Newspaper Page Text
£wamuih Weekly lleir*
MTCTUtAT, jil'di KT sen,-1 S7*.
OIL! ONE DOLLAR !
tiir NAVANNAII ukkki.v NKWM
Will ho Sent to any address (postage
free) six months for On/ Ibtllar. It is
one of the weeklies published.
It is neAlly printed, compactly made up.
And edited with great care. Nothing of
a dull or heavy character is admitted into
the coinmns of tLo Weekly. It is an
elftboratcly compiled ooinpendima of the
best things that appear in the Daily
News. Tho telegraphic dispatches of
the week arc re-edited and carefully
wooded of everything that is not strictly
of a news character. It also contains full
reports of tho markets; thus, those who
have not the advantage of n daily mail,
can get all tho news, for six months, by
sending one dollar to the publisher; or
for one year, by sending two dollars.
The Daily Morning News is the same
reliable organ of public opinion that it
lias always l>een -vigorous, thoughtful
and conservative in the discussions of
the issues of the day, and lively, spark
ling and entertaining in its presentation
of tho news. In gathering and publish
ing the latest information, and in dis
cussing ipiestions of public policy, the
Morning News is fully abreast of the
most enterprising journalism of the
times.
Price, $lO for twelve months; $5 for
six mouths.
The Tm -Weekly News has tho samo
features as tho Daily News. Price,
*K for twelve mouths ; for six
months.
Money for either paper can bo sent
by I*. O. ordor, registered letter, or
express, at publisher's risk.
Address all letters to
•J. 11. Estill,
tf Savannah, Ga.
Tim Rebel Roinhsliell Among Ihe
Wimielmgnes.
It seems that ex-J ’resident Davis’s invi
tation to deliver an address before the
Winnebago County (111.) Agricultural
Association, was like the bursting of a
bombshell in the midst of a camp of
Winnebago Indians. According to the
Montgomery Advertiser, whose editor has
evidently taken pains to obtain the
fullest information in regard to that
startling overit, “as soon as it became
known that this invitation had been ex
tended and accepted, the loyal bile of all
that whole region was stirred to its pro
foundest depths. Tho Grand Army of
the Republic met, orated, pawed dirt
and indiguated. Tho loyal farmers went
around with both hands on their bowels
in that graceful attitude known as tho
colic stoop. The doctors hurried faster
to and from the homes or their patients,
and one of tho number in the wild
abandon of his grief and despair,
mixed 11 foaming draught of morphia
which gave the nearest coroner a foam
ing job. Lawyers hurriedly gath red all
loose scraps of papers into gre> n bags
and looked pale while they examined the
law of trespass vi at annus. The old
women shook their sagacious noddles a.ul
croaked out “I told you so” to every
hearer who passed them at less than rail
road speed. In line there was hurrying
to and fro and gathering tear* .'.vid tremb.
lings Or ?l!sTress anft
Davis had promised to talk to some Win
nebago farmers on the subject of agricul
ture. Ho true it is that none are so slow
to forgive as those who have dono you
the deepest injury.”
Wo learn that immediately after the
receipt of Mr. Davis’s telegram, canceling
his acceptance of tho invitation, the
church bells were rung, bon-flres kindled
in the streets, mid the windows of evory
house in ltoekford illumineted with tallow
candles. Runners wore dispatched to
bear tho glad tidings throughout the
Winnebago settlements, aud a call for a
day of thanksgiving was published by the
Mayor, endorsed by tho rank and lilo of
the Grand Army of tho Republic. Tho
reaction was almost as terrific as the
i alarm which had preceded it. Mon with
beards danced and wept with joy,
while the old women wont into rapturous
hysterics, and tho young ones promiscu
ously ombracod whoevor came in their
roaoh, in the ecstney of their jubilation
at their Providential deliverence. Such
a time has not been known among the
Winnobagoes within the memory of the
oldest of the tribe.
Prince Rivers, the South Carolina
Negro General.
