The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-09-04

meeting night but go 10 bed after duty. Duty is
family prayers In April or May went TO waynesboro
and saw colored people drilling there dressed some
white some In common clothes, just like | got on.
some coIorod maE come TO Sandersvlle with red
feather In his hat"
REPoRrER-what do you think about politics, Jerry
JERRY tsfser much urging)-If de Law permits 'en, Is
muss' be all right Tho law don't do wrong If IL is
according 10 law there Is no harm.
REPoRTER-I mean about voting; what do YOU think
n; does II do any good the coored people any
JHRnr-well think n II Is 'cording TO law doDr
harm.
RsPoKrER-whai do you understand tho Civil Rights
act Is; what does 10 meant
JERRY-I think II means to give one man same rights
rs another havnt thought about It much.
REPoRrER-Now, jerry, what is the reason the white
people and the colored people can't live together in
peace' DO tho white people Cypress the coored people,
CT are there bad laws, or what is Tho troublef
JERRr--Ho bad laws know or The white people
take no advantage, not yet, OF the colorcd people
REronrrs-Do you think they VIM
JERRY-I she colored people think SO, they never
told mo never heard 'ern say So
Jerry then retired within the military lines. As one
colored OF Civil Rights there is this upon dingy
scrap taken from prisoner
hope thai the white will oende Of the Privilege OF
The sve Bite Bill for they win make ten dollar were they
don't mako but
Another communication throws light upon the view
taken by the negroes of the Civil Rights act and also
wheel 10 roll the road" the day appointed for
the speechying by Morris II is in the shape Of let
ter from Morris TO the Sheriff of this county ordering
him keep tho roads cenr OF all vehicles for the pas
sage Of the intended coored procession OF July last
sweep the Court House ready for the mass meeting,
&c, and rcads thus:-
RuBE MAYER. Sheriff
You Command hay house sweped and nil clennd for
meeting Saturday July "a 1873 fur Republican
rom Aiken G. and eiaIrmans ''t sziouiiy ecmm nit
s State san' do .na S1e YOU ~':a's
sGrs Sa anS & 70 PS' liz my he,
his stat from 5. s Your devoted finds,
Chairman Of said company from Burke County.
To Mt. Kynh MATEm shsIii Ga July TO- 1870 waynes
And In full hope Of the Sheriff meeting him with the
keys Cordy Harris approached this place the morning
OF the gath OF last MONTH mounted and at the head OF
column Of blacks made up OF divers companies and
marched to tho sound .of number Of drums. The
Sheriff, having company OF cavalry and one OF in
fantry posse 10 render harmless the intended mass
meeting, IL was not held.
LAWYERS VIEWS.
In seeking ascertain the cts OF the recent excite
ment here was fortunate enough to obtain some views
which may shed light upon the troubled question OF the
SOUTH also to present clear account OF tho
rise and progress OF th6 negro military movement until
the authorities began to take legal steps orcstal
danger and arrest those charged with turbulent and
criminal intentions. When the first apprehension
felt the law officer for the State in this section alb
sent and under directions from the Judge of the Cir
cult Court and as acting Solicitor General or District
Attorney, Colonel William II. wylly a citizen of this
place, vndicated the civil authority. From his state
ments clear and connected account obtained in
the following interview
REP0RTER-Will you state, Colonel Wyy, the rise Of
these troubles?
OOIOnel WYLLT-Inc nrSt evidence we nad mere look
ing toward trouble with the negroes letter
brought 10 Sandersvile Thursday, August 49, pur-
porting to have been written by Cordy Harris promi-
nent preacher in this county, directed TO Jerry
Waters, Captain of Zion Hope Company, and Harrison
Tucker, Captain of Buckeye Company, negro military
organizations the line between Johnson Washington
and Lsurens counties, directing those companies to
commence general massacre OF the whites
on the 2oth OF August and an appropria-
ton OF their property, and appointing No.
