The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1868-10-03

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j THE Riot in Georgia.
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ElNTEREsTING STATEMENT oF THE HON. b. II.
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I'll Hon Bill. Hill, Of Georgia, who is
now i'm New York, has addressed tho following
letter to- the z'iJuac of that city, and which is
published, in that Journal Of Friday. 1t de-
serves a, careful pcrusal
To the Editor of the TiiJune.
Sire have read all you have said in the
Tribune on the subject Of the collision. at Ca
milla, in the State of Georgia. beg .pcrmis-
sion to make statement which will present
this whole affair i'll its true light to you and
the Northern people. ,gr h,
Early in, the canvass the whites Of that
State (ninc-tenths twhom are Dcmocrats) re-
cclvcd positive information that tho negroes
were being encouraged to arm themselves and
held nightly drills in military style. They.
were told that tho. object of the Democratic
party was to ro-enslavo them, and that they
must resist its success by force, and especially
all negroes who should vote the Democratic
ticket. Very soon this canard, which ,origi-
mated in the leagues, was openly proclaimed.
White andicolorcd speakers at public meetings
advised the negroes to get ready to fight, and
-wcro reminded that they could use the torches
for dwellings as well as the, guns and axes
against the people, A painful rumor obtained
currency that the acting Governor (Bullock)
was,in sympathy with, if not actually aiding
this movement do not know that this was
actually so.
( This state of things naturally created alarm.
Several outbreaks were attempted, and several
Gonspiracieqs to kill white people were detected,
and the! negroes when arrested in different
portions OF hesitate, said they had authority
and OF dcrs to this effect We also most salts
factorily obtained information that the object
she ts ns Ehisss EAs sStsa sha sss
the negroes by discipline fand excitement be-
yond the influences which might induce them
to vote with the Democrats, ornot to vote at ALL
Second. ITO provoke collisions exprcssly to in
huence the Northern people with charges. OF
,srebel outragcs.nS Now the interests and the
policytof tho whites was just tho reverse. In
the first place, it was Democratic property and
Democratic families which would bc endangcr.
cd if riots occurred. In the next place, il the
negroes became dcmoralizcd by the politico-
military organizations and frequent assem-
blages, the crops would not be well gathered
and Democrats owned5the crops, and their i'm
povcrished condition made them anxious to
gather us ,nhch NJ possible for the anticipated
high prices. But lastly, we knew that tho re-
suit OF the Presidential election depended
chiefly on the vote Of the Northern States and
we were exceedingly anxious to avoid every
possible occurrence which could excite the
passions of the Northern poodle. Our proper
ty, our safety, our families our maturing crops,
and our party policy all combined to make us
Enthusiastically anxious--to keep the
peace. How could we ohectualy keep the
peace None but those who felt the RESPONSE
bility will ever know the difficulties with
which our situation invested this question.
Butwc resolved by common concert and coun
sell
First. To bear every insult and even out
rage, possible, and mover to resist or resort to
force in any form, except when actually neccs-
sary to protect property, person or family.
Second. TO stop. by the constituted State
authorities, all these nightly drillings, secret
military organizations, and ARMED asscmbla-
ges, Of every character, as calculated to break
the peace.
We had no. confidence that the Governor
would voluntarily aid Us, Therefore letters
were addressed to the Legislature urging ac-
ton. The Legislature did act b. passing res
olutons requesting and urging the Governor
to- issue his proclamation, iorbidding these
armed demonstrations. The Governor issued
iris proclamation, but i'll style and with false
charges which greatly confirmed the worst
fears Of the whites as 10 his sympathy with
these movements
But we had the proclamation, and VIC hoped
that all threatened dangers would disappear.
Now, there was not the slightest desire, as you
seem to think, of interfering with tho consti-