The Charleston Nates puts no faith in
the statements of Princo Rivers, tho ne
gro Brigadier General of South Carolina
militia, in which ho denies that lie had
anything to do with the projected negro
insurrection in this State. The Nt irs says
this is not the first time that Rivers has
been accused with such devilment, adding
that he is always heard of wlicu there is
any talk of trouble across the line, though
lie bikes good care to keep his own car
cass out of harm’s way. The Nates de
clares that Rivers is not n fit person to
hold military rank, even in tho negro
militia, or to bear a commission frqm the
State of South Carolina, and suggests
that proceedings be taken against him,
and that he bo removed to Georgia.
“ where ho would be sure to have a fair
trial aud a speedy one, without habeas
corpus.” Alluding to the conduct of our
authorities and people in the recent
emergency, the News says: “ The Geor
gians have behaved with their accustomed
pluck, and with splendid coolness and
moderation. All honor to them !”
Senator Johnson’s Successor. —The
Hon. D. M. Key, of Chattanooga, who
has been appointed by Governor Porter,
of Tennessee, to succeed ex-President
Johnson in the United States Senate, is
at present one of the chancellors of the
State, but has uot figured much iu Ten
nessee politics. He is forty-five years of
.age. of.decided talent, diffident and re
tiring, very popular in his section, but
not generally known throughout the
State. The appointment will give general
satisfaction in East Tennessee, which
portion of the State claimed the appoint-
ment of Mr. Johnson's successor. The
Legislature of Tennessee meets only
every second year, and its next session
will begin January, 1877.’ Senator Key
will therefore occupy the seat by the
Governor’s appointment for two whole
sessions, embracing the long session next
winter, and the short session succeeding
the Presidential election. The next Leg
islature, to bo chosen iu the fall of 187t>,
will elect a Senator for the remainder of
Mr. Johnson's term, and will also have to
elect the successor of Senator Cooper,
whose term expires in 1877.
Spotted Tail’s price for the Black Hills
is #7,(XX),000. When last iu Washington
he was asked to indicate his figures, but
replied: “O, there is no use talking about
that; my prioe is a good deal more than
the Great Father is able to pay.”
General Gordon and the Southern
People In Accord on the Currency
Question.
Alluding to the “Greenback Convic
tion, which is to meet in Detroit this
week, the W.ishington correspondent of
the Baltimore Sun says; “Geu. Gordon,
of Georgia, who is put down as oue of
the speakers, is a man of sincere convic
tions, and of a somewhat more practical
turn of mind than those in whose com
pany he will lie. During the discussions
over the currency winter before last Gen.
Gordon fought as hard as any for extreme
inflation. He then claimed to represent
his people, but as their opinions on this
subject have been much modified, it was
.natural to suppose that his bad undergone
a similar change. The people of the
South generally are cliangiug their
opinions in this matter, as they find by
experience the fallacy of their former
views.”
