Complete Works of Harriet Beecher Stowe

by Harriet Beecher Stowe

  “Chile,” said Milly, “you take care! Keep clear on him! He’s in de wilderness of Sinai; he is with de blackness and darkness and tempest. He hain’t come to de heavenly Jerusalem. Oh! Oh! honey! dere’s a blood of sprinkling dat speaketh better things dan dat of Abel. Jerusalem above is free — is free, honey; so, don’t you mind, now, what happens in dis yer time.”

  “Ah, ah, Aunt Milly! this may do well enough for old women like you; but stand opposite to a young fellow like me, with good strong arms, and a pair of doubled fists, and a body and soul just as full of fight as they can be; it don’t answer to go to telling about a heavenly Jerusalem! We want something here. We’ll have it, too! How do you know there is any heaven, anyhow?”

  “Know it?” said Milly, her eye kindling, and striking her staff on the ground. “Know it? I knows it by de hankering arter it I got in here,” giving her broad chest a blow which made it resound like a barrel. “De Lord knowed what he was ‘bout when he made us. When he made babies rooting round, with der poor little mouths open, he made milk and de mammies for ’em too. Chile, we’s nothing but great babies, dat ain’t got our eyes opened — rooting round and round; but de Father’ll feed us yet — he will so.”

  “He’s a long time about it,” said Harry sullenly.

  “Well, chile, ain’t it a long time ‘fore your corn sprouts —— a long time ‘fore it gets into de ears? — but you plants for all dat. What’s dat to me what I is here? — Sha’n’t I reign with de Lord Jesus?”

  “I don’t know,” said Harry.

  “Well, honey, I does! Jest so sure as I’s standing on dis yer ground, I knows in a few years I shall be reigning with de Lord Jesus, and a-casting my crown at his feet. Dat’s what I knows. Flesh and blood didn’t reveal it unto me, but de Spirit of de Father. It’s no odds to me what I does here; every road leads straight to glory, and de glory ain’t got no end to it!” And Milly uplifted her voice in a favorite stave: —

  “‘When we’ve been dere ten thousand years,

  Bright shining like de sun,

  We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise

  Than when we first begun.’

  “Chile,” said she to him solemnly, “I ain’t a fool. Does ye s’pose dat I thinks folks has any business to be sitting on der cheers all der life long, and working me, and living on my money? Why, I knows dey hain’t! Ain’t it all wrong, from fust to last, de way dey makes merchandise o’ us! Why, I knows it is; but I’s still about it, for de Lord’s sake. I don’t work for Miss Loo; I works for de Lord Jesus; and he is good pay — no mistake, now I tell you.”

  “Well,” said Harry, a little shaken, but not convinced, “after all, there isn’t much use in trying to do any other way. But you ‘re lucky in feeling so, Aunt Milly; but I can’t.”

  “Well, chile, anyway, don’t you do nothing rash and don’t you hear him. Dat ar way out is through seas of blood. Why, chile, would you turn against Miss Nina? Chile, if they get a-going, they won’t spare nobody. Don’t you start up dat ar tiger; ‘cause, I tell ye, ye can’t chain him, if ye do!”

  “Yes,” said Harry, “I see it’s all madness, perfect madness; there’s no use thinking, no use talking. Well, good-morning, Aunt Milly. Peace go with you!” And the young man started his horse, and was soon out of sight.

  CHAPTER XIX

  THE CONSPIRATORS

  WE owe our readers now some words of explanation respecting the new personage who has been introduced into our history; therefore we must go back somewhat, and allude to certain historical events of painful significance.

  It has been a problem to many, how the system of slavery in America should unite the two apparent inconsistencies of a code of slave-laws more severe than that of any other civilized nation with an average practice at least as indulgent as any other; for bad as slavery is at the best, it may yet be admitted that the practice, as a whole, has been less cruel in this country than in many. An examination into history will show us that the cruelty of the laws resulted from the effects of indulgent practice. During the first years of importation of slaves into South Carolina, they enjoyed many privileges. Those who lived in intelligent families, and had any desire to learn, were instructed in reading and writing. Liberty was given them to meet in assemblies of worship, in class-meetings, and otherwise, without the presence of white witnesses; and many were raised to situations of trust and consequence. The result of this was the development of a good degree of intelligence and manliness among the slaves. There arose among them grave, thoughtful, energetic men, with their ears and eyes open, and their minds constantly awake to compare and reason.

  When minds come into this state, in a government professing to be founded on principles of universal equality, it follows that almost every public speech, document, or newspaper becomes an incendiary publication.

  Of this fact the southern slave states have ever exhibited the most singular unconsciousness. Documents containing sentiments most dangerous for slaves to hear have been publicly read and applauded among them. The slave has heard, amid shouts, on the Fourth of July, that his masters held the truth to be self-evident that all men were born equal, and had an inalienable right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; and that all governments derive their just power from the consent of the governed. Even the mottoes of newspapers have embodied sentiments of the most insurrectionary character.

