Augusta chronicle and Georgia advertiser. (Augusta, Ga.) 1822-1831, September 03, 1822, Image 2
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AUGUSTA
G^wtilflf
and
GEORGIA
MW&ttcii&tt *_
BY T. S. HANNON.
TERM*.
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per annum, payable in advance, or ttt-Ton Dollar*
If not paid before the end of the year.
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two aad a half rent*; for each subsequent, »u«-u
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Will'll an Ail VMFI ifc**»*»out i« mill, n 9f»rf I
fieqtlon in writing of the number of insertions, It
will he published until ordered out, and charged
1 (on business) mull be poit-pald—or
Uiey loav not meet with intention.
rjj- In this paper the Laws of the United States
arc published.
Laws of the U. States.
- 2&P Hut&orirpe
[PUBLIC ACT.]
A t ACT requiring Surveyors General to
give Bond aud Security for tlie faith
till Disbursement of Public Money,
aud to limit their Term of Office.
lit it enacted bt/ the Smalt and House
of Representatives of the United States yj'
America in Congress assembled , That',
from ami after the passing ol Urns act, eve
ry Surveyor General, coinmiffioned by
the authority of the United States, shall,
before entering on the duties of his office,
and every Surveyor General now in
commission, shall, on or beiore the thirti
eth day of September next, execute and
deliver, to the Secretary of the Treasury
of the United Slates, a bond, with good
and sufficient security, for the penal
gum of thirty thousand dollars, condition
ed for the faithful disbursement, accord
ing to law, of all public money placed in
his hands for disbursement, ami for the
faithful performance of the duties of his
olfice.
Sue. 2. And be it further enacted, That
the commission of every surveyor Gene
ral now in office, shall, unless sooner va
cated, by death, resignation, or removal
from office, cease and expire on the first
day of February next; and the commis
sion of every Surveyor General, hereaf
ter commissioned by the authority of the
United States, shall cease and expire, un
less sooner vacated by death, resignation,
or removal from olfice, in four years from
the dale of the commission.
Shc. 3. And be it further enacted, That
the President of the United Slates shall,
and he is hereby authorized, whenever
he may deem it expedient, require any
Surveyor General of the United Stales to
giva new pond and additional security,
under the direction of the Secretary ol
the Treasury, for the faithful disburse
ment, according to law, of all money
placed in his hands for disbursement.
PHILIP P. HARBOUR,
Speaker of the Home of Uepro.eulalim.
JOHN GAILLAIII),
President, oflhe Senate, pro tempore.
Washington, May 8,1*22.— Appprovod
JAMP.S MONROE.
AN ACCOUNT
OF THE
\i\teiu\ev\ \usuYvecUou
AMONG
A PORTION OF THE BLACKS
IN CHARLESTON.
PUBLISH KU
By the authority of the Corporation of
Charleston,
[continued.]
Amherst, belonging to Mrs. Lining,
was next examined, found not guilty, and
discharged.
The Court then proceeded to the trial
nf NED, the property of Governor Ben
nett.
.Xtd's guilt was proved fully by the
same witnesses that appeared against Pe
t-r Poyas, with whom it was established
he was in the habit ol frequent consulta
tion on the efforts that were to be made.
Subsequent disclosures have justified ve
ry xtrqugly the finding ol the Court a
gaiust him, and placed it beyond a doubt,
that ho was a ringleader, and was to
have headed a fotce in the vicinity of the
Lines.
He was found guilty, and sentenced for
execution on the 2d of J uly.
On the 24th of June, the Court dis
charged as not guilty, Samuel Gniflord
and Robert Hadden, two free persons of
colour, as also Matthias, the slave of Go
vernor Bennett; Mungo, the slave of Mr.
Poyas *, Robert, the slave of Mr. Harth,
aud Richard and John, the slaves of Mr.
I ,ucas.
On the ?slh of J uue, the Court ex
it nined the cases of Jim, belonging to
Mr. Aucrum; Sandy, belonging to Mr.
Hotines, and Friday, the property of Mr.
Hoot, all ol whom was found not guilty,
-and disrbnrgul.
Ou Wednesday, tbe 26th of June, the
Court proceeded to the trial of Abraham,
the slave of Dr. Poyas.
