The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-09-29

INTERESTING STATEMENT OF THE HON. B. r..
The Hon. B. q. Hill, of Georgia, who is now
in New. York, has addressed the following let
ter to the Tribune OF that city, and which is
published in that journal Of Friday. 1t de-
serves careful perusal:
To The Editor of the Tribune:
Sm-I have read all you have said IN the III
bune on the subject of the collision at Camlua,
in the State Of Georgia. / beg PERMISSION 70
make statement which will present TINS Wnole
affair in it's true light to you and the Northern
people.
Early in the canvass the whi es OF that State
(nine-tenths of whom are Democrats) received
positive information that the negroes were be,
ing encouraged to arm themselves and held
nightly drills in military style. They were toio
that the object OF the Democratic party was 10
re-enslave them, andtaat they must resist Its
success by force, and especially all negroes
who should vote the Democratic ticAet. very
soon this canard, which originated IN the
Ieao11es- WAS openly proclaimed. White and
colored speakers at public meetings advised
the negroes to get ready to fight, anu were re-
minded that they could use the torches 1of
dwellin, ,s as we'll as the guns ana axes agalns.
people. A painful rumo- obtained currency
svmnathy with. il not actually giding this
movement. LIDO not know that this was actu-
ally so.
This state Of things naturally created alarm:
Several outbreaks we're attempted, and several
conspiracies to kill white people we're detected,
and the negroes, when arrested IN dlterent
portions Of the State, said they had authority
and orders to this effect We also most satls-
factorily obtained information that the object
of the few whites who melted the negroes TO
their crimes was two-fold. First-To place
the negroes, by discipline and excitement, be-
yond tie influences which might induce them
10 vote with the Democrats, or not to vots at
all. Second-Toi provoke collisions expressly
to influence the Northern people with charges
of s.rebel outlages." Now the interests and
the policy of the whites was just the reverse.
In the first place, it was Democratic property
and Democratic families which would be en-,
dangered il riots occurred. In the next
place, il the negroes became demoralized by
these politico-military organizations and ne
oueut assembapes, the crops would not be
well gathered, and Democrats owned the crops,
and their impoverished condition made them
anxious to- gather as much as POSSIBLE Tor the
anticipated high prices. But lastly, we knew
that the result OF the Presidential electlon
depended chiefly on the vote OF the Northern
States, and we were exceedingly an1ious "
avoid every possible occurrence which could
excite the passions Of the Northern. people
Our % property, our safety, our families, our
maturing crops, and our party policy all COM
bined to make us anxious-unusualy an1-
ious-to keep the peace. How could we effect
ually keep the peace? None but those @ VINO
felt the responsibility will ever know the oin-
culties with which our situation invested this
question. But we resolved by common con-
cert and counsel
First. To bear every insult, and even out
rage. possible, and never to resist or resort
to force in any form, except when actually
necessary to protect property, 'psrson or fam-
ly. ,...
tborities. all these nightly drillngs, secret
military organizations, and ARMED assembia-
ges, Of every character, as calculated to break
the peace. 49, -, c
would voluntarily aid us. Therefore letters
were addressed to the Legislature urging ac-
ton. The Legislature did act BY passing reso-
lutions requesting and urging tne . governor 10
demonstrations. rhe Governor issued his
proclamation, but in style and with false
charges which greatly confirmed the worst lears
OF the whites as to his sympathy with these
movements.
But we had the proclamation, and we hoped
that all Threatened dangers would disappear.
Now, there was not the slightest desire, as you
seem to think, of interfering with the constl-
tutional right OF black and white ''to keep and
bear arms, :" or to have republican meetings.
as many and as long as they desire. We only
desire to prevent military drills, and organlza-
tions not authoriz by law, ana armed assem-,
blages calculated to break the peace; and
these we desired to prevent by legal authority,
executed by the civil officer. You now have
the exact reason why the. sheriff met the ap-
preaching armed procession, and alter exhibit
ing the Governors proclamation, told the
leaders they could hold the meeting peaceably,
but begged them not to attempt it in violation
of that proclamation. :,
Camilla is very small village OF not ex-
ceeding, I would say, three hundred inhabl-
tants, black and white, men women and chill
dren.
"A large assemblage OF negroes gathered
from surrounding countless led by these white
men, and all armed, and to be excited by in
fammatory speeches, and many or then by
other causes, placed the people. families and
houses Of that little village in danger Of pill.
lare. rape and burning, with the alternative, II
prevented, Of fearful ''rebel outrages," to XII
negroes and prevent free speech, scattered all
over the North just as the State election was
approaching. which, it was believed, would de-
termine the Presidential election.
T know both Pierce and Murphy, the two
white men who conducted this whole atfair.
They are OF the most emphatic specimens or
what are termed carpet-baggers. Before the
passage OF the reconstruction measures, there
was no complaint heard against them. These
measures disfranchised every intelligent while
citizen who had held Office III tua' county.
Pierce settled as bureau agent IN Lee county,
and Murphy in Doughcrty county, adjoining
The county in which Camilla is situated; and in
the counties Of Lee and Dougherty there are
five negroes to one white. have no idea that
one dozen white Republicans could be found
in the three counties.
Thus. you see OF q glance the temptations
offered to Pierce ana Murphy to get offices by
the large negro votes Accordingly since the
passage of the reconstruction measures these
men have sorted with the negroes. Pierce was
for time candidate for Congress ut the last
election. He has now received the nomlna.
ton for that position from convention OF
negroes. Murphy was elected sheriff. by the
negroes at the last election, but was unable to
give the bond. he is now, I believe, on the
electoral ticket. We have narrowly escaped
several bloody riots in that region before. Our
people here believed these men, especially the
latter, melted them. They we're both distinct
ly in view, with others, when we counted the
ficulties in the way Of preserving peace, and
when we sought to secure the proclamation.
But in spite Of that proclamation, ard all the
remonstrances Of our people, ana the fears OF
our women and children, they persisted IN
holding armed assemblages OF negroes, and
the Camilla riot is the unfortunate result: -.
The Camilla riot, properly understood, will
exhibit to the Northern people, more clearly
than thousand speeches could, the exact rea-
son why the Southern whites are. at present,
unwilling to extend universal, lndlscrlmlnate
= lAoo kl,nt,