_Price 25cts. each; discount by the hundred._
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Footnote 1:
It would be a libel on the liberality and gratitude of this community
to suppose that this man can be _overlooked_ among those who are to be
rewarded for their fidelity and principle.
Footnote 2:
The purport of this letter will be seen by reference to the trial of
Abraham Poyas.
Footnote 3:
Most of the black religious communities in this place, are divided
into classes, over which a Leader is placed, having the confidence of
the Pastor of the Church.
Footnote 4:
This witness gave the information under a pledge, that his name should
not be divulged.
Footnote 5:
The Republican Artillery under Capt. Patterson, was on duty on the
night of the 16th, and were armed with muskets, and stationed in the
Arsenal Yard.
Footnote 6:
The following Note appears on the Journals of the Court, in relation
to the trial of Rolla—“Five witnesses were introduced and examined in
behalf of Rolla, but so far from impeaching the credibility of the
witnesses against him they rather supported it.”
Footnote 7:
After the execution of Peter, his guilt, in the most flagrant degree
became most abundantly established; affording, in every particular,
the strongest corroboration of the testimony by which he had been
convicted. It was apparent that he was the most efficient of all the
ringleaders, and one who possessed the largest share of the confidence
of Denmark Vesey, who was, in every sense of the term, the father of
the plot. Peter was a slave of great value, and for his colour, a
first rate ship-carpenter. He had the confidence of his master in a
remarkable degree, and had been treated with indulgence, liberality
and kindness.
Footnote 8:
As Denmark Vesey has occupied so large a place in the conspiracy, a
brief notice of him will, perhaps, be not devoid of interest. The
following anecdote will show how near he was to the chance of being
distinguished in the bloody events of San Domingo. During the
revolutionary war, Captain Vesey, now an old resident of this city,
commanded a ship that traded between St. Thomas’ and Cape Francais
(San Domingo.) He was engaged in supplying the French of that Island
with Slaves. In the year 1781, he took on board at St. Thomas’ 390
slaves and sailed for the Cape; on the passage, he and his officers
were struck with the beauty, alertness and intelligence of a boy about
14 years of age, whom they made a pet of, by taking him into the
cabin, changing his apparel, and calling him by way of distinction
_Telemaque_, (which appellation has since, by gradual corruption,
among the negroes, been changed to _Denmark_, or sometimes _Telmak_.)
On the arrival, however, of the ship at the Cape, Captain Vesey,
having no use for the boy, sold him among his other slaves, and
returned to St. Thomas’. On his next voyage to the Cape, he was
surprised to learn from his consignee that Telemaque would be returned
on his hands, as the planter, who had purchased him, represented him
unsound, and subject to epileptic fits. According to the custom of
trade in that place, the boy was placed in the hands of the king’s
physician, who decided that he was unsound, and Captain Vesey was
compelled to take him back, of which he had no occasion to repent, as
Denmark proved, for 20 years, a most faithful slave. In 1800, Denmark
drew a prize of $1500 in the East-Bay-Street Lottery, with which he
purchased his freedom from his master, at six hundred dollars, much
less than his real value. From that period to the day of his
apprehension he has been working as a carpenter in this city,
distinguished for great strength and activity. Among his colour he was
always looked up to with awe and respect. His temper was impetuous and
domineering in the extreme, qualifying him for the despotic rule, of
which he was ambitious. All his passions were ungovernable and savage;
and, to his numerous wives and children, he displayed the haughty and
capricious cruelty of an Eastern Bashaw. He had nearly effected his
escape, after information had been lodged against him. For three days
the town was searched for him without success. As early as Monday, the
17th, he had concealed himself. It was not until the night of the 22d
of June, during a perfect tempest, that he was found secreted in the
house of one of his wives. It is to the uncommon efforts and vigilance
of Mr. Wesner, and Capt. Dove, of the City Guard, (the latter of whom
seized him) that public justice received its necessary tribute, in the
execution of this man. If the party had been one moment later, he
would, in all probability, have effected his escape the next day in
some outward bound vessel.
Footnote 9:
_Monday Gell_ is very well known in this city. He is a most excellent
harness-maker, and kept his shop in Meeting-Street. It would be
difficult to name any individual more actively engaged in the plot
than himself, or more able to aid Denmark Vesey, from his uncommon
sagacity and knowledge. He reads and writes with great and equal
facility, and obviously seems to have been the individual who held the
pen, at all the meetings. At which he wrote more than _one_ letter to
San Domingo, for succors. His own situation afforded no excuse for the
effort in which he was engaged, as he enjoyed all the substantial
comforts of a free man; much indulged and trusted by his master, his
time and a large proportion of the profits of his labour were at his
own disposal. He even kept his master’s _arms_ and sometimes his
money. Monday is an _Ebo_, and is now in the prime of life, having
been in the country 15 or 20 years.
Footnote 10:
At the meeting of the Court on the morning of the 13th, Mr. James
Legare, from feeble health and great exhaustion during its previous
sittings, asked, and obtained leave, to withdraw, whereupon Mr. Henry
Deas, was summoned by the Magistrates, who took his seat and served
until the adjournment of the Court.
Footnote 11:
This farm was under the charge of a slave named _Billy_, who became a
witness for the state and gave some important details of the meetings
of the _Gullahs_. Several of whom were executed on the 26th.
Footnote 12:
This Confession of Purcell’s will show, that the evil foretold, from
the discussion of the _Missouri Question_, has been, in some degree,
realized.
Footnote 13: