Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1822-10-05

| sbutuhi9y WV iIlSiilSCbSO e'Ho lSSNlN-
ed, for the Intervening time-during
which, extensive ard efficient prepare
tons were made for the safety and pro-
lection OF the city. Saturday night and
Sunday morning passed without the pre-
dicted demonstrations doubts were
again excited, and counter orders issued
for diminishing the guard.-The facts
communicated were generally known to
our fellow citizens, on Sunday; produ-
cling a night OF sleepless anxiety. But
no one OF the predicted, Cor any other)
occurrences presented itself to disturb
the general tranquility.
On the 18th June ten slaves were ar
rested, and on the 10Th the court was
organized for their trial. Investigation
was retarded by the difficulty of procur-
ing authentic evidence, and it was not
unul the 28lh that the sentence Of death
was pronounced against six Of the per-
sons charged with the offence. Denmark
Vssy, Tree negro, was arrested on the
2lst, and on the 22i put on his trial.
Although he was unquestionably the in
stigaror and chief of this plot, no posi-
tive proof of his guilt appeared until the
l5lh. This grew out of the confession
OF one OF the convicts, and on the 9th
his guilt was further established by a
servant Of MIR Ferguson.
The progress made, and the eypecta-
tons Of immunity from the punishment
by COME gradually developed tie
plot, and produced the arrest Of several
others, fortunately two who were prib
cipals- Monday Cell and Gullah Jack.
These, with three others, John Horny,
Charles Dayton, and Harry Haig, were
convicted, and sentenced to de on FIJI
day, the 18Th July last; but at tie sug
gestion of the court, tina, important com
muf.. atoms were expected from them,
Monday Gel Charles dayton, and iIar.
ry Haig, were respted.
The arres, Of Perault, servant of Mr.
Sroherker, which took place The day
previous to the respite, and the general
and very important discoveries made by
him, enabled the Committee OF Vigi-
lence, not only to elicit The chnGrmatios
Of his statement from the three convlcts,
but to apprehend a greater number c.
persons engaged in the plot.-An ong
others, William Garner, reputed 10 be
one Of The principals, the only one not
;hen unprecedented.
The number OF persons at this period
under arrest, evlneed tie necessity o.
such arrangements OF The testimony as
would enable the court to progress with
ssfe rapidly. Tnis duly de.olved OH
he Committee of Vigilence: and prin
cipaliy from the general information u
perau,, and Of! The convic,s Monday
Cell and Charles Drayion, facility was
given 10 the further PROCEEDINGS OF the
court. In the short space OF seven days,
.hrty-two negroes were convicted !,
twenty-five o. whom were executed o.
Friday, the 2oth of Jolly; and Within
four days after, eleven others were Co.'S
yicted, four Of whom have also been exc
cu.sd.
Having established the existence of a
plot, and the places Of RENDEZVOUS, al.
that was deemed requisite for convictlon
was to prove an association with the
ring leaders, aud an expression Of then
assent 10 the measure. On such gene
rally, the sentence of death las been
executed. Others, who, without actu-
ally combining, were proved 10 have
known OF the conspiracy, and TO have
given their sanction, BY any act, have
been sentenced 10 die, and their pun
lshment Comriuted to Punishment from,
tbs United States Or sentenced IN the
first instance to be baHIshcd from this
state or from the United States. Iii
this manner the whole number seventy
Two, have been disposed Of; tt.lrty-hvo
executed, and thiriy-seven sentenced to
Punishment. With these we may rea-
sonably conclude that We have reached
the extreinelies of this conspiracy, and
this opinion, if not conclusive, is entitled
10 great weight, when we advert to the
extraordinary measures pursued to al
feet the object and the motives which in
Huenced the accused.
No means which experience or inge-
nuity could devise were left uncssayed,
to eviscerate the plot. In the labors of
investigation, the court was preceded b.
committee formed by the City Council,
whose intelligence, activity, and zeal,
were we'll adapted to the arduons duties
of their appointment. Their assiduiiy,
aided by the various sentiments which
influenced the prisoners, produced ra-
pid development of the plo.. Several
Of the couspirators had entered into So
lemn pledges to par,ake Of a common
destiny, and one, at least, was found,
who, after his arrest, fell no repugnance
10 enforce the obligation, by surrenderine