The usually well informed and reliable
correspondent of the Sun is for once
greatly mistaken. Winter before Inst,
when Gen. Gordon took a prominent part
in the discussion of the currency ques
tioo. he was entirely in advance of the
Southern people, who, at that time, hav
ing given vry little thought to the sub
ject, generally adhered to the old Demo
cratie hard money i lea. Geu. Gordon’s
able speeches were not without their
legitimate effect o:i the minds of the
Southern people. His unanswerable ar
guments caused them to investigate the
causes of the financial depression, when
they were led to the conviction that
a forced and sudden return to
specie payment was not a proper
remedy for the evils which Radical prodi
gality and profligacy had brought upon
the country. The Democratic idea of
gold and silver as the basis of a “redeem
able currency” is the true Constitutional
idea, but to attempt to enforce it in the
present condition of the finances, after
the Radical party have created anew legal
tender currency, overwhelmed the coun
try with billion-1 of debt and flooded it
witli irredeemable paper, would only ag
gravate the evil. The people of* the
South are not burthened with gov
ernment bonds, aud are in a condi
tion to consider the currency queston
free from the bias which their possession
creates in the minds of the government
creditors. They understand the relations
and interests of the debtor anil creditor
classes as involved in this currency ques
tion, aud they are every day becoming
more convinced that specie payment
readied through contraction of the
volumo of the currency would be
both impracticable and suicidal. The
people of the South are now, as ever, in
favor of constitutional curreucy. But,
experience lias taught them that circum
stances alter cases, aud that now is not
the time to apply a Democratic remedy to
a Radical evil. They desire the restora
tion of specie payment, as well as the
restoration of constitutional government,
nut, as they havo had to wait patiently
ou time to bring about the latter, they
are content to wait on time and bet
ter circumstances to bring about, the
former. On the currency question the
people of tho South are content with the
Ohio platform which is opposed to a
unions contraction of the currency
for the benefit of money monopo
lists aud bondholders, and calls
fur tho final abrogation of the na
tional hank system. We can assure the
correspondent of the Baltimore Sun that
tho majority of the people of Georgia are
in accord with Senator Gordon on thv.,
subject.
Tho Western Crops.
It now appears tlnvt the first estimate
'Western crops by recent
and extensive floods was
greatly exaggerated. From those sections
untouched by the storms come assurances
tbat the yield is unprecedently large.
Not only are the losses in certain locali-
ties greatly overbalanced by the gains of
the other, but the original destruction
does not uoarly approximate the estimates
of the despondent.
From Indiana, where both rains and
lloods were heaviest, recent reports are
most encouraging. Wabash Valley, the
most nlflicted region of the State, was
greatly damaged, but a correspondent of
the Cincinnati Gazette, who quite lately
visited the couutry, is of the opinion that
with dry weather iu August, and the ab
sence of premature frosts, the aggregate
crops will ho much bettor than last
year. The crop of corn, which under
more favorable circumstances would have
been enormous, still exceeds that of 1871.
The same is true of the oats, this staple
having suffered most, yet it is m excess
of last year’s yield. The potato crop is
large, hay is damaged, flax seed has suf
fered, hut tho pastures are good and
likely to continue so until winter. Iu a
majority of the grain growiug States the
wheat harvest is enormous, farmers in
many sections frankly acknowledging
that such crops were never known be
fore. Reports of permanent damage to
European grain crops ou the other baud
have been fully confirmed. Not only iu
France, but in tbat heretofore inexhausti
ble granary, Russia, ou the Black Sea, the
crops fall far short of even reasonable
expectations. Naturally these disasters
will create a demand for American grain,
and with an active foreign market, it is
idle to anticipate another year of stagna
tion.
►— • ♦—^
The Negroes and the Color Line.
The efforts of Mr. Lamar aud his
Democratic friends to obliterate the color
liue iu Mississippi politics have, it would
seem, been unsuccessful. Ou the con
trary, the negroes appear to be more
than ever determined to enforce it, and
uuder the inspiration of Fra ! Douglass
and other prominent leaders manifest a
disposition to make color au indispen
sable qualification for all offices within
the control of their votes. At Senatobia
last week, the blacks split the Republican
Convention of the First Congressional
District and nominated a candidate of
their own, a negro by the name of Howe.
The white Republicans nominated G.
Wiley Wells, at present United States
District Attorney. It is, however, not
at all probable that either Wells or Howe
will be elected, as Col. Lamar, the Demo
cratic candidate, is very strong in the
District, and is expected to poll a great
many Radical votes.
Judging from present indications, the
negroes are determined to maintain the
color liue wherever they outnumber the
white voters, even against the whites of
their own party. It is needless to say
that by this policy aud such demonstra
tions as the recent attempt at insurrec
tion iu this State, they defeat their own
best interests, which are inseparable from
the interests of the whites, and that the
result will be that they will at length suc
ceed in convincing even their sympathiz
ing Radical friends that they are not
only incapable of governing tho whites,
but of governing themselves.
