The Yazoo Democrat., 1859-11-26
PROPOSED NEGRO INSURRECTI0N IN
SUFLRY COUNTY. TENN.

The following letter, with some others, was
droppedby VIM. Homer from his overcaat pocket,
on the cars between New York and Philadelphia,
on the Esd Of October and picket up by a pas
senCcr and forwarded to Gov. Wise. The letter
was scaled directed and addressed as below On
the 10th inst. DR.. VIM. Russell Palmer, who is
implicated in the following letter, arrested at
Memphis on suspicion of being co-conspirator
with John Brown On the examination of Pal
mer, Thatchers letter to old Brown was read,
and the prosecution then introduced J. @. Lanier,
ESQ.,, Clerk and Master Of the Chancery Court at
Memphis, who testified that the statement made
in the said letter in reference to the family of
Dr. Palmer, the lawsuits etc., were correct
Judge W. 7. Brown was also called up by the
State and corToboratsd the above.
The testimony having closed, the counsel on
both sides argued the case at length when, after
q brief summing up by the court, the accused
was hela to bail in the sum of $4,000 for his
appearance before the Circuit Court
After short confinement, Palmer gave the
required bond, and was released.
THATCHERS LETTER.
MEMPHIS. Tenn, Oct. 3, 1859.
To Capt J. Brovn, General Commander
IN chief Of the Provisional Government
U S. Il.
Dear Captatn-I have just completed
my tour through the Southern States, and
am now on my way to Kentucky. In my
last letter / mentioned TO you that | should
rive the States of Tennessee and Arkansas
thorough sccuring. l did SO, and am
satisfied that of all the States of the South,
Tennessee and Arkansas are the best fitted
to make the first strike in. These two
States have but few whites in favor of slave
ry, while they contain immense numbers of
slaves already ripe and ready at the first in
tmation to strike decided blow for their
freedom; while the large mass Of the whites
are against slavey, and will be ready to as
sst them at moments warning. Several
of them stated to me that they had gone so
far as to prepare arms for their slaves, and
instruct them in their use and how to act
when she worst comes to the worst, While
at Brownsville, Tenn, | addressed letter
to the school teacher, Mr.. H, and he
came to Brownsville to see me-
He says there is no avocation in which a
man can do so much good for our cause as
that of school teaching, because all the
country around have so much confidence in
school teacher who conducts himself right.
lie says that the large majority of colored
people in his part of the State are ready to
take up arms at moments warning, and a
large number of whites are ready to join
theM He says we must send out more
we'll qualified men to the South as school
teachers, and work them in everywhere. =
He gave me a letter to your friend Mr..
Palmer, who is an extensive farmer near
Shelby Depot on the Brownsville Railroad
| did not get out at that depot, for on in
quiring Of passenger on the cars, | learned
that Mr.. Palmer did not then live on his
plantation, on account of difficulty between
himself and wife and an injunction on his
property, and writ pending divorce, and
that he would be hard to tnd-so | couclud
cd to 90 on.
Wien [ arrived at Memphis, | accident
ally met Mr.. Palmer at the hotel where
stopped, | handed him Mr.. HIS letter.
After reading it he cordially shook my
hand, and invited me to take walk with
him. We went up to place on the bank
Of the river called the old Navy Yard,
aud took a seat on some bags, in secluded
place, where he said we could talk freely
lie said he had sincerely sympatbized with
you, Captain, in all your troubles, as he had
been martyr Of shareholders himself He
said he had been working silently, but
steadily, for our cause for two years, and
that he had married widow who had
number of slaves for the purpose of estab-
fishing himself in the good opinion and
confidence of Shareholders about him. That
he had intended at the first good opportunity,
to transfer all the slaves be bad got in his
possession by marrying to our friends, by
way of Cincinnati; and that be had great
many more belonging to his neighbors, that
were ready to 90 with them, but difficulty
had occurred between himself and wife, and
that she had, with the secret advice of sew
eral shareholders and scoundrels about his
plantation, suddenly elected him from the
place, end without moments warning
That he was still sueing her for his rights
by marriage, and that the Supreme Court
had given decree in his favor, and that
he would soon be in possession OF his slaves
again, and that when he had again full con-
troll of them, he would at favorable memeut,
arm them, and between four and five huuo
dred more, and make start in the night
time for Memphis. That he had friends in
Cincinnati, who had promised to have one
of the largest and swiftest steamers on the
river sent to tie up and wait for them at
the mouth of Hatchie River, under the pre-,
tence of undergoing repairs. That he had
all his arrangements complete, and when
ever he sad the word, could take from 500
to 1000 at trip, and land them safely at
Cairo, in the swamps of Illinois, where they
would at once be free. found Mr. p.
very bold schemer, and a man of good ad-
dress and winning manners, and the very
man for our purposes; and as it is known
he is STAKEHOLDER himself, no one would
for moment suspect him of being concern
ed with our cause. / showed him our Con-
,t;trt;ov for tho Drov;s;oual Govorp Yoort