Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-01-07

bv the negroes, and had TO fee for their
lives. va -&
From the Savannah News of the Ist
The troubles on the Ogeechee pianta-
tons continue, aud appear 70 Dc gaining
strength. The negroes are receiyine re-
Inducements from Bryan and Liberty
counties. and trustworthy persons from
that section report that they are plumber
inc ali the plantations, and threatening
dastrnction TO all who dare NEEDLE with
them They are said to have thrown up
some sort Of forti6cation at Peach Hill,
and have had all the roads and ap-
nro.ches strongly guarded. - !.
Meior Middleton has been informed
that. after robbing his house OF its con-
tents, the negroes returned on weunes-
day night aud burned the dwelling.
Whether the report is true or not we can
not say, but there is every reason 10 pc
leye ii. The house was located on Mr..
Hsbersham sSouthfield plantation, which
Mr.. Middleton has been planting. twas
one of the finest mansions on the Ogee !
chez, was two stories high and about fifty
feet 90 uare, and arranged with regard to
the comfort and convenience to those
who might occupy it.
Now that the families of the persons
driven away are in safety in this city,
there is no immediate anxiety on the
public mind, save for vindicatlon oil
the law and the nipping of the disorder
in the bud Immediately, ere 1t has had
time to spread further. For this there Is
great anxiety, and contamination de-
youtly to be wished.
The Gulf railroad train stopped at No.
II last evening, as usual, but brought no Q
passengers from that section. At Nc. 1
al was quiet at that time. +,
The negroes have sacked the barns ana
mills. and carried off the rice 1t appears
that they have been urged to their pres
ent course of action by parties who nave
made them believe that they mad
been assured by Radical negroes in
Washington that if they once captured
and held the country, they would be con-
6rmed in possession of it. The regular
hands employed by Messrs. Middleton q
Tucker do not appear to be engaged IN
Il. hut The outrages are being committed
by yagsbonds who work for nobody
Sheriff Doome went down to No.
early Yesterday morning, with pretty
strong force, but on reaching there and
learning that the negroes were out In
force, be concluded to return to the city
10 obtain force sufficient to make the
arrests of the parties engaged IN defying
the law and plunderiDg the property OF
neaceful citizens The sheriff was sd-
vised to pursue this course by prudent
counselors, whose advice was weighty
and convincing. The return was dissat-
,sfactory to large portion OF the posse,
who thought themselves strong enough
IN carry out the law. Soon after their
,e,urn. Major Middleton issued call for
a public meeting, to take the matter into
consideration. At half-past one o CLOCK,
large number of young men and few
old ard prominent citizens had assem-
bled at the courthouse to devise measures
for enforcing the law, and advising as to
the best course to pursue. We are sorry
10 say that the men most directly inte-
rested In the matter did not come out as
thew should have done on such Ga impof-
tant occasion. Not having received
notice of the meeting may have been the
cause of this absence OF prominent ctr
zeDs
Msior Middleton said that there was no
necessity for regularly organized meet
ing. He had called upon the citizens to
come to the courthouse to hear OF the
state of affairs upon the Ogeechee. The
newspapers bad given true account OF
Il hut il was even worse than had been
rsnreaantad The negroes we're found to
be in strong force and well armed by the
Marty which went down in the morning
kfter consultation between the sheriff
and gentlemen who were present, it had
been thought proper to return to town,
and make more formidable demonstr a.
ton. He had no exception to make to
the acts of any man in the posse. They
all did their duty, and were willing TO
do anything that might be required OF
them. Some of them did not like being
ordered back, but it was the wisest plan
nnder the circumstances. The negroes
had burned Mr.. Hsbersham's house,
where be 1.-THE speaker lived, sacked the
barns. and taken all his property. DE
thought arrangements could be made to
overcome the negroes without trouble
or resistance. II this state OF affairs was
allowed to go on it would spread from
inc Ogeecbee 10 the Savannah. he said
the posse did ell in its power, but large
force was needed.
Gen. Henry r. jackson said the ne.
sroes had violated the laws, warrants had
been issued for their arrest, and the
sheriff had attempted to execute these
warrants and had failed. He had APP
pealed to his posse cemitatus. In the
eye of the law posse comffafus is any
number cf man who may be about the
sheriff at the time of the arrest, upon
whom be may call ia case of resistance
4, h his .=.kc.:ty The pnsss eonifafus
had passed, and why7 The negroes
were ia large armed bodies, and occupy
large geographical position, and so far
as they can assimilate to force in the
field. they are one The mischief would
not be confined to the plantations on the
Ogeechee, but would extend TO the Sa-
yannah. And what then becomes OF the
city of Savannah, surrounded on all
sides by an armed and brutal mob.
She would be ruined. Not train could
pass out on the railroads, nor could
people travel on the roads. Capital,
which mas fed these people who are
now deriving sustenRncs from plunder,
would cease to be invested here. We are
warning against bandits, armed despera-
does. who are ruining the city. The best
moment to stop the mischiefis now And
we must begin to effect that; meet or
sanization by organization-forcs BY
force. Men, and time and means we're
necessary; also. arms and money. The
city Of Savannah must furnish these. we
must act as one naH. and if We do not
identify ourselves with those more imme.
dialely interested. we are not worthy 70
be called men. He proposed 10 call
meeting for tomorrow (this) morning, &c