The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1856-12-23


Ono of our editors, at this moment in the
country designated as the centre Of black
conspiracy, sends us on this subject, some
positive information, which has all the author
ity of direct and ocular evidence. We cannot
do better than place tho letters literally be-
fore the eyes Of our readers:
Dover, (Tenn.) Dec. 1856
The White Bluff, which brought us to
Nashville touched at the chief town in Ste
wart county, from whence | date this letter.
The whole village is in n state of anxiety the
white population is armed, and see children
who can scarcely carry gun and cartouch-
box, aiding to swell the number. The cause
of all this is n negro conspiracy, you will
know Of it long before you receive my letter.
Inasmuch as there will be exaggrcgation on
one side or the other, according to the source
whence the news is received, | send you as
exact an account rs possible. That which l
have not seen myself, l give on the evidence
of good eye-witncsses.
Before the only hotel in Dover are assem-
bled an excited group Of people, and from a.
mong them horsemen, with revolver in hand
and rifle slung across the back, start off fire.
ouently in all directions. Here also meet
from distant places, numerous horsemcn,
whose animals covered with foam bear wit
ness to the rapidity with which they have
travelled. In the hotel and in two or three
neighboring houses, the greater portion of the
woman and children may be found. Here
and there the black servants obey with sub
mission and promptitudc the different orders
given them.
A house guarded by men with bayonet
fastened on the gun, encloses nine black pris-
oners who are threatened with execution in q
few hours. Nothing will be done with five
at least, of them, but as to the four others
the chiefs Of the conspiracy-they will in all
probability become acquainted with the cord.
We received on board the Judge Of Dover
and his family, whom ho conducts for tho mo-
ment to another residence.
At 4 o'clock we arrive some miles high
er up on the left bank of the Cumberland, at
place called the " Cumberland Iron works"
The machine shop, dozen houscH besides,
and few negro huts are all the inhabitants
in the place.
In a largo building near tho river some six
ty blacks are imprisoned for being connected
with the conspiracy. The remainder on the
other hand are doing submisivey their ordina
ry work. The same thing may be said ofall
the ncighborng localities.
This for the general as ect.
Now as the causes that have given rise to
all this excitement. It's origin is traced to
tho Presidential campaign.
Much weakened by distance. the echo Of
Al l.; -, A. Moth about tl,o no rti,a
Of Fremont has extended to the banks of the
Cumberland. 1t came in the track of the
steamers which traversed the second tributa-
nv of the Ohio, AM then found itself to the
center of Tennessee. To penetrate the most
distant village it only had to pass along the
oorgcs which seperate these insulated noun
tains. Whether cmisary (as they affirm
here) came or not been certain indications of
an approaching revolt. According to some
il was to be general, and would extend to all
the Slave States.
According TO Others, it would simply be
confined to Kentucky and Tennessee. This
latter version appears to me true, and it is al
ready more than necessary TO exercise nm ac-
tive surveillance.
Nevertheless nothing of positive nature
had been discovered till about ten days since,
when negro escaped from Cumberland Iron
Works He was promtly captured, and it
was learnt from him that he fled from tho
prosecution of his brethren in scrvitude who
had threatened to kill him if he did not take
part in the conspiracy. The numerous ques-
tions to which he was subjected, caused the
subsequent arrest of nearly so negroes al
most all Of whom avowed their completely in
plot, and even gave the mostprecise details
ms TO the execution of their project. Nothing
less was contemplated than general masa-
ere. The negroes of each habitation intended
between the 23d and 9th Of December, to
slaughter the whites who surrounded them,
and this accomplished to march to the chief
place of the country, where the blacks would
assemble and commence TO act.
In many places the white is much inferior
in numbers to the black population but they
have added to their strength by putting on a
bold front and by furnishing the four
principal conspirators whom saw prisoners
at Dover. This is all that has passed up to
this present time.
AS to the rumors that may have reached
you about negro killed by white mon in
a conflict, then womrn killed by black,
and lastly band Of 400 slaves devastating
farms and slaughtering the inhabitants
there is no truth in them whatever.
@. @.
Numerous arrests Of whitcs and Jiacks-
strange credulity Of the negroes-fouv ne
groes h,mg--natare and object Of tie con-
spiroey. , :,
CLARKvILLE, Montgomery Co., Tenn,
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 1856.
We arrived here at day break, damaged,
and obliged 70 remain over for tho greatest
part Of the day. / took advantage Of the OPP
portuniiy to go ashore, and passed some
hours in gaining such information as | could
obtain. The details l have collected alter
nothing of what wrote yesterday evening.
The town is more tranquil than any Of the
other places that we have. visited about here.
This is because the white population, more
numerous, has less TO fear from the plots of
n -