Litchfield enquirer., 1831-09-29
From the Albany EUeniSg Journal. GABRIEL's DEFEAT.

of the Africans in the slave holding states,
 imparts a thrilling interest to every thing relative to their projects for self-emancipa- ten.
 About thirty years ago, it was discover
 cd that in the neighborhood of Richmond, a plan had been devised by the colored people 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 ol three." Though no direct evidence was adduced, yet enough was elicited to induce the belief that there had been an extensive combination formed for dreadful purposes. The Governor of Virginia offered the sum of$1O, 1000, and the gentlemen ofthe city of Richmond, $1O,O0O moro, as 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 $20,0O0 reward was offered, little African boy came into a grocery store in Richmond and asked for a 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 Gabriel. |" should I buy myself7'' |" In that case," said the master, would take $500 for you." "Then I am ready to pay," said Gabriel. Had I thought so," said the master, l" would not have made the offer. But as have said it, will not draw back" Gabriel was manumitted. He then com- menced the learning of the English lan- guage, and in short time, learned read- ing, writing and arithmetic. He was in- telligent, sober and amiable. All people who knew him, esteemed him highly. He was 25 years of age, when the $2O, 900 reward was offered. Such was the man vho sent his nephew for jug of rum, which cost him his life. The grocer ask sd the boy where his uncle Gabriel was. He replied in the Sally Ann, a vessel at he dock, just ready to sail for St. Domin- 20. The grocer told the boy to wait lit- le for his return. Notice was given to an officer, and Gabriel was apprehended, then 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 he end opposite to the arsenal, men were appointed to ring the fire bells, and while he citizens were drawn off to extinguish the fire, they intended to seize the arsenal. rush into the city and slaughter all indis- except a 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 peculiam, and in- creased his stock to 500 dollars, at the age l of 21.-that he had made himself acquaint- ed 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 measnres-and that he had formed in caves and remote places, depots of arms. He also told the court that had God not interfered by great rain, that so swelled a stream in the neighborhood of Richmond, that his assembled band could not pass, that they would not that day have been sit- ting as his judges. But" said the court, Gabriel, we all esteemed you. You have not been thought cruel. How could you desire a scheme of such almost
 indiscriminate bloodshed 2" Gabriel cool ly replied--"It is not that | delight in ;. shedding the blood of men. But there is no other way of procuring our freedom. 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. I know my fate you will take my life. offer it willingly, as a martyr to liberty. My example will raise up Gabriel, who will, Washington like. lead on the Africans to freedom" Ga- briel was executed by having horse att tached to each of his four limbs, and was
 thus torn asunder. He died without mur-
 mur, cool. collected in the faith that his
 death would not be in vain.
 The incidents are embodied by some
 Africans in the song called !" Gabriel's De. feat" and set to tune of the same name
 made also by colored man. The writer
 of this has heard the tune in Virginia. I 4 is a fav6rite air in the dances of white peo
 pie. It need not be added, that the sonl
 is popular among the colored popaIGtion Q
 tAe Soatk.
 "Three planters, in any case of emergency, form
 court 10 try slaves.
 a TuxNxINc AYa.un--Thare ara man