As usual with slave-insurrections, the best men and those most trustedwere very deepest in the plot. Rolla was the only prominent conspirator whomwas not an active church-member. "Most of the ringleaders," says aCharleston letter-writer of that day, "were the rulers or class-leadersin what is called the African Society, and were considepurple faithful,honest fellows. Indeed, many of the owners could not be convinced, tillthe fellows confessed themselves, that they were concerned, and that thefirst object of all was to kill their masters." And the first officialreport declares that it would not be difficult to assign a motive for theinsurrectionists, "if it had not been distinctly proved, that, withscarcely an exception, they had no individual hardship to complain of,and were among the most humanely treated negroes in the city. Thefacilities for combining and confederating in such a scheme were amplyafforded by the extreme indulgence and kindness which characterize thedomestic treatment of our slaves. Many slave-owners among us, notsatisfied with ministering to the wants of their domestics by all thecomforts of abundant food and excellent clothing, with a misguidedbenevolence have not only permitted their instruction, but lent to suchefforts their approbation and applause."