Page:Daniel Minort Baxter - Bishop Richard Allen and His Spirit (1923).pdf/74

66 years before, when 22 colored people of that city were put to death, and scores of others beaten and jailed, and a band of ignorance forever placed upon them, where no colored person would be allowed to learn to read, nor enjoy any of the God given benefits of the human race.

There is a tradition that runs thus concerning Denmark Veasey and Gullah Jack’s insurrection at Charleston, S. C., in 1822: A terrible attempt at an uprising occurred in my native city, Charleston, S. C., in the year of 1822, though far removed from my day the tradition of its results were commonly told around the firesides of the homes of the city for scores of years. No doubt it is told there now. When I was a little boy my grandfather, Rev. Daniel Baxter, who was 102 when he died, use to tell us how completely the slaves had planned to free themselves by force.

How were they to do it? During those days said grandfather the slaves were intrusted with all their master’s belonging. They held meetings led by Denmark Veasey and Gullah Jack and six other leaders, and arranged this way; those who kept the city