IL, Central Railroad, as n place OF general
rendezvous for large armed insurgent force. aude
shn Al.
contents Of the letter the excitement became general
floating through the country raceabe to no authentic
source conveying the impression that perhaps trouble
was brewing between the races IN this section of Geor
ga and also by singular movements OF large bodies OF
negroes snguary uniformed and obcyng the orders Of
ono Joseph Morris, Burke county negro who repre-
REroxTER-what was that uniform and the general
appearance of these bodies of men?
Colonel wYLLy-Thc uniform was light blue jacket
white pants, with blue stripe OF about one inch wide
down the outside seam Of the pants hat with rcd
feather, and white sash with the two ends reaching
the ground. Tho first known of this uniform by the
citizens OF this section OF Georgia the congregation
ut this place andersvile-of n largo assembage
who here by the orders OF Norris the oath day
OF July last They marched in order from Tennile,
the railroad station, distance Of three miles from San
dersvilo, with martial music, Morris leading them.
RBPoRTER-What was the purpose OF this meeting?
Colonel WILLING have never been able clearly to
norris Sem
reached Sandorsville and the objects de-
clared by him or any one supposed TO know. Some
gro reports was for the purpose OF forming them
solves into political organization for the next Presi-
Dental campaign; others that It was for the purpose
OF demanding from the whites their equal rights.
REroRrER-Was any explanation given of this phrase,
"thcir equal rghts?"
Colonel wyLLr-Again, there were contradictory re-
ports from the negroes as to what they meant by their
equal rights or civ rights" Some stated in private
conversations with the whites that IL meant all the
rights and privileges guaranteed TO them by the Civil
Rights Dill as ~ passed Congress. others, that
demand upon the whites for division OF the landed
property OF this country claiming that II govern
ment land and they were entitled to forty each
OF IT,
REroRrER--Prcvious to this meeting of July "a had
there been any other apprehension upon the part OF the
whtcsi
Colonel wrLLY-some littlo from the fact that dur
ing the first and middle OF the year the negroes stimuli
taneously rushed into military organizations and
menced drilling, and these military meetings and drills
were secret and held generally at the close of
lgous meeting and after the women had boon dismissed
and sent home This looked strange to the white peo-
pie, and then dark threats and nsnuatons made from
time time by drunken angry negroes caused some
suspicion that they meant no good TO the peace Of
society. However, these apprchensions not so
grave as to occasion any serious fears and gradu
ally being lost sight OF until the finding of the Cordy
Harris letter.
REroRrER-wi you state what took place after that
event?
Colonel wYLLY--Upon consultation with some Of tho
prominent citizens OF this place had warrants issued
the Saturday following the finding OF the letter for
the parties mentioned In II, being then Acting Solicitor
General OF the Middle Circuit On Monday Jerry
Waters, Harrison Tucker and Jake Norman known in
the letter Brother Jake, arrested and brought
TO Sandersvllle Jail that afternoon, and confined in
separate cells My idea that the parties should be
put upon their defence to ascertain the fact whether
this letter was forgery as was at first supposed by
many OF u.s. and afford them an opportunity of clear
ing themselves from the charge OF insurreconary in
tentions II that could be done, and II not that they
should suffer the penalty for atrocious
design, affecting, rs II did, the general interests
of acknowledgements showing the extent and
certainty OF an intention upon the part OF large
ganization to enter into this nsurection and that
after ALL the letter not hoax-and having every
to believe in the truth OF the Information given
me in regard to the organization, Tuesday TO
tho home OF Judge Herschel v johnson seek his
vice in the premises knowing that II there truth
all in the matter II was terrible crisis Under his d.
rccon arrests continued and the excitement increased
among blacks and whites. Confession being made by a
number of prisoners on Wednesday, doomed IL cxpe
dent to telegraph the Governor putting hun in posses
of such facts had In relation TO the lns,rrec
tion and asking him TO order the organized militia
OF the county 10 protect tho prisoners from in
jury in case an attempt should be made
in that direction, and also TO prevent their