Year: 1875

laws of the State Lest there should be any misap-
prehension will add that the colored men rave the
same rights in regard to the organization OF military
companies that the white men have. When they
comply with the laws, the Governor commissions
their officers, and they are fully recognized IL the
State has any arms to distribute they get them.
There is one such company in this place.


The organization of these companies or societies
attracted very little attention and excited no alarm
among the white people. The negroes are particu-
larly fond of parade, and constantly organizing
societies. the main object of which seems to be to
get an opportunity to march about after fife and
drum. One of the prisoners whom examined told
Inc that the first thing they did in his company was
to "elect" SIS and send it to Macon for some
drums.


THE DEMAND FOR THE COURTHOUSE.


In due time the " minnes" were again sent aronnd
for the meeting in Sandersvillc. This time they
were printed, and announced that there would he
National Convention Of the Republican, Party"
held here on Saturday July 81, 1875 for the pur-
pose of nominating some proper and fit person
as a Military General of the Second Dis
trict of Georgia, to be commissioned by the
Governor of the State" Each of nineteen
counties was invited to send 80 delegates, who were
requested to wear Blue Military Summer Dressing.
with white waistband round the waist come down
to the ground and a red feather in their hats
Each company was to "carry" band Of music and
it was announced that the "IIon Gen. +. Il.
Rvers" Of Aiken County, S. Cwould command. his
minnie was signed by "COrday Harris, Secre-
tary." A day or two before the meeting, Shcrin
MAYO of this county received letter from General
Morris of Burke County, commanding MN 10
have the courthouse swept out and prepared for
the reception OF the "IIon. Gen. =. r. Rivers OF
South Carolina and his staff the 18th of July,
ard directing him also to keep the road clear to
Station No. IL on the Central Railroad. As Morris
il not a resident of this county, and as 1t was not
to be meeting of citizens of this county,
lie had 10 rgh. to the courthouse. 1t. should,
however. be said that he may not have known
this and in his ignorance he may have supposed that
anv citizens Of the State had right TO use any
t-house. But there was 10 excuse for the tone
of the letter. No matter how dense the stupidity
of Southern negro is he knows how to be respect
full and Morris, who intelligent, knew better thah
TO write letter Of command to the Sheriff. 1t
should he noted that this meeting was not to be a
potical one as it has been represented in some OF
the Administration journals. While the notice spoke
of # as a National Convention of the Republican
partv, its real object announced to be to elect
"Mili:Ary General


TIE PROCESSION.


have no doubt that the citizens of Sandersviiie
were considerably surprised and little alarmed
when this letter was received. When a negro
begins to talk of commanding public officers
the general feeling is that something must
be wrong because they not in the habit oil taik-
ing in that way until they get into a mood that
makes them really dangerous. Rumors were
started nobody knows how, that the negroes would
take the courthouse by force and preparations
were made to prevent this. The Washington Dra-
coons were called out and stationed at the court
house: the only liquor saloon in the place was
closed and the people awaited the arrival OF the
negroes. OF those who came, about 500 wore uni
FORMS and about 700 had none. Morris came to
the outskirts oi the town, but hearing that the peo
ple were disp.cased with his letter, he thought it
safer to stop there and the procession was led i'll by
CorCay Harris who had issued the call, ana who Is
now accused Of being the chief organizer OF the con-
spiracy in this county, Harris then called on Mayor
Gilmore and made the first reqnc$t that had been
made by any citizen of this county for the use
of the courthouse that day but after consultation
with some of the leading citizens it was thought
best. Harris concurring cheerfuly not to open the
court house then; but Harris informed that
whenever the colorcd citizens of this county de-
sired to use the courthouse, and applied for 1T in
proper manner, they could have it, Harris made
this announcement from the courthouse steps; the
companies paradcd in the streets and dsbanded, and
went home without molestaton. Morris did not
show himself in town, and Gen. Rivers and his staff
did not come over from South Carolina.


The white people knew nothing of the character
of the organization which represented here on
the 9th of July. The fact that they were to vote
for a military General" might indicate that they
had formed military companies and regiments. were
il not for the fact that the negroes rarely stop to
consider the meaning of the terms they III
some leader were to inform them that it was a
nroper thing to do to choose a major general of
their church or deacon of their political party they
would see nothing incOngruous in it, In this very
case they called their meeting National Conven-
ton of the Republican party" But, although the
people knew nothing of the real objects OF the meet
ing rumors repeatedly circulated here that the
NEGROES angry at having been refused the Use OF the
courthouse intended to hold another meeting here
and to have the building, by force if necessary.
Other reports were to the effect that they would
burn it. Whether such threats were actually made
or not have 10 means Of knowing. believe that
one negro witness is expected to that he heard
them but every negro prisoner with whom have
conversed denies all knowledge of Them


The circulation of the reports towhich have re-
fcrred very naturally rendered the citizens of this
place very anxious, but nothing Of importance oc
curred until the discovery Of the letter which seemed
TO show that a plot lad actually been formed
have in this letter gwen brief narrative of all
events that were known to the white people prior
TO about two weeks ago, and | shall treat in my
next communication of the character of the two
meetings at WayncsbOrO and Sandcrsville, as eX
planed by the negroes who have made confessions;
of the probability that the letter purporting to give
orders for general attack upon the white people is
genuine and Of the character and extent OK the hos
tile movement so far as | am able TO judge of it
from all the sources of information which have