National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1875-08-30

armed force present to see that they did
not enter the building, but they were told they
might go anywhere else "snywhere else'' in
Sandersville for convention does not exist,
so they went home, after drilling little on
the streets.
On July IS committee consisting Of the
following persons, Nathan Phillips, Candy
Harris, Ephraim Brantley, Francis Murkeson,
and Jake Mooremsn, all Of whom are leaders
among their people, and, with one exception,
have since been arrested for ''insurrection,"
waited on Mayor Gilmer to ascertain why the
meeting had been dissllowed, and asked If
they had violated any law. Mr.. Gilmer said
they had not, and that they had conducted
themselves as well as ever he knew 80 large .
crowd to do. The committee then
said he had wronged them in granting
the use of the courthouse and then by force
preventing their use of It, TO which he replied
that the "commandn contained in Joe Morris
note was q word that had not been used much
since emancipation. The reference of the Mayor
was to q note purporting to have been written
by a colored leader named Joe Morris to Reu-
ben Mayo, Sheriff of Washington county, COM
rsdnding him to keep the courthouse and
streets clear for their use on the day of meet
ing. Had Morris desired to have prevented
the meeting he could not have taken more
certain way, but he declares that he did not
write the letter, and never saw nor heard of IL
unth published in the papers, and I sm told
that the colored people think Il was written
by prominent citizen Of Hernden, Burke
county, to accomplish just what It effected;
and certainly It Is reasonable to suppose that
some one inimical TO the meeting wrote It.
Immediately after this the colored people
raised money to send Candy Harris to Atlanta
to see t'if we could get no relief" Harris
went to Governor Smith and asked for per-
mission TO organize military companies, which
was refused. The Governor, however, advised
that they continue their military organizations,
though he could not give them any regular
commissions. On his return Harris, advised
them not to drill any more, unless he got fur
ther permission, more than he had received.
On the 10th of August the Irwinton South
e1ner, published in Wilkinson county, got out
an extra, containing what purported to be q
copy of letter from Candy Harris TO Jerry
Walters, a captain of one of the "Band of
Brethren" dated August 6, directing him to
commence August 20 to kill the whites.
The extra stated that the letter was found
Williamson's Old Store in Washington
county, where the negroes had been drilling,
and that its genuineness had been vouched for
by Rev. Mr.. Baker.
When this extra was received in Washing
ton county it naturally created great excite
ment, as all the persons and places referred to
were in that county; and By the 10Th num-
Der had gathered to prevent this killing.
Wilkinson county took precautionary meas
ures, and Burke county prepared to repel the
invaders, though there was not an armed ne
gro organization nearer than Augusta or Sa-
vannah.
The passions that had been excited began to
rally took to the woods, believing their lives to
be in danger.
Governor Smith was requested to send mill
tary assistance from the large cities, but he
declined, declaring that the two companies, In
Washington county, were sufficient to quell
the ''insurrection," but others were to hold
themselves in readiness, and to be used If
necessary. The companies in Augusta, Ma
con and Savannah, were very anxious to be
used in this business, volunteering their SER
vices, but the Governor knew that they were
not needed.
The extra of the SoHtherEer was issued on
the 10th inst, the information it contained
was disseminated by the 18th. On the 10th,
the people assembled and succeeded in soaring
the colored people pretty badly, and on the
Goth the "insurrectiou" was at an end; and
that night nearly everybody went home, the
kilograms announcing the next morning the
glad tidings through the State that "the ne
groes had dispersed"
During the time they were in the woods the
colored people moved about from place to
place; they were not armed (only few hay-
ing arms of any description), they were not
prepared to fight, and they did not want to get
hurt, so they just kept out of the way until
the whites were ready to let them go home
again.
A great many prisoners have been taken,
some Of whom will be turned out, and the re-
maiDder, those of the most Importance, will
be tried at a special term of court held by
Judge Herschel V. johnson for their especial
convenience at SandersyIlle, which will COM
mence next Monday.
correspondent of the Savannah Ne,cs
shows off in this manner: attorney General
Hammond, one of the ablest and most
will conduct the prosecution, and
this Is sure guarantee that The accused uiH have
an impartial trial. Now, as to conviction of
many of the imprisoned parties, desire to say
that while there is not single doubt as to
their guilt, It may be difficult matter to con-
riot them" ...-.-
However, they have secured haifa-dozen affi-
davidts, may be more; they can have as many
as they want, If they get them as they did one
from colored boy. They asked him II he
knew of the paper they had in the club, but
he did not know. They put q pistol to his
head and insisted that he did know, and they
made him swear to II on the spot. They can
have all the testimony they need on the same
terms.
Candy Harris, who they claimed signed the
letter fret found, is some twenty six or twenty.
eight years old; he 10 q Baptist minister, and
quite illlterste, not being able to write, nor TO
read writing; be can read some In print. He
was horn and brought up In Washington
county, Che belonged as Q slave to Owen O.
Pope where he IL well known, and before this
trouble was well liked by white and black. Ito
denies all knowledge OF the letter charged 10
him, and 30 far a.. no 10 concerned 10 IL ut
terly incapable Of writing u, Rev. Mr..
Baker 10 the contrary Notwithstanding.
u 10 not reasonable 10 suppose that no did
write Il, Tho man 10 whom 10 was directed
lived comparatively close 10 Harris, 90 that
Harris was continually In communication with
him, and he would not-two weeks before the
set tims-haye written such sdangeFous order,
but would have given II verbally, which would
not only have been safer. but easier. Again,
as the persons and places referred to In the
letter were oil in Washington county, the
finder Of such letter would naturally take 1t
to the county seat and notify those In danger;
or, II he went the other way, and II was q
necessary measure of safety TO get out the
notice, the finder would not have carried the
letter through Toombsboro, q telegraph sta
ton, and also a newspaper office, to leave the
railroad and go inland to Irwinton to send It
from there. And finally, Harris could not
write.
There is FRAUD written all over the whole
thing. But what motive could there be for
such a course of acffonl The motive W. s tuo