The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-09-05
Correspondence.
EpoEr1ELp G. zH. Aueust l!

To Lis Esrccllency Governors iScotf. y -
Is SIR FL desire, for the common good, ,kto
bring toyour attention, the critical relations Of
thewhite and colored population of this State.
Tho proceedings Of the Into Democratic Con
vention, at Columbia, have doubtless come to
your knowledge, in which statements were
made by delegates from Union and ether Dis
tricts, going to show that the negroes arc form.
ing in this State secret military organizations.
Near this place. there is company of fifty,
with s4 cpptasns ylioseg name is;known and can
bc given. On Saturday last, atlasplace be-
longing to Gov. Piokons, whois absent from
tho State, they gave barbecue. This com.
pany, or part of it, was there drilled by a
negro with epaulettes on. It is said there are
other similar organisations in Ahs District.
You have also doubtless seen the}announce-
mons made in Charleston papsra published
in Che interests of tho colored people, that
"every plantation has its captain On. the
other hand, it is believed, there mot q cor.
poTalts guard Of white men in tSis State, un-
der military organization, the United States
troops excepted. An Intelligent physician,
= -
who has the most extensive pr&tice in this
section, informs me that within ho range of
his practice, tho negroes arc bcttcrlrmed than
the whitcs-many with the mo} approved
weapons. This, with their limit4l means, is
impossible Of themselves. Bcside we have
information thut within few nigh9, arms are
to be brought for them in wagonIby one of
their number, to this place. :
The negroes, it is said, have been Ald and
believe, that they must organize thuao pro-
toct their liberties; and that if seynsur and
Blair are elected, they are to be put Ackinto
slavcry-a thing that all intelligent lnA know
to be simply ridiculous. 1t is said moreover,
and Rwas SO stated at the convenyl llA that
such organizations meet with your t}nten-
ancc. Such organizations of one racd Aust, of
necessity, load to similar organizationlpf the
ether, for selfpreservation. You are tc head
of the conaervators of the peace ill., South
Carolina and if it be true, (which I al rcluc-
tant to credit, that your Excellencyis coun-
tcnancing such organizations, admolish you
that you ure "sowing" for the negro "the
wind" Of which he twill reap the, whrl-
wind" The conservative influcnces which
have been hitherto exercised in tho interests
of peace by the officers of the late Gnfcdc-
rate army, and othcr patriotic citizens, will be
powcrless to keep that peace, if this cnrsc Of
preparation for blood-shed be not arestcd
The responsibility for it's breach will res alone
on tho heads Of the deluded negroes ah their
advisers.
Believing that you cannot be indiffesnt to
the impending dangers, send you thiscom.
munication, with tho hope that yoa2&l a.;
once exesa;se s,ses-.SaIg (s4&
influence, to arrest this tendency to and reilly
und blood-shed. -
When war of races shall be inaugurated,
it requires no prophet to predict the result
However few may feel otherwise, white men
will, in general, sympathizo with their own
rnco, and the black man must go down. The
white men of this State, with rare exceptions,
you must have perceived, have no hostility to
tho negro.
The negro behaved we'll during the war, md
in the main, since, when removed from tho in :
fuenco of tho cmissarios, who have played
upon his oredulity and prcjudiccs. But if &C.
duced into opposing, with arms, Democratic
success in the approaching Presidential cicc-
ton, or if for other reasons, he shall thus &C.
crotly organize, to forcibly control tho whites,
q storm will bo raised that will not not easily
DO calmcd.
say to you in all sobernoss md truth, that
the African can never thus tyrannize over the
Anglo-Saxon in this country. The people of
this State, with few exceptions, have observed
in good faith, even to tho present moment, tho
spirit of tho paroles given by our troops to
Generals Grant and Sherman, and will abide
the results Of all constitutional measures and
peaceful instrumentalities, but will not quietly
submit to unauthorized and armed negro doni-
nation.
l am, sir, worry respectfully,
Your obodient servant
Nj. l.. BONHAM.