  Such inscriptions as “Resistance to tyrants is obedience to God” stand, to this day, in large letters, at the head of southern newspapers; while speeches of senators and public men, in which the principles of universal democracy are asserted, are constant matters of discussion. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to induce the servant, who feels that he is a man, to draw those lines which seem so obvious to masters, by whom this fact has been forgotten. Accordingly we find that when the discussions for the admission of Missouri as a slave state produced a wave whose waters undulated in every part of the Union, there were found among the slaves men of unusual thought and vigor, who were no inattentive witnesses and listeners. The discussions were printed in the newspapers; and what was printed in the newspapers was further discussed at the post-office door, in the tavern, in the bar-room, at the dinner-party, where black servants were listening behind the chairs. A free colored man in the city of Charleston, named Denmark Vesey, was the one who had the hardihood to seek to use the electric fluid in the cloud thus accumulated. He conceived the hopeless project of imitating the example set by the American race, and achieving independence for the blacks.

  Our knowledge of this man is derived entirely from the printed reports of the magistrates who gave an account of the insurrection of which he was the instigator, and who will not, of course, be supposed to be unduly prejudiced in his favor. They state that he was first brought to the country by one Captain Vesey, a young lad, distinguished for personal beauty and great intelligence, and that he proved, for twenty years, a most faithful slave; but on drawing a prize of fifteen hundred dollars in the lottery, he purchased his freedom of his master, and worked as a carpenter in the city of Charleston. He was distinguished for strength and activity, and, as the accounts state, maintained such an irreproachable character, and enjoyed so much the confidence of the whites, that when he was accused, the charge was not only discredited, but he was not even arrested for several days after, and not till the proof of his guilt had become too strong to be doubted. His historians go on, with considerable naivete, to remark: —

  “It is difficult to conceive what motive he had to enter into such a plot, unless it was the one mentioned by one of the witnesses, who said that Vesey had several children who were slaves, and that he said, on one occasion, he wished he could see them free, as he himself artfully remarked in his defense on his trial.”.

  It appears that the project of rousing and animating the blacks to this enterprise occupied the mind of Vesey for more than four years, during which time he was continually taking opportunities to animate and inspire the spirits of his c
ountrymen. The account states that the speeches in Congress of those opposed to the admission of Missouri into the Union, perhaps garbled and misrepresented, furnished him with ample means for inflaming the minds of the colored population.

  “Even while walking in the street,” the account goes on to say, “he was not idle; for if his companion bowed to a white person, as slaves universally do, he would rebuke him, and observe, ‘that all men were born equal, and that he was surprised that any one would degrade himself by such conduct; that he would never cringe to the whites nor ought any one to who had the feelings of a man.’ When answered, ‘We are slaves,’ he would say sarcastically and indignantly, ‘You deserve to remain slaves!’ And if he were further asked, ‘What can we do?’ he would remark, ‘Go and buy a spelling-book, and read the fable of “Hercules and the Wagoner.”’He also sought every opportunity of entering into conversation with white persons, during which conversation he would artfully introduce some bold remark on slavery; and sometimes, when, from the character he was conversing with, he found he might be still bolder, he would go so far that, had not his declarations been clearly proved, they would scarcely have been credited.”

  But his great instrument of influence was a book that has always been prolific of insurrectionary movements, under all systems of despotism.

  “He rendered himself perfectly familiar with all those parts of Scripture which he thought he could pervert to his purpose, and would readily quote them to prove that slavery was contrary to the laws of God, and that slaves were bound to attempt their emancipation, however shocking and bloody might be the consequences; that such efforts would not only be pleasing to the Almighty, but were absolutely enjoined.”

  Vesey, in the course of time, associated with himself five slave men of marked character — Rolla, Ned, Peter, Monday, and Gullah Jack. Of these, the account goes on to say: —

  “In the selection of his leaders, Vesey showed great penetration and sound judgment. Rolla was plausible, and possessed uncommon self-possession; bold and ardent, he was not to be deterred from his purpose by danger. Ned’s appearance indicated that he was a man of firm nerves and desperate courage. Peter was intrepid and resolute, true to his engagements, and cautious in observing secrecy where it was necessary; he was not to be daunted nor impeded by difficulties, and though confident of success, was careful in providing against any obstacles or casualties which might arise, and intent upon discovering every means which might be in their power, if thought of beforehand. Gullah Jack was regarded as a sorcerer, and, as such, feared by the natives of Africa, who believed in witchcraft. He was not only considered invulnerable, but that he could make others so by his charms, and that he could, and certainly would, provide all his followers with arms. He was artful, cruel, bloody; his disposition, in short, was diabolical. His influence among the Africans was inconceivable. Monday was firm, resolute, discreet, and intelligent.

  “It is a melancholy truth that the general good conduct of all the leaders, except Gullah Jack, was such as rendered them objects least liable to suspicion. Their conduct had secured them, not only the unlimited confidence of their owners, but they had been indulged in every comfort, and allowed every privilege compatible with their situation in the community; and though Gullah Jack was not remarkable for the correctness of his deportment, he by no means sustained a bad character. But,” adds the report, “not only were the leaders of good character, and very much indulged by their owners, but this was very generally the case with all who were convicted, many of them possessing the highest confidence of their owners, and not one a bad character.

