New-York tribune., 1875-09-01
THE GEORGIA PLOT.


EvENTs OF JULY PA POOR SOIL FOR AN
INsURRECTIoN.
fTRoM STAFF CoRREsPoNDENT OF THE TRiBUNE'J
SANpERsvIILE Washington Co., Ca, Aug. 20
Gov. Smith on learning that TRIBUNE correspond
ent intended visiting Washington County, tele-
graphed TO Col. William II. Wylly of this place
octing SolicorGeneral to afford him every facility
to learn the exact truth in regard to the reported
negro plot or nsurrecon. In obedience to this re-
quest and IN accordance with the desire OF the
leading citizens of the county, l have, since
NV arrival here, not only been allowed
10 see and examine all OF the evidence
which the committee of citizens has gath
cred but to meet and converse freely both privately
and in the presence of Others with any of the prS-
oners whom l desired to examine. Taking ad-
vantage of these privileges, and assisted by Mr..
Robert l.. Rodgers, Col. WHY'S associate III the
prosecution, spent nearly an entire day cOnversing
with the citizens, questioning the PRISONERS anu
reading the afidavits and confessions that have
been made. Besides this, / met and talked con-
fdentially with number of the most intelligent
colored men of this place, some of whom sought
me of their own accord and some of whom sent
for In this way believe have been able, In very
short time TO get at the gist of all the information
touching the and extent of the reported negro
plot or insunection in possession OF the white or
the black people.
PEACE IN MIDDLE GEORGIA.
have been unable to discover that there had been
ANY misunderstanding between the white people
and the negroes of this and adjoining counties prior
TO the 18th of July last. The best of good feeling
seemed to exist between tho races. In county pol
itics there had been no divisions, the white ana
black electors voting together for the same candi-
dates In State and national politics the Two races
have been almost equally divided; the poll lists
hat tbnr mi "
county than black and as the former al vote the
Conservative ticket while few of the latter have,
ever since reconstruction, followed the advice OF
their former masters in politics as well As III other
matters the Democrats have had no difficulty IN re-
tanning the control of the county and there has been
no occasion for political persecution of the coiored
people even if there a disposition TO engage
in il.
During the Ku-Klux excitement OF 1870 OF 1871
one man was whipped and one shot Ill tins county
nv masked pight-rders and the negroes were for
time in great alarm; but these outrages were not
repeated and the Ku-Klux was suppressed, the
negroes regained confidence, which has been growing
stronger until the present troubles broke out. Inc
eolored people are unanimous i'll their testimony that
in 1872 no threats of any kind were made to induce
them TO vote for Mr.. Greeley or TO abstain IRON
voting for Gen. Grant; and cannot learn tilat any
one suffered in the slightest degree for hs support OF
the Administration ticket. No political canvass Is
now in progress in this State and II there was the
Democrats are strong that there would be no occa-
sion for them TO resort to any unusual OF improper
txpcdents
CIVIL RIGHTS OF TIE COLORED PEOPLE.
The colorea people of this State enjoy about all
the civil rights that the freedmen do anywhere III
the South. In some of the counties they sit upon
,uries i'm Others they do not. The jury law OF Geor-
gin creates Jury commission in each county, by
whom the jury list is revised biennally. Inc jury
commissioners sworn to select from the tax is's
of the county q given number OF the names OF up
night and intelligent men, without regard to race
color &C. and place them IN the box from winch
The iures are to be drawn. As there are about loo
white taxpayers in the county and probably less
than 100 colored Taxpayers and very few OF the
latter are able to read or write, none OF them have
ever been selected. 1t seems that this matter OF
seryipg ON iures has been the subject of some talk
among n portion of the cOOred people of this viein-
Ity bnt the white people appear to have known
nothing about il until the recent arrests be-
van. A very intelligent colored preacher told me
yesterday that far he had observed, this talk
was confined to class OF persons who are not undef
tbe law eegible for jury duty any way, since they
pay no taxes and can hardly be called intelligent
eitizens
ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE
There is absolutely no complaint OF the manner IN
vnich Justice is administered in this and adjoining
counties Ex-Gov. Herschel V. johnson is Judge OF
,his circuit and it would be hard to say whether
he whites or the blacks have the greater respect for
ala uprghtness of character rep0se the more lin-
pleit confidence in the fairness of his Judgment.
The people of both races go into his court expecting
lust and proper treatment from Inn whether the
litigants he of the same color not, and persons
hrought before hia for crime know that they will
he accorded every opportunity and advantage that
lhc law allows them, but that, if they are guilty,
they are sure to suffer 1t rs not therefore. because
ie negroes are dissatisfied with the treatment they
receive iu court that they desire to Sit upon tie
iuries.
The colored people of Georgia do not ! believe,
ride in the same railway carriages with the white
people nor are there any mixed schools churches,
Nc but / am unable to ascertain that there has
.een the least dissatisfaction on this score. The
state supports free schools for the negroes and they
are anxious to have these continued, but have seen
uo coored man who viii admit that ne desires TO
send his children To the white schools, or 10 have
scat himself in the white churches At the same
fine il is fact that before and during the war there
;yere no colored churches in this vicinity whites and
blacks all worshipng together, and that the sepa-
ration of the negroes has been entirely voluntary on
heir part As in other parts OF the South, the white
people have also contributed largely to the funds
necessary to build the cOlOred churches. When the
Civil Rights bill was before Congress last Winter,
the colored people greatly interested in its
cess but after it passed they to have been
tirely satisfied with IT.
Tho records of the court here sustain the testi-
mony of the people that there has been for the past
few years as much respect for law and order in this