Summary

Race mixing was an ever present fear in the minds of the Valley Spirit Democrats. "A more complete retribution for the crime of fanaticism we never heard of," the editors proclaimed on the elopement of a white woman with a black man.

EXCERPT:

"The partner of her flight was a black man, who has been in the employment of her father for some time in the capacity of farm hand. the first intimation that the father had of the intention of the parties was conveyed by the fact of their flight. They immediately crossed over to Windsor, upon reaching the city, fully sensible that they could not accomplish their unnatural designs on this side, as no official or clergyman could have been found who would have so far transgressed the bounds of decency as to unite the couple."

"The emotions of a brother at such a sight can better be imagined than described. Some men would have blotted out their disgrace with a single blow, but he had been taught that it was no sin against God or man that his young sister should repose in the embrace of a negro."

Full-text web version of newspaper

"Franklin County's papers spent more ink--almost all of it negative--on its nearly two thousand free blacks than Augusta did on its five thousand enslaved people."