A Brave Little Miss. —Rosie Cotter
man, aged ten, a little German girl of
Bloomington, Illinois, bravely stood in
the way of an infuriated cow till she had
put four or five smaller children over a
fence. Her clothing was almost ripped
from her and she was badly bruised, but
the Mayor and police force, as they
descended from the lamp posts and tele
graph poles, were loud in praise of her
courage.
THE NEGRO INSURRECTION.
Its Inrrptlon, Purposes and Leaders—
.Yltigniliuir anil Frarlnl Results of Ibe
Apprehended I'prislnu of N'eproes—Why
the Insurrection Failed In Its Object
Prudence and Forbearance ef the White
People—A Sublime Kxnmple mf Fall and
Prompt Submission to the Demands of
Law nnd Ordee—Wisdom of Oovernor
Smith’s t'arefal Action In Regard to the
Military—Hi* Visit to aud Reception at j
•<undersvllle —Impartial Justice to b-
Vletrd Out to the Aeeused—The Cutity
.Vllist be Punished, and the Innocent shall
be Protected by a Full, Fair an i Prompt
Jtidrial Investiaallon—The Subordinate
Leaders Held for Trial and the Insurrec
tion .Movement Prematurely Ended.
[Special Correspondence of the Morning News.]
Sanders vrLLE, August 21, 187.1.
Happily for me, in the work of laying
before your readers a complete and im
partial history of the exciting scenes
which have transpired in this section
during the past tea days, the Morning
News has already furnished the fullest as
well as the most reliable reports yet given
to the public. I shall therefore but
briefly refer to the facts you have thus
presented to your readers, and only for
the purpose of corroborating the posi
tions which you have editorially assumed
i.i view of the supposed correctness of
these facts.
ITS INCEPTION, PURPOSES AND LEADERS.
According to Corday Harris’s state
ments, made iu my presence, aud of his
own free will, to Governor Smith this
afternoon, this diabolical insurrection is
the outgrowth of the old negro Union
league organization, which had for its
object the banding of the colored voters
together iu such a manner and by such
an oath as to secure their united support
for the Radical party. Recently, how
ever, the negroes have, to a great extent,
broken loose from their bondage to this
organization, and some new plan was
necessary by which to again unite and
hold them together in a solid front, to
oppose the success of Democratic princi
ples in the government and recuperation
of the South. Corday Harris, who seems
to have been a prominent leader in the
league, states that he quit it in March
last, and that Jim Sessions, who is hiding
out, has the record book of the orgaui
zation. The oath required, among other
things, that the members should not bear
arms or join in any rebellion against the
United States. In May last, according to
his statements, this new organization
made its appearance, Joe Morris, of Burke
county, being the active mover iu its es
tablishment, and P. R. Rivers, of South
Carolina, standing god father to the
unholy concern.
Of the meetings appointed by the so
called “General” Morris, and the results
of the same, you have already informed
your readers. Corday Harris corrobo
rates all this,but persistently declares that
he was opposed to it all, and that the
meetings were held in the manner they
were contrary to his advice. This state
ment, however, is wholly at variance with
his past conduct, and the testimony of
his deceived followers. Harris is a sharp,
smooth-tongued, tricky negro, and
just the kind of a person to
lake the lead in a movement
of this kind. He is about five aud a half
leet high, of small build, thin features,
smooth face, “glib” tongue, and weighs
about one hundred and thirty-five pounds.
In answer to a question from me, he re
plied that he was “a Baptist preacher, so
called!” He claims that “General” Mor
ris, Rev. Jerry Simmons aud others,
with “General” Rivers in the background,
were the prime movers in getting up the
mass meetings. He says Morris is a scamp.
Sent him sll 25, at his request, to pub
lish notice, as 1 o said, of mass meeting.
Epbriam Brantley was also in the control
of tL. affair. Meetings were postponed,
and matters got mixed up, which led to
the failure of the plans for a general up
rising. Harris says he went to Atlanta to
get authority to raise a company, aud to
procure arms from the State for the same.