The only proof adduced against Abra- 1
ham, was the following letter, found iu
the trunk of Peter Poyas, ami acknow
ledged by Abraham to have been written
by himself, —
“ Dear Sir.—With pleasure I give you
“an answer. J util endeavour to,do it.
" Hoping Unit God will be in the midst to
41 help hit oten. lie particular and make
“ a suit remark. F.ai- not, the Lord God
»
W’ f' % •
“ that dtlucred Daniel is able to deliver
“ us. All that I inform agreed. lam
“gone up to Beach-fltllM
(Signed) Abraham Potas. 11
Although this letter was extremely
suspicious,.yet, there being no other tes
timony against Abraham, he was found
not guilty of the charge 4 of attempting to
4 rmpe an insurrection among the blacks
* against the whites. 1
Ou Thursday the 27th, Denmark Ve
sey, a free black man, was brought be
fore tbc Court for trial,
Assisted by his Counsel, U. W. Cross, Esq.
It is perpaps somewhat remarkable,
that at this stage of the investigation, al
though several witnesses had been exam
ined, the atrocious guilt of Denmark Vc
sry had not been as yet fully unfolded.—
From the testimony of roost of the wit
nesses, however, the Court found enough,
and amply enough, to warrant the seu
; teuce of death, which, on the 28th, 'hey
passed ou him. But every subsequent
step in th”* progress oflhe trials of others,
lent new' confirmation to Isis overwhelm
ing guilt, and placed him beyond a doubt,
‘ ou the criminal eminence of having been
the individual, in whose bosom the ne
• furious scheme was first engendered.—
■ There is ample reason for believing, that
. this project was not with him, of recent
- origin, for it was said, he had spoken of it
, for upwards of four years.
These facts of his guilt the journals of
• the Court will disclose—that no man can
" be proved to have spoken of or urged (he
- insurrection prior to himself. All the
| channels of communication and intelli
gence are traced back to him. His house
r was the place ap|>ointrd lor (he secret
meetings of the conspirators, at which
| he was invariably a leading aud influen
tial member; animating and encouraging
■ the timid, hy the hopes of prospects of
success ; removing the scruples of the re
ligious, by the grossest prostitution and
; perversion of the sacred oracles, aud in
flaming and confirming the resolute, by
all the sat age fascinations, of blood and
• booty.
The peculiar circumstances of guilt,
which confer a distinction on his case,
will be found narrated in the confessions
of Holla, Monday Cell, Frank and Jesse,
in the Appendix, lie was sentenced for
execution on the 2d July.*
TI • Court tried Jesse, thcslave of Mr.
Thomas Blackwood.
The testimony against Jesse was very
ample. His activity and zeal, in promo
ting the views of Denmark Vescy, in re
lation to the plot, were fully proved,—
He had engaged with Vesey to go out of
town on Sunday the IClh, to biing down
some negroes from the country, to aid in
the rising on that night; and remarked,
to the witnesses, on his way to Ilibbcns 1
ferry, “ if my father does not assist I will
cut off Ills head. 11 AH the particulars in
proof against him, be confirmed after re
ceiving bis sentence, by his own full and
satisfactory Confession, which will be
found in Hie Appendix, marked (H.)
This man excited no small sympathy,
not only from the apparent sincerity of
his contrition, but from the mild and un
ostentatious composure with which he
met ins fate.
Sentence of death was passed on these
six men, on the 2Glh of June, and they
were executed ou the 2d of July. With
the exception of j ease and Holla, they
made no disclosures ; all of them, with
those exceptions, cither explicitly or im
plicitly affirming their innocence. lli>
much to be lamented that the situation of
the Work-House, at this period, pre
cluded, after their sentence, their being
separately confined ; at least, that Vesey
could not have been subjected to the
gloom and silence of a solitary cell, ile
1 might have been softened, and afforded
the most precious confessions, as his
1 knowledge and agency iu the nefarious
- scheme very far exceeded the informa
tion of others, who, however guilty,
seemed but the agents of his will. But
these men mutually supported each
other, and died obedient to the stern and
emphatic injunction of their Comrade
(I'ctor Poyas) “Do not open your lips !
