Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1868-09-29
The Recent Troubles in Georgia.

disturbances which occurred in Mitchell coun-
ty, Geo., on the 10Th instant The following
is the statement of the Sheriff of the county,
sworn to by himself and other prominent citi-
zens, and addressed to the Legislature:
On Saturday, the 10Th inst, it was made
known to the citizens of Camilla that John
Murphy, of Albany, Ga, had issued circular
| and secretly circulated the same among the
colored men of this county, ordering them to
bring their arms with them to the political
meeting advertised for that day at this place,
and the information was corroborated by the
statement made by Robert Cochran, ST., Thos-
Jones and others who came from the road in
the direction of Albany, stating that armed
| negroes were assembling in large numbers at
China Grove Church, waiting for the delega-
| ton from Albany, headed by said Murphy,
and Pierce, candidates for Congress, who were
to be speakers for the occasion At the re-
! quest of citizens, MI. Poore, sheriff, with
committee of six other citizens, went out to
meet the procession, and to protest against
armed negroes marching in procession 10 our
| town. and to state to them distinctly that it
they would pnt down their arms no objection
would be made to their entering the town and
holding their political meeting. The sheriff
! delivered this message to Murphy and Pierce,
leaders Of the procession, and they replied
| that they had nothing to do with those armed
men the guns belonged to them, and they
were in the habit of carrying them wherever
| they went The sheriff replied that as peace
officer it was his duty under the law to forbid
the assemblage of armed men at political
meetings, and assured them that if they en-
tered the town with their music and BAN
ners, followed by armed men as they then
were, that there would be breach of the
peace, and he would not be responsible for
the consequence. Shortly afterwards, the
column moved into town in regular order,
headed by Pierce, candidate for Congress, aud
one Putney, white, in buggy, armed with
double barreled shot gun, a Spencer rife, and
two pistols, with quantity of ammunition, as
was afterwards ascertained. A four horse
wagon, containing a band and a number of
armed negroes, next followed; column Of
negro men on foot, between three and four
hundred, attended by about twenty mounted
outsiders, at least one half if not two thirds
were armed with guns, and most of them with
pistols, music playing, and the crowd noisy
and threatening in their conduct; Murphy
and one Philip Joyner, negro, in buggy, in
tho rear. AS the head of tho column APP
| preached the square, one of our citizens, JAS.
Johns who was intoxicated, approached with
in few feet Of the column aud ordered the
column moved on. When about twenty steps
from him, his gun was fred, whether inteu-
tionaly or unintentionally is not known; but
it was pointed in a different direction, and
the contents struck the ground about twelve
| feet from him.
The column fred volley; some Of the
shots at Johns-most Of them in the direction
Of Naples store, thirty or forty steps from
| the column, at which place there was num-
| Der Of our citizens. all unarmcd, woundirg
six of our citizens. Immediately about twenty
| Of our citizens sprang to their arms, and fred
into their column By which two negroes were
killed and the number wounded unknown.
The negroes Immediately broke to thick
| cluster of timber, 100 yards North of the
Court House. At this point there was an
attempt made by pierce to rally his routed
force. Our citizens Immediately, to about
| thirty, part of them mounted made charge,
and completely routed the whole force; Pierce
flying through the woods and fields; Murphy
and Philip Joyner escaping in buggy up
the road towards Albany. Seven negroes
were killed. From the best information we
! have been able TO Obtain between so and 40
were wounded, all Of whom have been properly
cared for. 1t is source of deep regret that
the calamitous consequences of this affair fell
exclusively upon the poor deluded negroes
led on by wicked white men Murphy, Pierce
and Putncy, who made good their escape in
the hour OF danger, with but little injury to
themselves. This sad result is to he attributed
more to the sharpness and shrewdncss of
these gallant leaders in affecting their escape
than to want or intention of our people
| We hereby dsavow any intention on the part
Of ourselves or our citizens to Violate the law
or the peace of the State in what was DONE
| We were willing and so expressed ourselves
to these leaders for them to hold their political
| meeting at the Court House in our town if
| negroes were unarmcd. but we did think that
it was our duty to obey the orders of the
| sheriff as q civil officer of this State in
breaking up this unlawful assenlblage. We
| felt that as their numbers vastly exceeded
that of our citizens present, that if this meet.
| ing had taken place that the lives of our wives
aud children would be at the mercy of an
Infatuated mob. While the consequences are
to be regretted, and we do not boast of what
was done by our people, we feel that they
have but discharged painful duty imposed
upon them by wicked and corrupt white men,
now engaged in leading astray into acts of
lawlcssncss the colored people of our country.
| We appeal to the law making powers of
Georgia and the lawful authorities of the
United States Government to check the
progress of these strolling criminals, that are
prowling about the homes, and disturbing the
peace and quiet of our war.stricken people.
The foregoing statements from the military
and civil authorities give the full particulars
of the riot. The Governor has addressed
message to the Legislature, recommending
that the President be petitioned for troops
The matter is being considered to-day.
MrrPendleton to the Texas Democracy.
We find the following in the Houston