The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1831-09-28
From the albany Erentng Journal.
GABRIEL'S DEFEAT.

The present very alarming instruction
OF the Africans in the slave holding States,
lmparts a thrilling interest to every thing
relative to their project of self emancipa-
ton.
About thirty years ago, it was discovered
that IN the neighborhood of Richmond,
plan had been devised by the colored peo-
pie to spread slaughter and devastation
among the whites. Three negroes had
been seen by their master riding out of his
stable yard. This was sufficient to create
alarm. On their return, the then abscond-
ing blacks were tried by the court of three X
Though no direct evidence was addnced
yet enough was elected to induce the he
lief that there had been an extensive com
binatlon formed for dreadful purposes
The Governor of Virginia offered the sum
OF $4,000, and the gentlemen of the city
of Richmond, $4,000 more, as a reward to
any one who would give information of the
head of the project. No one was tempted
to betray the secret
A few days after the $4,000 reward was
offered, little African boy came into
grocery store in Richmond and asked for
quart of rum. The grocer asked him for
whom he wanted it. He said for his uncle
Gabriel. That African, when twenty-one
years of age, had asked his master how
much he would take for him. His master
replied, "Gabriel, no money would buy
you." "But," said Gabrisl, "should buy
myself" "In that case" said the master,
" would take $500 for you" "Then 1 am
ready 10 pay," said Gabriel. "Had thought
So" said the master, 81 would not have
made the offer. But as have said it, will
nat tNoo Il Ill
He then commenced learning the English
language, and in short time, learned read
ing, writing and arithmetic. He was intel
ligent sober, and amable. All people who
knew him, esteemed him highly. He was
twenty-five years of age when the $4,000
reward was offered. Such was the man
who sent his nephew for jug ofrum, which !
cost him his life. The grocer asked the |
boy where his uncle Gabriel was He re-
piled in the Sally Ann, vessel at the dock, |
just ready to sail for St. Domingo. The !
grocer told the boy to wait little, for his
return. Notice was given to an officer, and
Gabriel was apprehended. When put on
his trial, he thought some one had been
tempted by the great reward, to betray him,
and he confessed the whole. He said their
plan was to fire the city at the end opposite !
to the arsenal, men were appointed to ring
the bells, and while the citizens were drawn
off to extinguish the fire, they intended to
seize the arsenal, rush into the city and
slaughter Unfortunately, except few
young ladies who were selected to be the
wives of some OF the leaders.
All these measures, Gabriel avowed as
his own device. He said his earliest
thoughts were occupied with these plans
that he had traded in his peculiar, and in
creased his stock to $500, at the age of
twenty-one, that he had made himself ac-
quainted with learning for this sole object !
that he had travelled expressly through !
the Southern States by night, riding down
man and horses, in preparing the Africans
for his measurss-and that he had formed
in caves or remote places, depots of arms.
He also told the court that had God not in
terfered by q great rain, that so swelled
stream in the neighborhood, that his assem-
bled band could not pass, that day they
would not have been sitting as his judges.
"But," said the court, "Gabriel, we all es-
TEEN you. You have not been thought cru
ell How could you devise scheme of such
almost indiscriminate bloodshed ?" Gabr-
ell cody replied, at is not that delight in
shedding the blood of men. But there is
no other way of procuring our freedom l
love my nation. We have as good a right
to be free from your oppression, as you had !
to be free from the tyranny of the king of
England. | know my fate, you will take !
my life. / offer it willingly, as a martyr to
liberty. My example will raise up Gabri-
ell, who will Washington like lead on the |
Africans to freedom" Gabriel was ex?cu-
ted by having horse attached to each of
his four limbs, and was thus torn asunder.
He died without murmur, cool, collected
in the faith that his death would not be in
vain.
The incidents are embodied by some
Africans in the song called "Gabrel's De-
feat" and set to tune of the same name,
made also by colored man. The writer
of this has hearcd the tune in Virginia. 1t
is favorite air in tho dances of the white
people. 1t need not be added, that the
song is popular among the colored popnla-
tion of the South.
The planters in case Of emergency, form court
eli