The New York Conspiracy: A History of the Negro Plot. Daniel Horsmanden

compiler would have been more at liberty to abstract the several originals; but it was concluded, a journal would give more satisfaction, inasmuch as in such a kind of process, the depositions and examinations themselves, which were the ground work of the proceedings, would appear at large; which most probably would afford conviction, to such as have a disposition to be convinced, and have in reality doubted whether any particular convicts had justice done them or not, notwithstanding they had the opportunity of seeing and hearing a great deal concerning them; and others, who had no such opportunities, who were prejudiced at a distance in their disfavour, by frivolous reports, might the readier be undeceived: for as the proceedings are set forth in the order of time they were produced, the reader will thereby be furnished with the most natural view of the whole, and be better enabled to conceive the design and dangerous depth of this hellish project, as wall as the justice of the several prosecutions.

      Thus far, however, the compiler thinks proper to premise, that as he found it convenient to divide the originals into numbered sections, for the more ready reference to the several parts of them, as occasion should offer, he took the liberty also of lopping off from them, what, in print, he thought would be a superfluous formality, such as, the deponent further saith, and such like, which he thought would have been a needless incumbrance to the book.

      The parties accused of the conspiracy were numerous, and business by degrees multiplied so fast upon the grand jury, which bore the burthen of this inquiry, that there would have been an immediate necessity for others to have lent a helping hand in taking examinations from the beginning, if the judges had not found it expedient to examine the persons accused, upon their first taking into custody, whereby it seemed most likely the truth would bolt out, before they had time to cool, or opportunity of discoursing in the jail with their confederates, who were before committed.

      The examinations thus taken by the judges, were soon after laid before the grand jury, who interrogated the parties therefrom in such manner, as generally produced from them the substance of the same matter, and often something more, by which means there accrued no small advantage; for though where the last examination brought to light new discovery, yet it will be seldom found, there is any thing in such further examinations contradictory to the former, but generally a confirmation of them; and in such case, the setting forth the same at large, may not be thought a useless tautology; not that this will happen often, and where it does, it will be chiefly found in the examinations and confessions of negroes, who, in ordinary cases, are seldom found to hold twice in the same story; which, for its rarety therefore, if it carried not with it the additional weight of the greater appearance of truth, may make this particular the more excusable; and further, this is a diary of the proceedings, that is to be exhibited, therefore, in conformity to that plan, nothing should be omitted, which may be of any use.

      All proper precautions were taken by the judges, that the criminals should be kept separate; and they were so, as much as the scanty room in the jail would admit of; and new apartments were fitted up for their reception: but more particular care was taken, that such negroes as had made confession and discovery, and were to be made use of as witnesses, should be kept apart from the rest, and as much from each other, as the accommodations would allow of, in order to prevent their caballing together; and the witnesses were always examined apart from each other first, as well upon the trials, as otherwise, and then generally confronted with the persons they accused, who were usually sent for and taken into custody upon such examinations, if they were to be met with; which was the means of bringing many others to a confession, as well such as were newly taken up, as those who had long before been committed, perhaps upon slighter grounds, and had insisted upon their innocence; for they had generally the cunning not to own their guilt, till they knew their accusers. But notwithstanding this was the ordinary method taken, both by the judges and grand jury to send for the parties as soon as impeached, (which however might sometimes through hurry be omitted) yet several who happened then to be out of the way, were afterwards forgot, and slipped through our fingers, from the multiplicity of business in hand, as will hereafter appear; which therefore is particularly recommended to the notice of their owners.

      The trouble of examining criminals in general, may be easily guessed at; but the fatigue in that of negroes, is not to be conceived, but by those that have undergone the drudgery. The difficulty of bringing and holding them to the truth, if by chance it starts through them, is not to be surmounted, but by the closest attention; many of them have a great deal of craft; their unintelligible jargon stands them in great stead, to conceal their meaning; so that an examiner must expect to encounter with much perplexity, grope through a maze of obscurity, be obliged to lay hold of broken hints, lay them carefully together, and thoroughly weigh and compare them with each other, before he can be able to see the light, or fix those creatures to any certain determinate meaning.

      Though for the reasons before mentioned, all the trials could not be set forth at large; yet on the principal trials, such as, the Hughsons, Ury the Priest, Quack, and Cuffee, (the two first negroes executed for the conspiracy) and that of the five Spanish slaves, the court and gentlemen at the bar took notes more largely; but as to the rest, though there were here and there some minutes taken, (which are also set forth in their proper places) yet they did not think them equally worth the pains; therefore upon other trials, the paragraphs or sections of the depositions of whites, and the examinations and confessions of slaves, taken by the judges, grand jury, or others, upon the credit whereof such slaves were indicted, are referred to upon their respective trials: which method, if any should object to, as subject to uncertainty, and say, the witnesses might not declare exactly the same things, and in the same words, or the substance of them, before the court, as are contained in those depositions, examinations and confessions referred to, the answer is,

      1st. It is most likely they did not, (nor could it be expected they should) deliver themselves precisely in the same words: but abstracts were taken of those evidences, and briefs prepared for the counsel concerned in each trial, pointing out the several articles affecting each criminal, whereby the counsel were readily led to ask a witness such questions as would naturally draw out the substance of the same matter in answer, as if it were the truth; and it was observed by those more immediately concerned in these affairs, and whose province it was to give close attention to them, that the witnesses both whites and blacks, generally kept close to the text, and delivered in court the substance of the evidence they had before given in their depositions, examinations and confessions.

      2dly. That what the witnesses did actually declare in court upon the trials, was sufficient to convince twelve honest men upon their oaths, that the accused were guilty; and there is no other way to furnish the reader with the grounds which gave such conviction to the juries.

      For the further enlightening the masters and owners of slaves accused, convicted upon their own confessions, and transported, and of others who were discharged from confinement, (for want of sufficient evidence, as it was said, before the second grand jury, who were charged to continue the inquiry concerning this infernal scheme) the evidence affecting each, is referred to under every such negro's confession, excepting as to such of them as were made use of as witnesses, which was thought needless; for their testimony having gained sufficient credit, it can scarce be supposed there will be any doubt of their own guilt: but if there should be any who hesitate concerning it, all that can be said is, it will behove such to give the closer attention to the several depositions, examinations and confessions, which impeach them.

      The evidence likewise affecting each white person apprehended upon the account of this conspiracy, that was afterwards discharged for want of prosecution, is referred to under their respective names, that it may appear what reason there was for their commitment and accusation, though they were discharged for want of indictment.

      It has been thought proper to add, at the end of this journal, lists of all the whites and blacks accused of this conspiracy, those who were executed, and those who were pardoned upon condition of transportation, or otherwise discharged from jail, shewing the respective times of their commitment, arraignment, conviction, execution or discharge; whereby the reader will be enabled to turn to almost any part of the journal to satisfy his curiosity, as to what most materially concerns each respective conspirator; and with a view also to shew to what places such of them as were transported (according