The life, trial and execution of Captain John Brown: known as "old Brown of Ossawatomie," with a full account of the attempted insurrrection at Harper's Ferry

              99 

The General thinks ' that there has existed no general concert among the slaves—circumstances, impossible to have been feigned, demonstrate the entire ignorance on the subject of all the slaves in the counties around Southampton, among whom he has never known more perfect order and quiet to prevail.' He believes ' that at any time, twenty resolute men could have put them down.' 

"He compliments, in terms of strong approbation, the admirable conduct and spirit of the militia, who have everywhere turned out with the utmost promptitude, and given the most unquestionable evidence of their ability, instantly and effectually to put down every such attempt. The families who had sought safety by flight had general!}' returned to their homes." 

It was believed in North Carolina that the insurrection commenced with and was arranged by four negro preachers, who had been permitted to hold their meetings by day and by night, and who used these opportunities to poison the minds of the slaves. Of these preachers, the principal was Nat Turner, who claimed to be commissioned by Jesus Christ. Turner escaped the general slaughter made by the troops, and eluded their vigilance for a couple of months; but he was finally caught in a cave in the vicinity of the place where he and his followers had perpetrated their barbarities, and was, without much ceremony, tried, convicted and hanged. His arrest took place on the 30th of October, 1831, and his execution a few days afterward. Thus ended the negro insurrection of 1831. 

THE NEGRO INSURRECTION OF 1856. 

There are few readers who will not have a recollection of the excitement that prevailed in the southern States in the summer of 1856, growing out of the defiant and hostile attitude of the negro population in Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee, and other Southern States. Disclosures of plots, having for design a rising upon and murdering the white population, were made, and terrible apprehensions caused thereby. Negroes, free as well as slave, were seized and put to the torture, and in some instances confessions were wrung from them implicating others. In the village of Murfreesboro, in Tennessee, the white inhabitants assembled and drove out the free negroes, on the ground that their depredations on property had become insufferable. 

In Union county, Arkansas, the citizens seized upon an abolitionist, named Hancock, on suspicion of tampering with the slaves. After making some confessions, he managed to escape, but he was recaptured, carried to the town of El Dorado, and there tried. He was not found guilty, however; but as he boasted that he knew all about the matter and would not tell, the citizens took him out to the woods and shot him—a rather summary proceeding, truly. 

Another person named Martin, who was supposed to be engaged in the same plot, was also seized by the same parties, brought to El Dorado, tried, adjudged guilty, and was hung. The idea was that there was to be a general concentration of negroes on the 14th of October, at a given point, who were to be led by Hancock and others, and that they intended to attack the town, murder all the white inhabitants, possess themselves of whatever provisions and valuables they could lay their hands on, and then start off for Kansas. The execution of Hancock and Martin prevented the working out of the plot, if indeed it ever existed. 

About the same time there was an intense excitement in the region around Nashville, Tenn., where there was an attempted insurrection of the blacks. Six of the ringleaders were seized and executed at Dover for being implicated in the conspiracy. Three of these were preachers; and it was said that all the negro preachers and active members of the church were found to be most efficient and zealous in the insurrection. 

The lash was freely applied to extort confessions