Die silent, as you shall see me do It
was, perhaps, alone, in Denmard Vesey’s
1 power, to have given us (he true char
acter, extent and importance of the cor
res|K>ndence, it was afterwards proved,
was carried on with certain persons iu
San Domingo.
On the Ist of July the Court proceed
ed to the trial of Monday Gell, who, to
gether with Charles Drayton, had been
apprehended j the first, ou the 271 h of
June, and the latter, on the 2d of July.
By referring to the Appendix (D.) and
. (E.) the nature of the testimony against
these individuals will be seen. Iu re
ference to the case of Monday Gell it was
established that he had been a very im
portant ringleader, aud that his shop, in
Meeting-street, was a place at which ma
ny meetings were held; al all of which
he was present, lending the must zealous
aid, and affording the strongest counte
nance ; and if any confirmation of his guilt
should bo sought for, it may be found in
bis own confession in the Appendix (K.)
After Monday Goll and Charles Drayton
wore convicted there appeared to be a
pause in our further discoveries, and
some prospect of the investigation closing
' with their execution and that of John
Horry, Harry Haig aud Gullah Jack,
i (for the guilt of the latter, see Appendix
' D. L. & F.
Uu the 9lh of J uly, however, these five
men, where called before the Court to
receive sentence, and after it had been
pronounced, with the must impressive so
lemnity, they were withdrawn to a com
mon ward in the Work-House, for hall
an hour, until separate cells could be
provided for them. It was at this mo
ment that Charles Drayton, overwhelm
ed with terror and guilt, went up to
Monday and reproached him with having
induced him to join in a scheme which
had placed him iu such a miserable and
perilous situation. To this appeal Mon
day, nut only confessed his guilt, but ob
servetl to Charles—that their present
fate was justly and precisely what they
had a t ight to expect, alter their detect
ed aud defeated project. On which there
immediately ensued between them a
conversation on the extent of the guilt of
others, in which .Monday gave Charles
1 the names of many accomplic es whom he
• had not previously known in the plot ;
> the arrival of the blacksmith to iron the
convicts, and the turnkey to convey them
( to separate cells, interrupted the couver
• sat ion.
» Charles, during the night of the 9th,
t sent for Mr. Gordon, who has charge of
i the Work-House, aud informed him that
w
„■ # Ufa
he was extremely anxious to see the !n
--lendant, as he had some important dis
closure* to make. Uy day-light, on the
morning of the iflth, tin* message was
conveyed to the person for whom it was
intended, and Charles was visited at sun
rise. He was found, in a state of the
most lamentable depression and panic,
and he seemed prepared Unmake the
most ample declarations from the fear of
death, and the consequences of an hereaf
ter, if he went out of the world -without
revealing all that he knew, to relation
to the Conspiracy, in which btihad been
so active an agent, lie lore his,narrative
was received, he was most specially put
on his guard, that ;io promises ecu d be
made to him of a reversal of his fate, but
that he might rest satisfied, his condition
could not be worse by his cotni-g out
with a full disclosure of all that he knew,
fie then staled many particulars, that
had come to bis own knowledge, proving
a much wider diffusion of the plot than,
at that period, was imagined; and, after
giving up the names of several of his
comrades, he mentioned the conversation
which had been commenced apd broken
off, in the common ward of the Work
-1 louse, between Monday Gill and him
self. As Monday, at this perijd, did not
seem disposed to make any confessions to
others, whatever he might b« inclined to
do to lus friend Charles, it wn| consider-
P cd important, that the convolution be
tween them, should be retewed, and
they were brought togethetyfo she same
ceil, and left for twenty-kW Hours alone;
but some little stratagem wat employed,
to divert the suspicions of .Monday, that
Charles was confined with him, merely
for the purpose of getting information out
of him.
On the morning of the 10th, the court
were convened, and apprised, generally,
of these new disclosures, which diaries
had made, but as he was still closeted with
Monday, he could not lie examined on
that day, the court adjourned to meet
on the 13th; on which day Monday
Cell’s own confession was heard by them.
