The Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1822-1829, 1822-09-17
AN ACCOUNT.


portion Of the Blocks IF Chcrtesto'i--Pao-
dShed BY authority.
lcoscLupED.l
| On Thursday, the eth, DENMARK
/ YEsEN, a free black man, was brought be-
/ fore the Court for trial, assisted ny his
i Counsel, 81. ". Gross, Esq.
II is perhaps somewhat remarkable, fhat
at this stage Of the investigation, although
several Witnesses had been examined, the
/ GiIotious gull Of Denmark Neses had mol
beca rs yet fully unfolded. From the fes-
limony of most of the witnesses, however,
the Court found enough, ard amply enough,
to warrant TIE sentence Of death, which, on
| the 23t1, they passed on him. But every
Subsequent step in the progress OF the trials
of others, lent new confirmation To his
overwhelming guilt, and placed INN be-
yOnd doubt, on the criminal enInence oil
| having been fhe individual IN whose bosom
the ncfarious scheme was FIRST engendered.
There is ample reason for believing that
this project was not, with him, OF recent
origin, for il VAS said he hard spoken oil II
for upwards of four years.
These facts of his guilt the journals oil
the Court Will disclose--that no man can
be proved to have spoken of OF urged the
iusurrectOn prior TO himself All The
channels accommodation aud Intelligence
are traced back 10 him. His house was
the place appointed for the secret meetings
of the consplrators, at which he was lnVa-
r ably leading and influential member;
anlmating and encouraging the tmm by
| he hopes of prospects Of success--relno-
wing the scruples of the religious by the
< ossest prostitution and per,erson of the
sacred oracles, and inilaming and contir-
ming tie resoiute, by all the savage fascln-
ations of blood and booty.
| AsDennarl. Ecscy has occupied 80 large
place in the conspiracy, brief notice of
him will, perhaps, be not devoid ofinterest.
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, Capt Vesey,
now an old resident of this city, commanded
a ship that traded between St. Thomas
and Cape Francois San Domingo.) He
was engaged in supplying the French Of
that Island with Slaves. In the year 1871,
he took on board at St. Thomas 500
slaves, and sailed for the Cape-on the
passage, he aud his officers were struck
with the beauty, alertness and intelligence
OF boy about II years of age, whom they
made pet of, by taking him into the ca
I'm, hanging his apparel, and calling him
by way of distinction Telamaque, (which
Appreciation has since, By gradual corruption
among the negroes, been changed to Den
mark, or sometimes Tclmak.) On the ar
rival, however, of the ship at the Cape,
Capt Ncsey, having no use for the boy,
sold him among his other slaves, and re-
tuned to St. Thomas. On his next yoy-
age To the Cape, he was surprised to learn
from his consignec that Telomaque would
be returned ON his hands, as the planter,
who had purchased him, represented him
unsonnd, and subject 10 epieptic fits. Ac
cordlng To the custom oftrade IN that place,
the boy was placed in the hands of the
Kings physician, who decided that he was
unsound, and Cantain Nescy was compel
oil to take lliin back, OF which be had no
occasion to repent, AS Denmark proved for
10 years, m6st faithful slave. Ia 1900,
Denmark drew prize of $1,000 in the
fIast-Bay- Street Lottery, with which he
purchased his freedom from hi. master, at
six hundred dollars, much less than his re-
al value. From that period to the day of
! his apprehension he has been working a.
n carpenter IN This city, distinguished for
great strength and actlsity. Among his
colour he was always looked up to With
awe and respect. Hiatcmper was impetu-
Gus and dominecring IN the extreme, quail
tying hiin Tor the dcspetc role Of which he
was ambitious. All ms passions were IN
gotclnablc and savage ard 10 his mime
rous wives and children, he displayed the
naughty and caprcous cruelty of an Eas
tern Hashaw. He had nearly effected his
escape, after information had been lodged
against him. For three days the town was
searched ior him without success As ear
~ as Monday, the 18th, he had concealed
himself II was not unt1l the night of the
22d oi June, during perfect tempest, that
he was found sccrcted in the house of one
OF his wives. tits to the uncommon efforts
and vigilance of Mr.. WcsneF, and Capt.
Dove, ofthe City Guard, the ,atterof whom
seized him that public justice received its
necessary tribute, iii the execution of this
man. Ii the party bad been Que moment
later, he would, in al probability, have eff
iected his escape the next day in some out
ward bound vessel
The Court trid JESSE, the slave of Mr..
Thos. Blackwood.
The testimony against Jesse was very
ample. His activity and zeal in promoting
the views of Denmark Vesey in relation to
the plot were fully proved. lie had enga-
gel with Nesey to 20 out of town on Sun
day the 10th, to bring down somemegroes
from the country, 10 aid in the rising on
! that highland remarked to the witnesses,
on his way TO Hibbens' ferry, .1'if my father
does not assist | will cut off his head"
All the particulars in proof against him,
he confirmed after receiving his sentence,
by his own full aud satisfactory confess
sion.