Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1868-10-01
Interesting Statement Of Hon. B. h.

Hon. B. Fl. Hill, Of Georgia, who is
now in New York, has addressed the
following letter to the Tribune of that
city, and which is published in that
journal Of yesterday. 1t deserves a
careful pesusal by every honest and re-
fecting reader: EH
To the Editor of the Tribune
Sir: | have read all you have said in
the Tribune on the subject OF the col
lision at Camilla, in the State of Georgia
I beg permission to make a statement
which will present this whole flair in its
true light to you and the Northern people.
Early in the canvass the whites Of that
State (nine. tenths Of whom are Demo-
crats) received positire Information that
the negroes were being encouraged to
arm themselves and hold nightly drills
in military style. They we're told that
the object of the Democratic party was to
re-enslave them, and that they must re-
sist its success by force, and especially
all negroes who should vote the Demo-
cratic ticket. Very soon this canard,
which originated in the Leagues. was
openly proclaimed. White and colored
speakers at public meetings advised the
negroes to get ready to fight, and were
reminded that they could use the torches
for dwellings as we'll as the guns and
axes against the people. A painful ru-
NOR obtained currency that the acting
Governor (Bullock) was in sympathy
with, if not actually aiding this move.
ment. do not know that this was actu.
ally so.
This state of things naturally created
alarm. Several outbreaks were attempted
and several conspiracies to kill white
people were detected, and the negroes,
when arrested in different portions of the
State, said they had authority and orders
to this effect We also most satisfac-
torily obtained information that the
object of the few whites who incited the
negroes to their crimes was two-fold.
First-To place the negroes, BY discip-
line and excitement, beyond the In
Auences which might induce them to vote
with the Democrats, or not to vote at all.
Second-To provoke collisions expressly
to influence the Northern people with
charges of "rebel outrages." Now the
interests and the policy Of the whites was
just the reverse. In the first place, Il was
Democratic property and Democratic
families which would be endangered If
riots occurred. Inthe next place, If the
negroes became demoralized by these
politico-miliiary organic ations and FREE
quent assemblages, the crops would not
be well gathered. and Democrats owned
the crops, and their impoverished condi-
ton made them anxious to gather ss
much as possible for the anticipated high
prices. But lastly, we knew that the
result Of the Presidential election de-
pended chiefly on the vote Of the North
ern States. and we were exceedingly
anxious 10 avoid every possible occur
renee which could excite the passions of
the Northern people. Our property, our |
safety, our families, our maturing crops,
and our party policy all combined TO
make us anxious-unnsually anxious
TO keep the peace. How could We etec- |
tually keep the peacef None but those
Who felt the responsibility will ever know
the difficulties with which our situaiion
invested this question But We resolved
BY common concert and counsel
First To bear every insult, and ewes
outrage, possible. and never 70 resist or
resort 10 force 10 any form, except uheu
actually Necessary 10 protect property.
person or family.
Second. To stop, hy the constif1ied |
Stats authorities, al these nightly drill
lings, secret military organizations, and