Between the 10th and 13lh, Charlis and
Monday ivere separated (having been
respited by his Excellency, die Gover
nor, at '.be request of the court) and
Charles, on his re-examination afforded
much important information, which he
had derived from Monday. On Monday’s
having all this brought to his view, he ;
confessed his own guilt, as well as the]
truth of the statements which he had
made to Charles.+
Cotemporaneously with these ronumi
nications, Perault, belonging to Mr. Slro
hccker, wag taken up, on the 10th, and
on bis being closely and judh iiHuly (xa
niiiieJ by his master, he gave a large
mass of intelligence confirming what had
been related by Monday and Charles,
and supplying several deficiencies in their
testimony, more especially that pait of it
which related to (he transmission of cer
tain letters to San Domingo. These dis
closures, with some further details which
were obtained from Harry liaig, (whose
confession and subsequent testimony
went to implicate a corps of Cullah or
Angola negroes, thathad been organized
under the command of their Chief, Cul
lah Jack,) gave ample employment tor
three or tour days to the Committee of
Vigilance, during which upwards ot six
ty slaves were apprehended.
It would very much transcend the
limits necessarily prescribed to tins bnel
memoir, to go over all the trials that
subsequently ensued, on these fresh dis
coveries As the most important part of
the testimony, adduced on these trials,
is to be found in the Appendix, it is deem
ed altogether, superfluous, to make a
special application of it to each of lilt
cases, us this would result in a repetition
fatiguing and uninteresting to tne rea
der. It will be sullicient to single out a
few of the cases most pregnant in inter
est, and to remark, that the Court on its
reorginization ou the 13th,justly estimat
ing the extent of the labour before them,
laid down certain rules of discrimination
in the guilt of the parties to which they
give the most definite precision and per
specuity, by adopting two classes of of
fence ; the first involving a primary and
the second a minor degree of guilt.
Under the first class, they brought all
those who were ringleaders, who had
made a declaration of their belonging to
the association, and who had been pre
sent, aiding and abetting in tha contribu
tion of money, arms or ammunition, at
Denmark Vessey’s, or who were m the
constant habit of visiting Monday Celt’s
shop and Bulkley’s farm, for the purpose
of obtaining and communicating intelli
gence of the progress of the conspiracy.
Those found guilty in tins class, were to
be punished with death. Under the se
cond class were arranged tho.se.who had
merely sent in their adhesion to the ring
leaders without ever having attended a
meeting at Vesey’s, or having been re
cognized by him as confidential men, or
contributed to the purchase of arms or
ammunition, or endeavoured to enlist
otherc. The punishment which awaited
those found guilty in this class; was trans
portation beyond the 'units of the United
States.};
By reference to tho Calendar marked
(S) in the Appendix, the names of the
prisoners committed will be found, and
under a proper column, the mode in
which they were disposed of, whether
by death, transjiortation, or discharge,
from the insufficiency of testimony. The
extent of the evidence adduced, there
fore, against each individual, may be in
ferred with accuracy, by observing the
punishment awarded him ; as the Court
adhered with great aud rigid fidelity to
these rules, which were in unison both
with justice and humanity.
Among the vast number of cases dis
posed ol by the first Court; in a session
of nearly six weeks, involving the most
intense and unremitting labour, it would
be impossible to overlook the case of
Jack Pritchard, otherwise called Guilah
Jack. The testimony in the Appendix,
of more than one of the witnesses, will
establish fully his guilt, and prove the
justice of the sentence, by which he was
ushered into another world ; but no de
scription can accurately convey to oth
ers the impression which his trial, de
fence and appearance made on those who
witnessed the workings of his cunning
and rude address. Born a conjurer and
a physician, in Itis own country (foi in
Angola they are matters of inheritance)
he practised these arts in this country for
fifteen years, without it* being generally
known among the whites. Vesey, who
left no engines of power uuessayed,
seems, in an early stage of his design, to
have turned his eye on this Necromancer,
aware of his influence with his own
countrymen, who are distinguished both
tor their credulous superstition and clan
nish sympathies. It does not appear that
Jack required much persuasion to induce
him to Join in a project, which afforded
the most ample opportunity of display
ing his peculiar art, whilst it is very ob
vious that his willingness, to do all that
Vesey might require, was in no little
degree stimulated, by his bitterness and
his gall against the whites. Allho’ be
had been fifteen or twenty years in this
country, yet he appeared to be untouch
ed by the influences of civilized life. —
If Hi ■ part which he was to play in this
drama, bespoke that the treacherous and
vindictive artifices of war in his own
country, existed in unimpaired vigour
in his memory, his wildness and vehe
mence ol gesture and the malignant
glance with which Jie eyed the witnesses
who appeared against turn, all indicated
the savage, * ho indeed had been caught,
but not lamed. It would be both tedious
and diguslingto relate the many ai tifices
employed by this miscreant to deceive
and cajole his deluded countrymen.
