The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-07
POLITICAL AFFAIRS IN GEORGIA.

bncting Of the Negro Democratic Ciub-The
Attendance and Speeches-Dread Of the
MISUNDERSTANDING Course Of the Mu-
latto Long.
MACON, August 81, 1858.
The colored democratic club Of this city held Sec
ond meeting at the City Hail this evening. Perhaps
swo hundred negroes were present, the attendance
beng, at least double that Of the previous occasion
In the hall WAS also large number Of whites. None Of
these said anything worth repeating. but all spoke
very earnestly In favor Of the democratic party The
whites had pledged them their freedom, protection
10 person and property and equality before the law
Nothing more could be required. A colored speaker
named Smith begged his hearers to leave the Loyal
Leagues and stand by the southern whites. He de-
flared that the people OF his race are poorer to-day
than they were in the time Of slavery, and that
because they had listened to Yankee carpet-bag
and scalawags who had robbed them of all they had.
He had heard cOlored men say they would not be
friends with the Southern people who had held them
in slavery. Did Southern ships go to Africa and
steal negroes bring them here ana sell them into
slavery, or did Yankee shipss And they could
forgive Beast Butler and his great grandfather for
stealing and selling them into slavery, hut they could
not forgive the Southern men who bought them. lie
wished his hearers TO open their hearts and receive
the truth. Yankee radicals friends OF theirs;
the only real friends they had upon Gods earth were
the Southern whites and the negroes would find that
out after while. lie besceched them 10 turn away
rom the bad men who are melting them to nsurrec-
mon. The midnight drilling that was going was
dangerous. They did not white men drilling and
srming. because they did not wish to kill anybody.
The war was OVER peace covered the land and there
was no necessity for coored men to 90 ahout with
muskets gu their shoulders. His white friends did
NJ friendship TO the colored race: he imporcd them
10 accept IL. n negro radicals refused TO keep
pany with them II was not matter OF difference for
those gentlemen pointing to the whtes) were better
company than they. He Intended to vote for Sey-
mour and Blair and he hoped they would do Ike
wise.
After the negro speakers had concluded white
gentleman Of the city addressed the crowd IN very
good speech. At the close Of the speech mem
hers were admitted and the clup adjourned. Al
though the number OF negroes present was compare
lively small the fact that ~ many AZ were there
dared 10 attend conservative gathering gives the
whites great encouragement. It In claimed with
coincidence that not less than i've hundred or them
VIII vote the democratic ticket in this county alone.
Iwo-tnirds of them who have this intention Keep
perfectly quiet At present because OF the threats and
social ostricisn OF The radical blacks. When cleo
non day arrives they will walk UP To the polls and
vote with their employers To many of them this ia
necessity, their situations depending upon strict
compliance Win the wishes of those who live there.
The supply OF honse servants. mechancs day Iabor.
eis and other city help beng In excess OF the de.
mand, when an employer SAYS, Either vote tho
democratic ticket or quit my SERVICE the negroes
understand that he is III earnest. a. he can readily
supply their places. There are many radical negroes
the dsv Of the election. aud AT least one-haf of them
viii quietly obey the mandate.
There appears TO be no doubt remaining upon the
subject OF negroes drilling Ia the night and the
worst feature II That they are armed with muskets
having bay attached Where they got these
weapons from Heaven only knows. They certainly
were not purchased by the negroes, who are too
poor and too eStravsgant IN dress and food make
the expenditure. But whether bought bv them not
~ - certain that they must have from the North
~ since the close " the war guns have been
exposed for sale In the southern states. Not long
ago a large body OF negroes all fully armed and
oncered. was seen marching along the river in the
direction Of adjacent counties. When asked where
they were going the reply was that they were the
way "to make peace that Long had ordered them
out under authority received from The Governor
Bullock. The truth OF this statement can be vonched
for by some OF the most responsible and respectable
citizens or Macon. Governor Bullock denies that he
ever authorized encouraged these negroes 10
arm themselves. The mulatto Long TO whom | re.
ferred 10 previous letter II openly charged with
having purchased ami with being stu engaged In
the work OF purchasing aud distributing arms 10 the
negroes OF this Congressio district. That they
have obtained possession OF army guns IN some way
or other is positive fact and am strongly of the
opinion that the mulatto lncendiary knows where
they came from lie is the most dangerous negro in
This part Of Georga-so dangerous in fact that 1t il
pity there Is law TO have him locked up until after
he election.