Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1868-09-09
Correspondence between Gen. Bonham
= and Gov. Scott.
From the Columbia Phoenix.

- EDGEFlELD ". II, August ~.
76sHis Ercellency Governor Scott. -. 'z's2tss
SIR: desire, for. the common good to
bring to. o.yoursattention, the critical relations
of the white and colored population of this
State.
The proceedings of the late Democratic
Convention, ut Columbia have doubtless come
to your knowledge, in which statements were
made by delegates from Union and other Dis
tricts. going to show that The negroes are
forming in this State, secret military organ
cations. p h h7- ,b2:
Near s,place, there is,a company of fifty,
with a captain, whose name is known. and
can be given. On Saturday last, at place
belonging 10 Gov.e Pickens. who is absent
from the State, they gave q barbecue. This
company, ora part oft, Was there drilled by
u negro with epaulettes on. 1t is sad there
arc other similar organizations in the Dis
1rict. You -huve also doubtless seen the an
nouncemeRt madeia Charleston, paper, pub:
lished isthe interests of the colored people,
that ""every plantation 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
section, informs me- that within the range of
his practice, the negroes are better armed
tta.i;the whites-many with the most ap-
proved weapons. This, with their limited
means, is impossible of themselves. Besides,
we have information that within few nights,
arms are to be brought for them, in wagon,
by one of theirnumber; to this place. 80
The negross,-it is said, have been told and
believe, that; they must organize thus to pro-
ftect their liberties; and that if Seymour and
Blair are elected, they are TO be put back into
slavery--a thing that all intelligent men
know to be simply ridiculous. 1t is said,
moreover, and it was so stated at the Con-
vention, that such organizations meet with
your countenance. Such organizations of one
race must, Of necessity lead to similar organ
isations Of the other, for selfpreservation.
You.are the head of the conservators of the
peace in South Carolina; and if it be true,
which l am reluctant to credit, that your Ex.
'cellency is countenancing such organizations,
/ admonish you that you are sowing for
the negro. s. the Swind, u of which.he - will
reap the whirl.wind." The conservative in.
|Tduences 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 responsibility for its
breach viii rest alone on the heads of the de-.
luded negroes and their advisers
F. Believing that you cannot be Indifferent to
the impending dangers, ! send you this ccm-
munication, with the hope that you will at
once exercise the weight of your position and
influence, to arrest this tendency to anarchy
and blood-shed. .,
+ When o war of races shall be inaugurated,
it requires no prophet to predict the result.
However few may feel otherwise, white men
will, in general, sympathze with their own
race, and the black man must go down. The
white men of this State, with rare exceptions,
you must have perceived, have no hostility to
the negro. '"'
The negro behaved well during the war,
and ip.the main, since, when removed from
the influence of the. emssaries, who have
played upon his crcduty and prtjudces.
But if seduced into opposing, with arms,
Democratic success in the approaching Presi.
dental election, or if for other reasons he
shall thqs secretly organize, to forcibly con-
troll the. whites, storm will be raised that
will not easily be calmed.
Isay to you in all soberness and truth,
that the African can never thus tyraanize
over the Anglo-Saxon in this country. The
people Of this State, with few exceptions,
have observed in good faith, even to the pres
ent moment. the spirit of the paroles given
by our troops to. Gems: Grant aud Sherman,
and will abide the results of all constitutional
measures and peaceful insrumentalities but
will not quietly submit to unauthorized and
armed negro domination. 1 am, sir, very
resp, clfully, your obedient servant,
..g ,.-,...... ,......f NJ. L. BONHAM.