Such was their belief in bis invulnera
bility, that his charms and amulets were
in request, and be was regarded as a
man, \s ho could only be harmed but by
the treachery ol his lellows. Ev- n those
negroes who were bom iu this country
seem to have spoken of his charmed in
vincibility with a confidence which look
ed much like bcliif. When Jack was
dragged forth to the scaffold he seemed
Conscious that his arts would stand him
in little stead, and gave up his spirit with
out firmness or composure.
The ca»e of Tom Russel, another of
the Gnllah Band, deserves a brief no
tice. He was tried some days after Jack,
and was executed among the twenty
two Criminals hung on the Lines, on the
26th July. Tom was Jack’s armourer,
arid kept his blacksmith’s shop on East-
Bay. Uis part in the conspiracy was
confined to the making of pikes and
spears, which it appears he did ou a very
approved model. After tin se weapons
were finished, they were held subject to
theorder of Jack, and by him sent up to
Mr. Bulkley’s farm,s near the Cross
Hoads, where handles were provided for
them by Polydore Faber, a Guilah, who
. met his fate on the same scaffold with
{'l om Russel. This farm was one ol the
principal rendezvous of the Guilah Band,
ol which Jack was the Captain.
The trial of Lot Forrester, was not
without interest, as he was the courier
10l the conspiracy, and was proved to
have gone out of town, for the purpose of
inducing the country negroes to join iu
the insurrection ; his journeys were both
south and north of Charleston. His zeal
and persevereance in the cause were
stio.igly proved, and there is every rea
son lor believing that the conflagration
ol the city was confided, by Vesey, to
him. Match-rope was tound in a situa
tion where he had probably secreted it.
He was hung on the Lines on the 261 h ol
July.
Bacchus Hammett, who was hung, al
so, on the 26th, did render, and was to
have rendered, ou the night ofthe 16th
the most essential aid. Before the latter
period be had stolen from his master’s
store a keg of powder, which was con
veyed, first to Vesey’s afterwards to Mon
day Cell’s, and lastly to Guilah Jack, to
he prepared into cartridges. On the
night of the 16th he was to have slept
where the arms of file Neck-Rangers
were deposited, and facilitated their seiz
ure and di trihution among Guilah Jack’s
corps, who were to have carried this
post, as well us Mr. Duqueriron's store,
in which there were 500 stands of arms,
deposited lor sale.
The cases ol Jack Glen, Billy Palmer,
and Jack Purcell, are distinguished, not
by any peculiar atrocity, but for the hy
pocricy they blended with their crime.
Their assent to the plot was distinctly
shown, and it was in proof, that Vesey
had recognized them all as his men.
Jack Glen was a Preacher, Billy Palmer,
exceedingly pious, aud a communicant at
the church of his master ; and Jack Pur
cell no less devout. The case of the lat
ter was not without its pathos, from the
deep coulritiou he expressed before bis
execution ; the distressing interest which
his mistress is said (o have taken in his
fate, and the lamentable delusion under
which he laboured, which is more parti
cularly unfolded in his confession, in the
Appendix marked (L.)(| Jack Glen
and Purcell were hung on the Lines.
Billy Palmer has been respited by His
Excellency, the Governor, until Octo
ber next, for a commutation of his pun
ishment to banishment beyond the limits
ofthe United States.
The Court having used the testimony
Monday Gelt, Charles Drayton and Har
ry Haig, very efficaciously, to the ends
of public justice, reconsidered the sen
tences, which had been passed on them,
and instead of death, sentenced them
to transportation beyond the limits ofthe
United States.
As a matter of form, Perault, John
Enslow and Billy liulkley, (who had be
come witnesses for the State,) were then
tried on their own confessions, and sen
tenced to be transported beyond (he li
mits ofthe United States, These indivi
duals were important witnesses in all
the apprehensions and trials subsequent
to the 13lh of July.
