The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1868-09-03
Correspondejace.
EpaEFIELD O. a.. August /

TO brang TO your aGGenGlon, tno cf1Gicall
relations of the white and colorsd|
population of this State. 8.
The proceedings of ttshs late Demo
cratic Convention, at Columbia, have
doubtless come to your iknoyIsdige,
in wiiioi statements were made by
delegates from Union and other Dis
tricts, going to show that the negroes
are. forming in THE. State, secret
military organizations. ''- ''''
Near this place, there is q company.
of fifty, with captain, whose name
is known and can 9be given. aOn
Saturday last. at place belonging to
Gov. Pickens, who is absent from
the State, they gave a barbecue.
This company, or part of it, was
there drilled by negro with epau-
lettes on. 1t is said there are other
similar organizations in the District.
You have also doubtless seen the an
nouncement made in d Charleston
paper, published in the interests of
the colored people, that "every plan
tation has its captain" On the other
hand, it is believed, there is not a
corporal's guard of white men in this
State, under military organization,
the United States troops excepted:,
An intelligent physician, who has the
most extensive practice in this sec
tion, informs me that within the
range of his practice, the negroes are
better armed than the whites-many
with the most approved weapons.
This, with their limited means, is
impossible of themselves. Besides,
we have information that within q
few nights, arms are to be brought
for them, in wagon, by one of their
number, to this place.
The negroes, it is said, have been
told and believe, that they must
organize thus to protect their liber-
ties; and that if Seymour and Blair
are elected, they are to be put back
into slavery-a thing that all intelli-
gent men know to be simply ridi-
culous. It is said, moreover, and it
was so stated at the Convention, that
such organizations meet with your
countenance. Such organizations of
one race must, of necessity, lead to
similar organizations of the other,
for self-preservation. You are the
head Of the conservators of the peace
in South Carolina; and if it be true,
which I am reluctant to credit, that
your Excellency is countenancing
suoh organizations, I admonish you
that you are Sowing" for the negro
''the wind" of which he "will reap
the whirl-wind. The conservative
influences which have been hitherto
exercised in the interests of peace,
by the officers of the late Confederate
army, and other patriotic citizens,
will be powerless to keep that peace,
if this course of preparation for
blood-shed be not arrested. The re-
sponsibility for its breach will rest
alone on the heads of the deluded
negroes and their advisers.
Believing that you cannot be in.
different to the impending dangers,
l send you this communication, with
the hope that you will at once exer-
else the weight of your position and
influence, to arrest this tendency to
anarchy and blood-shed.
When a war of races shall be in
augnrated, it requires no prophet to
predict the result. However few
may feel otherwise, white men will,
in general, sympathize with their
own race, and the black man must
60 down. The white men of this
State, with rare exceptions, you must
have perceived, have no hostility to
the negro.
The negro behaved we'll during the
war, and in the main, since, when
removed from the influence of the
emissaries, who have played upon his
credulity and prejudices. But if
seduced into opposing, with arms,
Democratic success in the approach
ing Presidential election, or if for
other reasons, he shall thus secretly
organize, to forcibly control the
whites, storm will be raised that
will not easily be calmed.
I say TO you In all soberness and
truth, that the African can never thus
tyrannize over the Anglo-Saxon in
this country. The people of this
State, with few exceptions, have OBJ
served in good faith, even to the
present moment, the spirit of the
paroles given by our troops to Gems.
Grant and Sherman, and will abide
the results of all constitutional mea-
sures and peaceful instrumentalities
but will not quietly submit to un-
authorized and armed negro domina-
ton. L am, sir, very respectfully,
yOur Obedient servant