The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1868-10-07
The GEORGIA RIOTS.
Letter from the Hon. R. H. Hill.
e "a Editor of M Tribllne :

Georgia. beg permission to make |
a statement which will present this |
whole affair in its proper light to you |
and the Northern people.
Early in the canvass the whites of
that State (nine-tenths of whom are
Demoerats) received positive iqf0r3aa-
ton that the negroes were being en-
couraged to arm themselves and hold
nightly drills in military style. They
were told that the object Of the Demo-
cratic party was to re-enslave them,
and that they must resist its success
by force, and especially kill negroes
who should vote the Democratic tick
ct. Very soon this canard which
originated in the Leagues, was openly
proclaimed. White and coIored speak
ers at public meetings advised the ne
groes to get roady to fight, and were
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 CBullock)
was il sympathy with, if not actually
aiding this movement. I do not know
that this was actually so. This state
of things naturally excited alarm.
Several outbreaks were attempted,
and several attempts 10 kill white
people, and the negroes, when ar
rested in different portions of the
State, said they had authority and or
ders to this effect. We also most sat
isfactorily obtained information that
the object of the few whites who in
cited the negroes to their crimes was
two fold. 1st. To place the negroes,
by discipline and excitement, beyond
the influences which might induce
not to vote at all. I'd. To provoke
collisions. expressly to influence the
Northern people whith charges OF
"Rebel outrages." Now the interests
and the policy of the whites is just
the reverse. In the first place, it was
Democratic property, and Democratic
families which would be endaL gered
if riots occurred. In the next place
if the negroes become demoralizeG
by these political military organiza
tiOns and frequent assemblages, tn,
crops would not be well gathered; anC
Democrats owned the crops, and thei
Impoverished condition made then
anxious to gather. as much as pOssibl
for the anticipated high prices. Bu
lastly we knew that the rez5,it Of r.
Presidential election depended caie.l
| upon the vote u -iI0 koE..l5.A State
and we were exceedingly anxious {
avoid every possible Uccu nee Whic
could excite the passions OF the north
ern people. Our property, our safety
our families, our maturing crops, an
our party policy all combined TO max
us anxiOus-to keep the peace. Hol
could we efectualiy keep the peace
None but those who felt the respoT
: sibilitY will ever know the difficu
ties with which orr situation investe
4 this question. But we resolved b
4 common concert and counsel,
E First, TO bear every insult, and eve
outrage possible, and never to resi-
or resort to force in any form, excel
) when sactually necos ary to prote
: property, person or family.
Second, To stop by the constitute
State authorities, all these night
drillIngs, secret military organic
tions, and armed assemblages, of ev
;. ry character, as calculated to brea
s the peace.
We have no confidence that IL
: Governor would voluntarily aid Il
e Therefore, letters were addressed
the Legislature urging action. III
Legislature did act by passing resol,
I tions requesting and urging the Go
e ernor to issue his proclamation 70
9 bidding these armed demonstration
The Governor issued his proclaim
tion, but in style and with fal
charges which greatly confirmed tt
worst fears of the whites as to h
sympathy with these movements.
Il But we had the proclamation, ar
q we hoped that al threatened DANCE
n would disappear. Now, there w
o not theslightest desire, as you seem
think, of interfering with the cons
> tutionaI right of black or white /"
= keep and bear arms" or to have I
e publican meetings as many and
long as they desire. We only desire
,f to prevent military drills, and organ
!. cations not authorized by law, al
armed assemblages calculated to bres
!, the peace and these we desired
q prevent by legal authority, executed |
Il the civH officer. You now have Il
exact reason why the Sheriff met Il
approaching armed procession, al
after exhibiting the Governors pre-
lamation, told the leaders they cou
- hold the meeting peaceaIly, but be
" ged them not to attempt it in Violate
of that proclamation.
y Camilla is a very small village
not exceeding, l would say, thr
. hundred nhabitants-blacka and whi
men, women and children.
n A large assemb blage of negroes gat
/ cred from surrounding counties, Il
o by these white men, and all arme
p and to be excited by inflammation
q speeches, and many of them by 9th
J. causes, placed the people, families an
houses of that little village in dang,
r of OiLIttge, rape and burning, with Il
d alternative if prevented, of fearf
s "Rebel outrages," to kill negroes, an
prevent free speech, scattered all oY,
the North, just as the State electic
is was approaching, which, it was b
# lieYed, would determine the Pres
:. Dental election!
e know both Pierce and Murph
y the two white men who conducte
Is this whole affair. They are the mo
emphatic specimens of what are tern
ed CARPET -baggers, Before the passas