Perault gave his testimony with great
fearlessness and candour, and Enslow
with much composure and connexion;
the evidence of both, as well indeed as
that of most of the witnesses, was much
appreciated by the Court, after a severe
scrutiny. 1
This court having disposed of all the
cases before them, adjourned on the 26th
of July.
At this stage of our investigation we
were satisfied that of all the ringleaders
iu the conspiracy, William Gamer, (who
had effected his escape from the city a
boutthe Ist of July) only, remained to
be punished. As information had been
received of his Laving travelled towards
Columbia, a proclamation was issued by
His Excellency, the Governor, for his
apprehensio , in promotion ofthe success
of which some subsidary steps were taken
by private means, On the 2d of August
our wishes, relating to Garner, were
gratified, by his arrival in town. He had
previously been arrested at Columbia,
thro’ the public spirited efforts of the
Indendant of that place and Lieut. Max
cy, who overtook and apprended him at,
Granby,
On Garner’s arrival, a new Court
was organized for his trial, and such
other eases as might be brought before
(hem, by precisely the same means as
those which had been employed on the
appointment of the first; and the services
of the following gentlemen secured, who
were known to possess, deservedly, a
large share of the public confidence.
Magistrates,
Jacob Axon, 1
and > Esquires.
C. M. Furman, )
Freeholders.
Hon. Joel K. Poinsett,
Thos. R, Smith, ) « _
R.Y. Hayne, ’jEsqrs.
Gol. Thomas Rofer,
Col. John Gordon.
This Court adopted the same rules for
their government which had been so hu
manely and dispassionately adopted by
the preceding Court, but, as enough had
been done for public example, they de
termined to visit capital punishment on
none but ringleaders. The first case
they tried was that of William Garner.
Garner’s guilt had all the character
istics, which the Court had assigned to
the first class of turpitude; it was not on
ly proved that he was actively engaged
id recruiting others, but .that he was to
have led a troop of horse, at the rising,
composed of all such of the conspirators
as might have appeared in the streets on
horseback. And further, that he had
made an offer of a command to others in
his corps. Four witnesses having sworn
positively to his guilt, -detailing a variety
of particulars, mutually corroborating
and supporting each other, he was found
guilty and sentenced for execution ou
the 9th of August, at which period the
sentence was carried into effect. This
Court having, after short adjournments,
of three or four, recommenced their ses
sion, disposed ol twelve cases more, in
volving a minor degree of guilt, and ad
journed finally on the Bth of August.
These trials, together with some pri
vate arrangements, made with their
owners, in reference to the banishment
of several slaves, in cases where their
guilt was clear, but not of the first de
gree, have at length closed the anxious
and irksome labours of the corporation,
after an examination of little less than
two months.
It will be seen, by referring to the Cal
ender marked (S) that one hundred and
thirty-one were committed , thirty-five
have suffered death, and thirty-seven have
been sentenced to banishment. The most
important object to be obtained in uproot
ing a conspiracy, we have fully accom
plished, by bringing to punishment the
whole of the ringleaders. Monday Cell,
whose knowledge ol the plot was, proba
bly, exceeded only by Vesey’s, has em
phatically stated, that the ringleaders
were the first six, who were executed
on the 2d of July, to wit; Denmark Ve
sey, Peter Poyas, Ned Bennett, Rolia,
Batteau and j esse; to which he has since
added himself and William Garner, who
was executed on the 9th of Auguit.
We, moreover, believe, that all who
were active agents (though not ringlead
ers) iu the conspiracy, have expiated
their crimes, or are about to do so, by au
eternal exile from our shores. It may
be mentioned, m confirmation of this be
lief, that Monday Gell, from memory,
made out a list ol forty-two names., of
those who were in the habit of visiting
his shop, for the purpose of combining
and confederating iu the intended insur
rection, whom he called his company;
every one of whom have been apprehend
ed, and disposed of, We cannot venture
to say, to how many the knowledge of
the intended effort, was communicated,
who, without signifying their assent, or
attending any o< the meetings, were yet
prepared to profit by events. That there
are many who would not have permitted
the enterprize to have failed at a critical
moment, for the want of their co-opera
tion, we have the best reasons for believ
ing.
