LITMIR.BIZ

       PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION

       Table of Contents

      The History of the Great Negro Plot in 1741, has always been a subject of curiosity, and highly interesting to the citizens of New-York. Never having been republished, the work had become so extremely scarce, that it was with the utmost difficulty a perfect copy could be obtained for the present edition.

      After a lapse of nearly three quarters of a century, we look back with astonishment on the panic occasioned by the negro plot, and the rancorous hatred that prevailed against the Roman catholics. To judge from tradition, and the “Journal of the Proceedings against the Conspirators,” no doubt can be had of the actual existence of a plot; but its extent could never have been so great as the terror of those times depicted. The very mode adopted to discover abettors, by mutual criminations and confessions, tended, in the progress of the trials, to inculpate every negro slave in the city. We accordingly find that the number of conspirators daily increased. As it was impossible to prove all equally guilty, the ringleaders only were executed, and those who, to save their lives, plead guilty and threw themselves on the mercy of the court, were transported.

      The city of New-York, at this period, contained a population of about 12,000 souls, of which one-sixth were, in all probability, negro slaves. Insurrections and conspiracies were, at this juncture, frequent in the West-India islands, and great apprehensions were entertained of an invasion by the French and Spaniards. These circumstances aggravated the horrors of a domestic plot to such a degree, that the white inhabitants, regarding every negro slave as an incendiary and an assassin, carried their apprehensions and resentments beyond all bounds.

      A holy hatred of the Roman catholics was inculcated by church and state. Our Dutch forefathers, glowing with all the zeal of the early reformers, emigrated to this country, shortly after the emancipation of the United Netherlands from the Spanish yoke, and fostered all the rancour of their race against papists and Spaniards. It was the policy of the English government, after the conquest, to cherish this animosity, and those of our readers, who were born and educated before the American revolution, will recollect how religiously they were taught to abhor the Pope, Devil and Pretender. The act of our provincial assembly against Jesuits and popish priests, passed II William and Mary, and which continued in full force until our independence, was owning, not only to these prejudices, but to the exposed situation of the colony, the northern frontier of which was bounded by Canada, at that time in possession of France, the natural and ever-during enemy of England. The predominating influence of the French over the aborigines of this country, was principally ascribed to their priests. The pomp and pageantry of the Romish church powerfully appealed to the senses of the rude savage, who could not so easily comprehend the abstract truths of the protestant religion. To counteract this influence, and prevent the Indians from being seduced from their obedience to the English crown, this law was enacted against “every Jesuit, seminary, priest, missionary, or other spiritual or ecclesiastical person, made or ordained by any authority, power, or jurisdiction, derived, challenged or pretended, from the pope or see of Rome, or that shall profess himself, or otherwise appear to be such, by practising or teaching of others, to say any popish prayers, by celebrating of masses, granting of absolutions, or using any other of the Romish ceremonies, or rites of worship, by what name, title or degree soever such person shall be called or known, who shall continue, abide or come into this province, or any part thereof, after the first day of November aforesaid; shall be deemed and accounted an incendiary, and disturber of the public peace and safety, and a disturber of the true christian religion, and shall be adjudged to suffer perpetual imprisonment. And if any person, being so sentenced and actually imprisoned, shall break prison, and make his escape, and be afterwards retaken; he shall suffer such pains of death, penalties and forfeitures, as in cases of felony.”

      The intolerant spirit of this act shows the horror and detestation in which the Roman catholics were held, and will account, why so few of this profession existed in this city and colony before the revolution.

      In estimating this singular event in our colonial history, the circumstances of the times should he duly considered, before we too hastily condemn the bigotry and cruelty of our predecessors. The advantages of a liberal, indeed of the plainest education, was the happy lot of very few. Intercourse between the colonies and the mother country, and between province and province, was very rare. Ignorance and illiberal prejudices universally prevailed. Their more favoured and enlightened posterity will, therefore, draw the veil of filial affection over the involuntary errors of their forefathers, and emulating their simple virtues, endeavour to transmit a brighter example to their successors.

      New-York, April 5th, 1810.