The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1860-01-10
BLACK JOHN BROW \, SIXTY YEARS

About sixty years ago, it was discovered
that, III the neighborhood of Richmond,
Va, plan had been devised by the color
ed people to spread Slaughter and devasta
tion among the whites. Three negroes had
been seen by their master riding ont Of
his stable yard This was sufficient TO ere
ate alarm. On Their return, the abscon.
ding blacks We're tried by "A court Of three
planters. Though no direct evidence was
adduced, yet enough was elected TO induce
the belief that there had been an extensive
combination formed for dreadful parpos 3.
ihe Goveruor al Virginia offered tie sum
0t $4,000, and the gentlemen Of the city
Of Rlchmond, $4,000 more, rs a reward
to any one who would give Information of
the head Of the project, bat no one was
tempted to bctray the secret
\ few days after the 100000 reward
was offered. little African boy came into
a grocery store, in Richmcd, and asked for
quart of rum. The grocer asked for
whom he wanted it. He said, for bis un-
Gle 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 | buy my
self?'
la that case" said the master, 20 would
take $500 for you"
Then / am ready TO pay" said Ga
briel
" Had thought SO, said the master, Il
would not have made the offer-hut as |
have said it, | will not draw back -
Gabriel WAS mauumittcd He then com
mcnced the learning Of the French Ian
guage, and IN short time learned reading.
writing and arithmetic. lie was intell-
gent, sober and amiable. All people who
knew i'm esteemed hlm highly. lie was
twenty ilvc years of age when the reward
was offered Such was tie nan who sent
bis nephew !or . jug of rum, which cost him
ms life. The grocer asked the boy where
his uncle Gabriel was. lie replied in the
Sally Ann, a vessel at the dock lust ready
to sal for St. Domiu.o. The grocer told
tue boy 10 wait a littlc for his return. No
tee was given t. an officer. and Gabriel
sas appFchented, aud thea pat up0n trial
lie thought some oEc had been tempted b.
The great reward 10 b,tray Li.a, AID he
confessed the whole
lie sad thelr pIan was to ire the CIV at
the eud opposite the arsenal Men were
ap: OIntcd 10 ing ;Ee fire bells, and While
the citizens were drawn off to extinguish
the fire they intended TO seize the arsena
rush into the city and slaughter all indis-
crlmnately except few young ladies', who
wcrc selected to be the wives of some Of the
leaders. Al these measures Gabrie
avOwe1 as his own device. lie said that
his earliest thoughts were occupied by these
plans--that he had traded aud increased
his sock to $500 at the age of twenty-one
that he had made himself acquainted
with learning with this sole object that
be had travelled expressly through the
Southern states by night. ridirg down
many horses, IN preparing the Africans
for bis measures and that he had formed
10 caves, and remote places depots Of arms
He also told the court that had not God
lntertered By great rain, that So swelled
stream in the neighborhood Of Richmond,
that his assembled band could not pass, they
would not, at that day be sitting as his
judges.
But" said tie court, q" Gabriel, We all
esteem you. You have not been thought
cruel. How could you devise q scheme Of
such almost indiscrinlinate bloodshed ,"
Gabriel cody replied, SO 1t is not that /
delight in the shedding Of the blood os men.
But there is no other way Of procuring our
trecdJm- | love my nation. We have as
good right to be free from oppression as
you had to be free from the tyranny Of the |
king Of England. | know nv fate You
viii take ny life. | offer it willingly, as
martyr to liberty. Ny example will raise
up a Gabriel who will, Washing,on-hke, |
lead on the Africans 10 freedom.'
Gabriel was e1ecu;ed-dying without
murmur, cool. collected, in the faith that
his death would not be in vain. These
incidents are embodied in a song called |
4" Gabriel's Defeat" and set to tune Of the |
same name. made also by coIored mas.