No developement of the plot having been made on Sunday night, and the period having passed, which was fixed on for its explosion, it now became the duty of the civil authority to take immediate steps for the apprehension, commitment, and trial of those against whom they were in possession of information. Council was accordingly convened, and as a preliminary measure, it was deemed expedient, that a Court of the highest respectability, for the talents and integrity of its members, should be assembled, and that, whilst the requisitions of the Act of Assembly, of 1740, should be strictly complied with, in devolving the warrant of summons on the Magistrates; the Corporation saw no impropriety in affording these officers a list of such names of Freeholders, as they knew would meet in a preeminent degree the public approbation; and to these persons private letters were written by the authority of Council, strongly soliciting their acceptance of a trust, involving indeed the most irksome labour, as well as the deepest responsibility. In conformity with these arrangements, the following Court was organized on the evening of the 17th:—
_Magistrates_, LIONEL H. KENNEDY, } and } Esqrs. THOMAS PARKER, }
_Freeholders_, Colonel WILLIAM DRAYTON, NATH’L. HEYWARD, } J. R. PRINGLE, } Esqrs. JAMES LEGARE, } R. J. TURNBULL. }
Cotemporaneously with the organization of this Court, a Committee of Vigilance and Safety was appointed from among the Members of Council, to aid the Intendant in the execution of the laws; to co-operate with him during the recess of Council, in all those measures necessary for exploring the causes and character of the existing disturbance, and bringing to light and punishment the suspected and guilty. How ably these functions were discharged by this Committee, it is not befitting the occasion or the circumstances under which this publication appears to dwell. Their generous devotion and unremitting assiduity to the public interests and safety, are left to the more appropriate appreciation of a community that witnessed their labours. This Committee consisted of Messrs. Wesner, Napier, Condy, Burger, and Simons, and were zealously aided by the rest of the Wardens; and for its service, four of the most active, intelligent, and confidential non-commissioned officers of the City Guard, were detached as Police Officers, to search suspected places, and to apprehend those for whom warrants might be issued. This Committee commenced its labours on the night of the 17th, and during the ensuing twenty-four hours, the following slaves were committed:—_Rolla_, _Batteau_, _Matthias_ and _Ned_, the property of the Governor Bennett; _Mungo_ and _Peter_, the property of James Poyas; _Amhurst_, the property of Mrs. Lining; _Stephen_, the property of T. R. Smith; _Richard_ and _John_, the property of Jonathan Lucas.