Before we conclude, soina notice of the
probable causes of this conspiracy may
be expected. As this is a matter of spe
culation, we shall not speak without re
serve. Os the motives ofVesey, we can
not set in judgment; they have been
scanned by a power who can do higher
justice than ourselves. But as they are
explained by bis character and conduct,
during the combinations of the plot, they
are only to be referred to a malignant ha
tred of the whites, and inordinate lust of
power and booty, Indeed, the belief is
altogether justifiable, that his end would
have been answered, if, after laying our
city iu ashes, and moistening its cinders
with blood, he could have embarked with
a part of the pillage of our banks for San
Domingo; leaving a large proportion of
hi. deluded followers to the extermina
ting desolation of that justice, which
would have awaited, in the end, a tran
sient success. His followers were slaves,
and for them it would not be so difficult
to assign a motive, if it had not been dis
tinctly proved, that without, scarcely
an exception, they had no individual
hardship to complain of, and were among
the most humanely treated negroes in
our city. The fariUtiai for combining
and confederating in such a scheme, were
amply afforded, by the extreme indul
gence and kindness, which chai acterises
the domestic treatment of our slaves.—
Many slave owners among us, not satisfi
ed with ministering to the wants of their
domestics, by all the comforts of abundant
food and excellent clothing, with a mis
guided benevolence, have not only per
mitted their instruction, but lent to such
efforts their approbation and applause.
Religious fanaticism has not been with
out its effect on this project, and as aux-.
Hilary to these sentiments, the secession
of a large body of blacks from the white
Methodist Church, with feelings of irri
tation and disappointment, formed a hot
bed, in which the germ might well be
expected to spring into life and vigour.
Among the conspirators a majority , of
them belonged to the African Church, * *
and among those executed were several
who had been Class Leaders. It is how
ever, due to the late head of their church
(for since the late events the association
has been voluntarily dissolved) and their
deacons, to say, that after the most'dili
geut search and scrutiny, no evidence
entitled to belief, has been discovered
against them. A hearsay rumour, iu re
lation to Morris Brown , was traced far
enough to end in its complete falsifica
tion.
That the course which certain discus
sions assumed in Congress were likewise
efficacious in producting both discontent
anddelusiea, U sufficiently apparent.—
» Jack Purcell’s confession in the ann. , J
e will show to what a purpose M
s plied those beautiful proposition of * P ' i
s and neutral freedom, whfchwer e FI
s with a wauton recklessness of I
o sequences, as applied to the conditions I’
a a certain portion of our common coun t rv
!t is to every individual, ;?, |
is proud of the character of hi s c ’7** ■ I
in the late unhappy event*, to be abiaT* ' I
say, that, within the limits of the Pi , ;
Charleston, in a period of great and V j
precedented excitement, the laws, *2 I
out even one violation, have ruled *fu >
uninterrupted sway-that no cruel v!l
dictive or barbarous modes ofpunhhinm
have been resorted to—that instirTu I
been blended with an enlightened
r manity, in according to those who
- meted out for us murder, pain and
y flagration, in their most savage form* '
d trials, which, for the wisdom, impartillT
- ty and moderation that governed them.'
q are even superior to those which the or
e dinary modes of judicature would have
afforded ourselves. “
With little to fear and nothing ( 0 re
0 preach ourselves we may, without
- shrinking, submit our conduct to the
1 award of posterity, and cm selves to the
0 protection of the Supreme Rul er
■, Events. “
s ■
1 *As Denmark Vesty has occupied so
J large a place in the conspiracy, a brief no
i lice of him will, perhaps, be not de void of
i interest. The following anecdote will
y show how near he was to the chance ofbe
y mg distinguished in the bloody d ent, of
1 Han Domingo. During the revolution
j ary war, Captain Vesty, how an old rest-.
e deni of this city, commanded a ship that
s traded between St. Thomas 1 and Cape
, Francois (San Domingo.) He was en
- gaged in supplying the French of that /;.
- land with Slaves, In the year 1781 m
- took on board at St. Thomas 1 390 slam
and sailed for the Cape; on the passage
- he and his officers were struck with the
r beauty, alertness and intelligence, fa boo
t about 14 years of age, whom they made a
r pet of, by taking him into the cabin
. changing his apparel, and calling him by
s way of distinction Telemaque, (which au.