  “The conduct and behavior of Vesey and his five leaders during their trial and imprisonment may be interesting to many. When Vesey was tried, he folded his arms, and seemed to pay great attention to the testimony given against him, but with his eyes fixed on the floor. In this situation he remained immovable until the witnesses had been examined by the court, and cross-examined by his counsel, when he requested to be allowed to examine the witnesses himself, which he did. The evidence being closed, he addressed the court at considerable length. When he received his sentence, tears trickled down his cheeks.

  “Rolla, when arraigned, affected not to understand the charge against him, and when, at his request, it was explained to him, assumed, with wonderful adroitness, astonishment and surprise. He was remarkable throughout his trial for composure and great presence of mind. When he was informed that he was convicted, and was advised to prepare for death, he appeared perfectly confounded, but exhibited no signs of fear.

  “In Ned’s behavior there was nothing remarkable. His countenance was stern and immovable, even while he was receiving sentence of death. From his looks it was impossible to discover or conjecture what were his feelings. Not so with Peter Poyes. In his countenance were strongly marked disappointed ambition, revenge, indignation, and an anxiety to know how far the discoveries had extended. He did not appear to fear personal consequences, for his whole behavior indicated the reverse, but exhibited an evident anxiety for the success of their plan, in which his whole soul was embarked. His countenance and behavior were the same when he received his sentence, and his only words were, on retiring, ‘I suppose you’ll let me see my wife and family before I die,’ and that in no supplicating tone. When he was asked, a day or two after, ‘If it was possible that he could see his master and family murdered, who had treated him so kindly?’ he replied to the question only by a smile. In their prison, the convicts resolutely refused to make any confessions or communications which might implicate others; and Peter Poyes sternly enjoined it upon them to maintain this silence,—’ Do not open your lips; die silent, as you will see me do!’ and in this resolute silence they met their fate. Twenty-two of the conspirators were executed upon one gallows.”

  The account says that “Peter Poyes was one of the most active of the recruiting agents. All the principal conspirators kept a list of those who had consented to join them, and Peter was said, by one of the witnesses, to have had six hundred names on his list; but so resolutely to the last did he observe his pledge of secrecy to his associates, that, of the whole number arrested and tried, not one of them belonged to his company. In fact, in an insurrection in which thousands of persons were supposed to have been implicated, only thirty-six were convicted.”

  Among the children of Denmark Vesey was a boy by a Mandingo slave woman, who was his father’s particular favorite. The Mandingos are one of the finest of African tribes, distinguished for intelligence, beauty of form, and an indomitable pride and energy of nature. As slaves, they are considered particularly valuable by those who have tact enough to govern them, because of their great capability and their proud faithfulness; but they resent a government of brute force, and under such are always fractious and dangerous.

  This boy received from his mother the name of Dred; a name not unusual among the slaves, and generally given to those of great physical force.

  The development of this child’s mind was so uncommon as to excite astonishment among the negroes. He early acquired the power of reading, by an apparent instinctive faculty, and would often astonish those around him with things which he had discovered in books. Like other children of a deep and fervent nature, he developed great religious ardor, and often surprised the older negroes by his questions and replies on this subject. A son so endowed could not but be an object of great pride and interest to a father like Denmark Vesey. The impression seemed to prevail universally among the negroes that this child was born for extraordinary things; and perhaps it was the yearning to acquire liberty for the development of such a mind which first led Denmark Vesey to reflect on the nature of slavery, and the terrible weights which it lays on the human intellect, and to conceive the project of liberating a race.

  The Bible, of which Vesey was an incessant reader, stimulated this desire. He likened his own position of comparative education, competence, and general esteem among the whites to that of Moses among the Egyptians; and nourished the idea
that, like Moses, he was sent as a deliverer. During the process of the conspiracy, this son, though but ten years of age, was his father’s confidant; and he often charged him, though he should fail in the attempt, never to be discouraged. He impressed it upon his mind that he should never submit tamely to the yoke of slavery; and nourished the idea already impressed, that some more than ordinary destiny was reserved for him. After the discovery of the plot, and the execution of its leaders, those more immediately connected with them were sold from the state, even though not proved to have participated. With the most guarded caution, Vesey had exempted this son from suspicion. It had been an agreed policy with them both, that in the presence of others they should counterfeit alienation and dislike. Their confidential meetings with each other had been stolen and secret.

  At the time of his father’s execution, Dred was a lad of fourteen. He could not be admitted to his father’s prison, but he was a witness of the undaunted aspect with which he and the other conspirators met their doom. The memory dropped into the depths of his soul, as a stone drops into the desolate depths of a dark mountain lake.

  Sold to a distant plantation, he became noted for his desperate, unsubduable disposition. He joined in none of the social recreations and amusements of the slaves, labored with proud and silent assiduity, but on the slightest rebuke or threat, flashed up with a savage fierceness which, supported by his immense bodily strength, made him an object of dread among overseers. He was one of those of whom they gladly rid themselves, and like a fractious horse, was sold from master to master. Finally, an overseer, hardier than the rest, determined on the task of subduing him. In the scuffle that ensued Dred struck him to the earth, a dead man, made his escape to the swamps, and was never afterwards heard of in civilized life.