narrative published upon the spot, where any falsehood may be contradicted, any errour or partiality corrected, and every measure supported by its true motives. Something of this kind has appeared to every one necessary, it has been looked for, but the general expectation has been disappointed; and it is to be feared, that our friends in other countries will interpret our silence into an inability to justify our conduct, whilst our enemies will triumph, in the supposition that we have at length quitted the paths of wisdom and of virtue. Such considerations as these have induced me to attempt what I wished to see from some abler hand; and probably my weak endeavours may be the means of rousing others, who are more capable, of doing justice to the subject.
The rise and progress of the present troubles in America are so well known, through most parts of the world, and our resistance to arbitrary power so generally applauded, that I may well be excused from looking far backwards, and from vindicating the first steps of American opposition. Though Virginia most heartily concurred, and in many instances took the lead, in the virtuous struggles of the colonies, yet, till lately, she was free from those direful effects of ministerial tyranny which some other parts of the continent experienced. The first thing which particularly disturbed her tranquillity was a threatened insurrection of her negro slaves, in the beginning of the spring 1775. Whether this was general, or who were the instigators, remains as yet a secret. There was reason, however, to believe that most of the negroes were too well affected to their masters, and too apprehensive of the bad consequences, as well as suspicious of the friendship of our adversaries, to join in such a wicked scheme. From some hints, it was inferred that the negroes had not been without encouragement from a Gentleman of the Navy, who has distinguished himself lately in our rivers. Whatever the plot was, it was seasonably discovered, and effectual measures taken to suppress it. To the Northward, the storm seemed to thicken; every ship from England brought intelligence of some fresh instance of ministerial vengeance denounced against us; our hopes of peace and redress from that quarter declined daily; and we saw nothing before us but abject slavery, or the horrours of a civil war. We viewed the alternative with sorrow, but hesitated not a moment which to prefer. The Convention of March 1775 directed that the colony should be put into the best posture of defence, and that, whilst every step was taken to procure an honourable reconciliation, nothing should be omitted which could enable us, by the sword, to defend our just rights and privileges. In the third week of April, the country was again alarmed, by the Governour’s removing in the night from the colony magazine, and putting on board his Majesty’s schooner the Magdalen, Capt. Collins, fifteen barrels of gunpowder, nearly the whole which the magazine at that time contained; and it was also discovered, that he had spoiled several of the fire-arms of their locks. Upon the first intelligence of this action, many of the inhabitants of Williamsburg flew to their arms, and resolved in that way to demand reparation. No violence, however, was committed; they were persuaded to disperse, and the common hall addressed his Excellency. Their address set forth, that the magazine was erected at the publick expense of the colony, and appropriated to the safe-keeping of such munition as should be lodged there, for the protection and security of the country, to be used by the militia in case of invasions or insurrections, and that it was, therefore, the only proper repository to be resorted to in times of imminent danger; that, from various reports of internal insurrections, the utmost attention to their security was become necessary; and they therefore desired to know his motives for carrying off the powder in such a manner, and entreated him immediately to return it to the magazine. To this his Excellency replied, that the report of an insurrection in a neighboring county had induced him to remove the powder from the magazine, where he did not think it safe, to a place of perfect security; that he would return it, when it was wanted on any insurrection; that he had removed it in the night, to prevent any alarm; that he was surprised to hear the people were under arms on this occasion, and that he should not think it prudent to put powder into their hands in such a situation. This answer gave no satisfaction: The people could not conceive how disarming them would discourage their negroes from rising, should they be so disposed; nor could they divine how he could procure the powder, upon any emergency, from a vessel whose station for one hour was uncertain. the magazine had never yet been attempted by the negroes; and, had this been apprehended, they thought it might easily have been secured by a guard. Upon the whole, they looked upon the Govourner’s answer as evasive and insulting; and the people were, with difficulty, kept within the bounds of moderation.