Gov. Smith, through his secretary, ex
plained to him that the State could not
get arms enough to supply one out of every
live white companies,and yet the State had
already armed three colored companies,
one at Savaunah, one at Augusta, and one
in Atlanta—which was a fair proportion
of arms to distribute to the negroes under
the present allowance made to Georgia.
It was while in Atlanta on that errand
that Harris met the man who is supposed
to have written the letter published by
you on Saturday, and signed “Committy
R. P. per O. H.” I have seen the origi
nal of this letter, and am satisfied that
it has great political significance,aud fully
connects the Radicals with the military
movement.
All the testimony goes to confirm
Harris’s statements that this movement
commenced about the first of May, and
that “Gen.” Morris was tlieactive agitator
and promoter of the affair, with Rev.
Corday Harris, Ephriam Brantley, Rev.
Jerry Simmons, and the officers of the
companies to assist him. The character
of the organizations can be gathered
from the following statements freely
made uuder oath, and without intimida
tion ;
EXAMINATION OF JAMES .WRIGHT.
Blacksheak’s Mills,
Laurens County, Ga., Aug. 11), 1875.)
Question —Do you know of a secret
military organization in this neighbor
hood: and if so, state all you kuow of it ?
Answer —Yes, there is a secret military
organization in this neighborhood, and
Harrison Tucker commands it, aud is
called Captain Tucker, but I kuow very
little of this company. About four
months ago I joined Captain Jerry Wal
ters’ company, of Johnson county, but I
never attended a drill. I remained a
member of this company about three
weeks, and then directed that my name
be taken off the rolls. I never paid the
initiation fee, but took an oath to abide by
the laws of the company. About three
weeks ago, iu a conversation with Isaac
Wright, he told me that if they, the white
people, did not mind the negroes will
have this land. He did not state how
nor where they proposed to get the
land; but from the tenor of the
whole conversation I think he meant
that whenever they got strong enough
they would take the land—and take it by
force, if necessary. During my member
ship of Capt. Walters’ company re
fused to tell me the secrets of the com
pany, because (they said) I would not at
tend the meetings. Besides, some of the
company (I understand) thought I would
tell. I can’t state positively, but I think
from all I have heard that “ General ”
Rivers, “General” Morris and Corday
Harris are at the bottom of this whole
thing, and they mean mischief.
Question —Have you any objection to
stating more fully the nature of the oath
you took in joining the company ?
Answer —l have not. The oath was
about in these words: 11 1 will come into
this meeting and abide by the laws, whai
somevtr; whatever hour or minute I am
called on I mil go. That 1 will not tell
the secrets of the company ; and, if I do,
the punishment will be hard.” I was told
that if I violated this oath I would be
tried by Grant's law, and the punishment
would be death.
Question —Who swore you into the
company ?
Answer —Niel Houston swore me in,
and Austin Mason put my name down.
his
James X Wright.
mark.
Georgia, Laurens County.
Personally appeared before me, D. J.
Mooreman, a Justice of the Peace in and
for the Eighty-sixth District, G. M., of
said county, James Wright, who, being
sworn, of his own free will and accord
deposeth and saith that the above state
ment is true, to rhe best of his know-
ledge and belief.
his
James X Wright.
mark.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this
19th of August, 1875.
D. J. Mooreman, J. P.
Witnesses:
C. S. Guyton,
R. A. Kellam,
A. L. Morgan.
CONFESSION OF JOHN CHILES.
Georgia , Johnson County.
Confession and oath of John Chiles,
colored, in the case of the State of Geor
gia vs. Jerry Walters and others, mem
bers of Zion Hope Company, and Harri
son Tucker, and others, members of the
Buckeye Company, charged with the
offence of insurrection.
Question —Do you know of any organi
zation existing amongst the negroes in
this part of the State, aud what is the
nature of the organization ?
