296 SOUTH CAROLINA AND ITS SLAVK POPULATION. 



that year, a report prevailed, that the particulars of an impending in- 

 surrection of the slaves had been revealed by the black servant of a: 

 gentleman of Charleston ; whereupon a number of the most conspi- 

 cuous of the free negroes of the city were arrested and carried to 

 prison. From the confession of one of these persons, it was disco- 

 vered that the plan of a most extensive insurrection had been ma- 

 tured. Upwards of two years had been occupied in the organization 

 of the plot ; more than fifty thousand negroes were believed to be in 

 the secret, and prepared for the day. The plan of operations exhibits 

 the deadly spirit of the slave population of these states. It was ar- 

 ranged, that upon the evening of the very next Sunday, the negroes 

 from the plantations round the city should enter the streets at various 

 quarters and the main body, under the command of Vesey Denmark, 

 were to proceed to the guard-house, to secure the arms and ammu- 

 nition. At the same time the city was intended to be fired in several 

 quarters: and the negroes lining the streets were to despatch the 

 white people, as they issued from the houses to assist in extinguishing 

 the flames. " We will not leave a white skin living/' said Vesey 

 Denmark : te the scripture commands it, and they did so in St. Do- 

 mingo." Another body of negroes were to secure the shipping in 

 the harbour; so that after plundering the banks, stores, and dwell- 

 ing-houses, all concerned in the insurrection might be conveyed to 

 St. Domingo. An extensive manufactory of pikes had been carried 

 on for many months, and considerable sums of money had been sub- 

 scribed by the slaves, at the house of Vesey Denmark, and at several 

 of the religious meeting-houses of the black population of the city. 

 The slaves of the most kind and confiding masters, were those most 

 deeply implicated in the plot. One of the conspirators was a do- 

 mestic slave of Mr. Bennett, the late Governor of the state of South 

 Carolina, a benevolent old gentleman, who, to his astonishment and 

 horror, heard it proved, that this servant, in whom he had reposed 

 the confidence of a father, had secured his sword and pistols for the 

 night of the insurrection having exhibited them to a comrade, with 

 the expression, " When the fire breaks out, I shall run up stairs, 

 and do for the old man." 



The wives and daughters of the most wealthy residents were ap- 

 portioned beforehand : they were to be conveyed, with the treasure 

 of the city, to St. Domingo ; with which island an active correspon- 

 dence had been maintained for upwards of two years. The plot was 

 arranged for a Sunday night, that the negroes from the country might 

 flock unsuspected to the city, to the sabbath market, then common 

 for the slaves. The discovery of the design, and the arrest of the 

 leaders of the insurrection, were, however, concealed from the ne- 

 groes, who, upon the appointed day, were met by the military, and 

 dispersed upon the roads. The trial of the principal conspirators 

 soon afterwards took place. Vesey Denmark, with about ten of his 

 associates, were condemned to death, and executed upon the following 

 day all dying with the utmost coolness, and calling upon the assem- 

 bled negro population never to rest contented without liberty. 



The plot completely staggered the citizens of Charleston, who for 

 many years past had entertained no uneasiness about the black popu- 



