New-York daily tribune., 1861-05-29
WILL TILE NEGROES RISEl !

overlook the possible influence Of the occasion OF all
tho present d4ilculties-the slave. The question,
whether the slaves will rice in case Of war, cannot
yet a. some suppose, be decided with monoeyllaoe'
The Confederate press it Is true, argue curty enough
that tie South has been at war before and never ex
perenced any of the evils anticipated. In the tine OF
the Revolution when English troors ranged the whole
area of tie Slave States, Glars was more faithful 10
The rebel cauqe and their mas'ers than the saves In
times of peace, they say, there have been plots OF
insurec,on; but however secretly planned ana vice.
" matured there have been invariably detected and
few score of armed men and one or two executions
were sucif 10 break the spirit and exiinguish Tue
hope Of the no1nnnpg. The love of "a sinsie sa'e
girl for her masters child ia sucent to protect the
whole white population. In word, because tue ne
cros fear of present master is greater han bis con-
fdcncc in distant friend, servile insuFrccfons are
rarely underaken because there is always one negro
whose love to his master s greater than his senfe of
injury, insurrections, when undertaken, nIe neyer
carried through.
These are the shareholders tower Of strength. So
long these two principles retain their force the deli
cate balance of Southern society quvcrs in equroise,
and there is safety. II will be seen, therefore, that IN
short war confined strictly to the border no iornda-
bic movement among the slaves need be anticipated
But setting aside the question Of war; there have been
fo' many years influences at work which are gradually
weakening the two principes of strength have men
toned and in consequence Of which the South il every
year becoming and more liable 10 an uprising OF
her slaves. The great increase Of wealth introduced
by the cultivation OF cotton s gradually bringing about
state of things not unlike that which existed in heyti
before the rebellion Of her slaves Planters weary OF
the mouotony Of life in the country where they have
nothing 10 do but to receive the proceeds oil the COTTON
fields are every year removing their residences 10 the
VILLAGES and larger cites leaving the country Inhabited
only by slaves and their oyerseers.
Thus large seciions, occlned by several thousand
slaves frequently derend for their security simply on
the vigilance OF four or 1--WE overeers These men,
who are in fact the most efficient css of society feel
fully the responsibility of their position They visit
with the mos, summary punishment the slightest sgn
Of insuboriinaon. Their waicbfulness is never re.
laxed MANY Of them 10 not remove their clothes for
weeks but sleep dressed aud armed ready for the most
unexpected emergency. Frequently during the night
they visit all the cabins and that each negro is in
bis place Thcirtime belongs absolutely 10 the planter
aud many of them do not leave The plantation oroe dur
iDg the year, for TO suspend watchfulnoss for single
day might precipitae half State in seryle war; Left
thus By themselves bound by ties Of affection 10 the
whites /, is only by these extraordinary precautions
that the slaves can be held in check leave i, any
to cay what would be the effect Of marching hostile
army through such a country.
Some circumstances connected with the plot broken
on last Winter at Pine Level, u place situated few
miles from Montgomery, Ala, have not, think, been
made public. In tie latter part Of December il was
discovered that there was plot on foot extending 20
ar as .ould be learned several counties and in.
yolying many hundred negroes, having for e object
general uprising of tie slaves the evening before
Christmas. Not knowing the extent Of the movement
the whole white population was struck with vague
and terrible fear. None knew whom 20 trust Plant.
era called together their slaves, and, speaking of
the plot appealed to their feelings aud informed them
OF tho consequences 10 themselves il found implicated
At the same time the most extraordinary precautionary
measures were adopted. In Montgomery, the military
companies were ordered out, and for weeks guards
were SET and mounted rangers trayersed ell the out.
skirts Of the city. In the investigations which followed
some facts cams TO Light which at the time, served only
70 quicken the general OF insecurity, and which
are still Of importance Illustrating tho character OF
thcsc moyements.
Tie insigaors Of the nsurrection were found 10 be
the low-down or poor whites Of the country. Their
oD,y motive was the hope Of plundor. The slaves
were prepared for every excess. 1t was found that he
ghters Of the planters already apporoned to-
gether with the muler and horses among the negroes
and SO great had grown tho confidence Of the negroes
in tho success OF their plans that rights OF ownership to
this prospective property were bartered among them,
and were staked in games Of chance. All confidence
grounded the stupidity, Intelligence, previous
fdehty Of slaves, was found without foundation. Nc
groe, who, in tho carly part OF the movement, were
placed on guard by their masters TO protect the family
in ease OF an outbreak before the examinations closed
were found TO be themselves rngleaders among tho
bucheres Il at thstme of excitement and terror
tha. a whisper went around that Of VIM. l.. YAM
cys slaves had been detected in attempt TO poison
her MASTER Tho report was confined TO small circle
of tho intimate friends Of tie family, and was for obv
Gus leasons, suppressed as soon as possible.
Though not myself raised TO the " bad ennence'
implied in q personal friendship with Mr. Yanoey,
received the account directly from one who enjoyed
that privilege, but who was in every respect reliable
The attempt iled but il cannot but strike every one
as peculiarly appropriate that the Shareholders Confed
oracy should be represented in tho courts Of Europe
by man who barely slipped the penalty Of the law
in trial for murder and just escaped poisoning by
his own asye The strength Of the negro is his d1-
pliciiy. Any ono who has lived in the South long
enough to his wardrobe gradually disappearing un-
der the open arcenes of these fellows knows the inef
fable look of innocence and stupidity with which they
rcps charge substaniiated by evidence which sub
orncd juror could not resist. Their whole lifo is
training in deception. Always under suspicion, they
are constantly punished for crimes which they did not
commit and coon learn that the worst crime IL, to COM
nit fault in such way that it can be found out The
.H.l.i. L. tell