, pellation has since, by gradual corruption
i among the negroes, been changed to Den
mark, or sometimes Telmak.) On the ar
- rival, however, of the ship at the Cape,
1 Captain Vtsty, having no use for the boy
2 sold him among his other slaves, and re*
i turned to St. Thomas 1 , On his next toy
t age to the Cape, he was surprised to learn
- from his consignee that Telemaque would
■ be relumed on his hands, as the planter
; who had purchased him, represented him
, unsound, and subject to epileptic fits. Ac
■ cording to the custom of trade in that place,
. the boy was placed in the hands cf the
s king 1 * physician, who decided that he was
1 unsound, and Captain Vesey was compel
■ led to take him back, of which he had no uc
, casion to repent, as Denmark proved, for
> 20 years, a most faithful slave, fin 1900,
> Denmark drew a prise of SISOO in the
East-Bay-Street Lottery, with which he
> purchased his freedom from his master, at
. six hundred dollars, much less than his
1 real value. From that period to the day of
i his apprehension he has been ‘working as a
’ carpenter in this city, distinguished for
f great strength and activity. Among his
, colour he was always looked up to with mn
f and respect. His lemner way
r and domineering in the extreme, qualfying
. himfor the despotic rule, of which he im
. ambitious. AU hit passions were ungo
; vemable and, savage; and to his numtr
■ out wives and children, he displayed the
i haughty and capricious cruelly of an Eas
f tern Bashaw. He had nearly effected his
, escape, after information had been lodged
- against him. For three days the town was
t searched for him without success. As early
.as Monday, the 17 ih, he had concealed.
I himself. It was not until the night of the
I 22d of June, during a perfect tempest,
. that he was found secreted in the house of
. one of his wires. It is to the uncommon
efforts and vigilance of Mr. Wetner, and
. Capt. Dove, of the City Guard, (the latter
r of whom seitedhim) that public justice re
. ceived its necessary tribute, in the execu
. tion of this man. If the parly had beers
. one moment later, he would, in all probn
i bilily, hare effected his escape the next day
■ in some outward bound vessel.
: + Monday Gell it very well known in this
, city. He is a most excellent hamets-ma
’ ker, and kept his shop in Meeting-street.—
■ It would be difficult to name any individual
f more actively engaged in the plot than him
s self, or more able to aid Denmark Vesey,
I from his uncommon sagacity and knowledge.
' He reads and writes with great and equal
i facility, and obviously seems to have beer.
i the individual who held the pen, at all the
i meetings. At which he wrote more than
f one letter to San Domingo, for succors. —
■ His own situation afforded no excuse for
i the effort in which he was engaged, as he
• enjoyed all the substantial comforts of c
, fret-man; much indulged and trusted by
t his master, his time ami a large proportion
■ of the profits of his labor were at his own
r disposal. He even kept his master's arms
I and sometimes his money. Monday is ate
; Ebo, and is now in the prime of life, hat
i ing been in the country 15 of 20 years,
; $At shemeettngof the Court on the mom
i ing of the 13 th, Mr. James Legare, from
■ feeble health and great exhaustion during
i its f revious sittings, asked, and obtained
■ leave, to withdraw, whereupon Mr. Henry
■ Deas, was summoned by the Magistrates,
• who took his seat and served until the ad
: joumnicnt of the Court.
i This farm seas under the charge of a
slave name Billy, who became a witness
1 for the state and gave some important de
tails of the meetings of the Gullaht. —
Several of whom were executed on the 26//*.
’■ || This Confession of Purcell's will
, show, that the evil foretold, from the dis
’ cuss ion of the Missouri Question, has been a
in some degree, realised.
IT See Enslow 1 s Confession, Appendix .
m
f ** An appellation , the seceders assumed
after their leaving the white Methodist
I Church.
(to be continued.)
i ————————————
Notice.
ALL persons that are indebted to the
late Edward Smith, deceased, arc
• desired to come forward and pay th. 6
' same; and all those that the estate
• indebted to, will render in their so
counts according to law for payment.
J. W. Meredith,
t Admirnttr^or
■ August