New-York tribune., 1875-09-01
WHAT THE NEGROES DID.

THE CONVENTION AT NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF
COMpANIEs-THE SHERIFF COMMANDED TO MAKE
READY FOR THE RECEPTION OF GEN. RIVERS
AND sTAFF-A HARMLESS PARADE.
lFRoM STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRiBUNE.1
SANDsRsvIILE, Washington County, Ga, Aug. 2G.
Some time in May last Joseph Morris, leading
colored man residing in Waynesboro, Burke County,
about 80 miles from here issued call for meeting
of the colored people of 10 counties of Middle
Georgia The meeting or convention was to be held
in WaynesborO and each county was requested to
send given number Of delegates The notice
was circulated by means of what the colored people
call "minnies," the word being an African
eorrupton of minutes" These were simply printed
or written circulars sent to the cOlored preachers to
be read by them to their congregations. | have not
been able to obtain of these minnlcs, but from
n close questioning of some OF those who received
them and heard them read, conclude that they did
not state what General" Morrss object was in call
ing the meeting. And just here, in justice to the
negroes, wish to correct one mistake into which
see that the correspondents of some Southern papeIs
have fallen. The fact that many of the letters cap
tured upon negroes who have been arrested or in
their houses speak of "minnies," asking that they
be sent or promising to send them, has been com
mented upon as showing the bloOdthirsty nature
of the plot the idea being that tic negroes
were actually arming themselves with Mimic rifles.
This WAS not true; the "minnies," as i have
already explained, simply notices, circulars or
letters of instruction. They may possibly have been
insurrectionaIy in their character, but they were
not deadly weapons. The fact that several of the
prisoners against whom there is the most testimony
are ministers may probably also be explained by the
fact that through them Morris issued his notices, and
that they are also generally the men of greatest in
tuence among the cOlOrcd people.
Tie meeting at Waynesboro took place as adver-
tised. There was parade, and Morris made a
speech in one Of the colored churches. number OF
delegates from this and adjoining counties attended,
but although have questioned several of them very
closely | have not been able to learn that any of
them ascertained exactly what the meeting was
called for Some did not get into the church to hear
the speech one heard something about having cOlOred
men sit on uries and another says that Morris talked
in favor Of free schools OF the reports OF this meet
ing made by a few of the delegates 10 negroes whom
they called together after their return, shown by
some of the testimony that has been taken, shall
speak hereafter. The meeting adjourned 10 meet at
Sandersville when it should be called by Morris.
THE ORG ANIzATION OF NEGRO COMPANIES
Immediately after this, some of the negroes of this
and adjoining counties began to organize themselves
into companies or societies Some OF those arrested
deny that the organizations to winch they belonged
were military companies, while Others assert that
they were. There is no doubt that Morris intended
to have military organization of the blacks for he
wrote to Gov. Smith asking for arms. The Governor
had none to distribute less than onethird of the
panes organized in the State having muskets,
and he so wrote to Norris The colored
leader seems to have been very much dis
appointed at this failure and replied to the Governor
that If he did no. .cnd them the bones of the
colored .,cople would rise up before him at tie
..cSgment Day. 1t should be remembered that, at