Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1859-12-22
Etems nf Aistory,
The Famous Negro Plot Of Sixty
Years Ago.

| Years Age.
About sixty years ago, it was dis
covered that ia the neighborhoot
Of Richmond, Va, plan had beer
devised by the cclored people Z
spread slaughter aud devastation a
mong the whites. Three negroes
had been Sc n by their master II
dug ont Of his stable yard. lhl'
Was sufficient to create alarm VI
, their return, the ther abscond'ne
blacks were tried by the court o
three planters. Though no direct
evidence was adduced, yet enongf
was ELECTED to induce the belle
that there had been an extensive
combination (ermed for the dreadful
purpose. The Governor of Virgln'a
offered tho sum Of $1,000. and
the gentlemen Of the city Of Rlch'
mont $4,000 more. as a revard to
any one who would give information
Of the head Of t!,is project, but no
one was tempted to betray the Sc
cret.
A few days after the $4,000 re.
ward was offered, a little African boy
came into a grocery store in Rich
mond, and asked for quart Of rum
The grocer asked him for whom ht
wanted it. He said for his uncle
Gabriel.
That African, when q years o
age, had asked bis master how muci
he would take for him. His master
replied, !, =.
Gabriel, no money would bu,
yoo."
but said Gabriel, "should | bu,
myself"
"In that ease.s said the master
81 would take FIVE hundred dollars
Tor you. -
"Then l am ready to pay, SAT-
GablieLs -
Had | thought SO, said the mas
Ter. IL would not have made I'M
off but, as | have said 1T, ! vii
not draw back
Gabriel was manumitted. H'
then commenced the learning o
the English language. nnd ina sho:
time be learned reading, writing ant
arithmetic. He was intelligent, so
ber and aminbIe. All people wht
knew him esteemed him highly
He was 25 wears OF age when the re
ward was offered.
Such was the inan who sent hi
nephew for jog Of rum, which cos
him bis life. The grocer asked ths
boy where his uncle Gabriel was
II, replied, IL the Sally Ann, a yes
sei-at the dock, just ready to sail 10
St. Domingo The grocer told tn
hoy 10 wait little ior his return
Notice was given to an oificer' an
Gabriel was apprehpnaed. and the
put upon his trial. He though
some one had been tempted ny tn
oraat reward to betray him, and h
confessed the whole. lie Said the'
plau was TO fire The city ut the en-
opposite the arsenal. Men were al
/, pointed to ring the fire bells, an
, while the citizens were drawn OF
I extiuguish< the Gre, they intende
to seize tie arsenal, rush into u
1 city, and slaughter all ind'scrlm
, pately. except a few young ladle
who were selected to be wives
some of the leaders.
Ali these measures Gabriel ave-
t ed as hisown device. He sail To
t his earliest thoughts were occnpl'
d by these plans-that he bad trau'
II aud increased his stock to five hu
e ,lr.a dollars at the age ofstventy O.
d that he bad made himself aeq aal
Ted with learning. with this sole Q
tsc,; that be had travelled express
q through the Southern States by n'e'
le riding down many horses, N prep'
20 ing the Africans for bic measuf
pit and that he had formed, in caves .
remote places. deposs Of arms =
al.o told the Court that had not "
g ;nterfsred ny great rain. that
ds swelled n stream in the ne'gaeorna "
n Of Richmond. that bis assemp'
Ibapa.could not pass, they would 9
I, !, lat tha, day. be sitting as his ,,uae 'ae
: sBui, said the Court. uaD'
We an esteem sou. You have !.
been thought cruel. How coula
= devise q scheme Of soch alm0ss
discrininate bloodshed'
q