The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-11-25
now me North Behaved in an Imsurrection
-inferesting "Reminiscences.

| -interrsting "Reminiscences.
Inc Abolition euIogisfs, ard Republican
| apoiogists and sympathizers Of John Brown
ana ms murderous scheme for the insurrec.
1ion OF negroes and the murder Of innocent
women and children, have been exceedingly
| sarcastic, and, as they suppose, very witty
| over the "unseemly fright exhibited by the
VIrginians on the discovery OF the diabolical
plot. Following the lead of Messrs Phillips,
Beecher Co., the Republican journals, al
| most without exception, have joined in de-
| nouneing the people of Virginia as a race OF
towards, because quiet country village was
seized with panic on awakening one morning
and finding the stronghold of the town in pos
session of an armed 5and of Abolitionists, a
number OF prominent citizens under arrest,
and an openly avowed project on foot for ex-
citing insurrection among the slaves. The
New York Express takes the occasion to re-
viye from the history of New York incidents
attending the supposed negro plot there of
l74i. The city of New York then contained
about 5000 inhabitants, of whom only 1900
were slaves. 1t says:
On the 18th of March, a fire occurred in the
fort, which consumed the Secretary's office
and the Dutch Church About week later
another, though inconsiderable, fire occurred
half dozen more most of them, however, only
the burning of chimneys. These freq uent fires
together with a prevalent belief that a great
oeai OF petty robbery was carried on by the
negroes, with the aid of certain white men,
gave rise to a general uneasiness, which soon
increased to panic. This was greatly height
ened by public proclamation offering n re-
ward OF hundred pounds for the discovery
of the incendiaries. The reward was ton
tempting to be long resisted. An indentured
servant woman soon fter obtained her freedom
ana the hundred pounds, by pretending to di-
vulse plot formed by her MASTER a low tav-
ern-keeper, named Hughson, and three
groes, to burn the city and murder the entire
white population. This information was like
spark among timt er. The ohole population
tcaS Mrowa into poroxyS,n of rage and fear-
The sitta par1ded the streets almost con ntnuaHg
The accused parties We're arres ted and hurried
to the Jail, and the utmost rage against the
negroes Inf1amed every breast. So intense was
the panic, that the most unreasonable and con-
Trajectory statements We're greediiy caught
up, and the least suspicious circumstances
were construed as plain evidence against the
accuSed.''
In a short time 15i negroes and 20 suspicious
whites were lodged in prison. The following
is the way the lawyers behaved on the occa-
sion:
There were, at that time, only eight law
yers In New York, all of whom volunteered
their services to the Government. and assisted
by turns in the prosecution. leaving the mise
rable prisoners without the aid of counsel
10 obtain the required evidence upon which
| to base sentence, pardon and freedom were
offered to any who would turn Kings evil
dence, and by this means any amount of testi-
mony, to almost any fact, could be obtained
Whtte there uas no one TO sag single 1cord for
the accused, the lawyers uied ,cith each other in
schrfituy IN heaping abuse upon them, in tchich
they mere outdons By the Judge, tUhen he came to
| pass sentence. Many purchased their own lives
| by confessing their participation in crimes of
| which it was afterward proved they knew no.
| thing, and accusing others; aud, strangest of
all, some confessed at the stake their guilt, who
| knew nothing of the things with which they
| were char ed
This is the result:
"As the result of this bloody delusion, thir-
| teen Were burned, eighteen hanged, and @sscenty
| ,cere transported. The public thirst for blood
| seemed now to be somewhat satisfied, and the
| phrensy began to abate reaction at length
| ensued, and the persons remaining in prison
| were set at liberty"