Finding of the Henderson Vigilance Committee

“ Henderson, August 14, 1860

. . . A committee of fifty-two of the best citizens of the town and county, have been selected have been in close session and correspondence with the neighboring counties since the first excitement occasioned by the fire and loss subsided. . . .They believe that emissaries are throughout the state, directly under the control of the Abolition Aid Society of the North, and furnished by that organization with any requisite amount of means and money.

That their object is to produce a well digested plan, which by fire and assassination will finally render life and property insecure, and the slave by constant rebellion a curse to the master. . . .

That there exists great uncertainty as to whether the August or November election day was the one fixed upon for the assassination.

That ammunition, fire-arms and poison had been plentifully supplied to the negroes in many neighborhoods, and that others were probably yet to be supplied.

That the whole country was divided into districts, under the captaincy or control of chosen white men of their number, and those sub-divided among the leading or most reliable negroes, and that days were set for burning particular towns, to destroy ammunition, produce consternation, &c.”¹