Answer —I do know that there is an
organization existing in this part of the
State, and it is of a military and secret
character: and if you will allow me. I will
explain the whole movement in full—
from the very beginning—what it is for
and who the principal negroes are, and
the offices they hold, and what they in
tended doiag. The movement first
started by Corday Harris, colored, who
is secretary of the orgauiz ition,) calling
a meeting of the colored people to assem
ble iu Sandersville for the purpose of
getting general orders, aud to know how
to proceed. Francis Murkerson, colored,
(who is captain of a company in Wash
ington county.) also was a principal man
in the meeting. I attended the meeting,
as also did most all the colored people in
this section. The object of that meet
ing was to get all the colored men to
unite into a secret military organization
for the purpose of getting ‘equality’—by
that. I mean to take lands in this county
by force aud arms—to kill out the whites,
beginning with the little babe in the
crib, aud killing all up.”
Under orders from “General” Rivers,
of South Carolina, and “General” Morris,
of Burke county, Ga.. issued by Corday
Harris, secretary of the organization, col
ored companies of a secret and military
character have been formed in all this
section of the State. I know of three
companies in this neighborhood, one
called Z ion Hope Corupauy, and com
manded by Captain Jerry Walters; Jake
Mooreman, First Lieutenant; Robt. High
tower, Second Lieutenant; aud Ben Davis,
Third Lieutenant; Neal Wood, First Ser
geant; Andrew Hightower, Second Ser
geant; Scott Brinson, Third Sergeant:
and John Hines, Fourth Sergeant.
The second company is the Buckeye
Company, commanded by Harrisou
Tucker; the other officers I don’t know;
the other company is commanded by
Francis Murkerson ; the other officers I
don’t know; these companies were
formed upon orders from Corday Harris,
Secretary, at the instance of “Gen.”
Rivers and “Gen.” Morris, aud an oath of
secrecy, to keep every thing secret, and to
mutually stand to each other, is admin
istered to every oue; I joined the
organization, but did not pay the
initiation fee, and was not called a
regular member; I did not join
either company, but intended at the first
to join Jerry Walters’ company, but saw
the danger ahead of me aud quit the
organization. I remained with the organi
zation long enough, however, to know
that the negroes intended to take the
lands by force, to divide by lot the lauds
into forty acre lots—each to draw for his
share, and to divide the personal property,
such as horses, cows, wagons, household
furniture, between us. I kuow that we
(I mean all included in this organization)
were to kill out all the whites, as I have
told you before, and to take all the money
we could find and give it to our treasurer
—which was for our mutual benefit.
Fortune Hightower is our treasurer.
Question —Do you say, John, that the
negroes were regularly organized, had
guns, etc.; did drill secretly by night,
with drums, etc., and were rapidly mak
ing arrangements to begin this fearful,
inhuman and bloody work ?
Answer —Yes, gentlemen, I know that
the above is true, and that the time was
near at hand when the general movement
of bloody work would begin. My with
drawing from the organization as soon as
I did prevented me from getting other
secrets they have, and the last orders,
which I believe to be the orders for the
general movement to begin alluded to
above.
Question —Now, John, you answer
freely the questions so far put to you;
tell us if you know where this move
ment was to begin, aud how and in what
way they were to proceed-—the line of
march, etc Tell us all you know about
it ?
Ansiver —A short time ago I was in
Jake Mooreman s house at night, at a
called meeting; there were present Jake
Mooreman, Hubbard Hines, Francis
Merkerson, Jerry Walters, Neal Huston,
Ben Oliver, Zone Fish, Nig. Miller, Webb
Wright, George Sampson, Bob High
tower, Fortune Hightower, Jake Hid s,
Austin Masar, Ben Wright, myself, Felix
Guyton and others I don’t remember and
don’t know. The object was to discuss
the whole matter, how to do and what to
do; and Francis Merkerson, who was
President of the meeting, said (speaking
the voice of the meeting), that after
everything was ready, the movement
would begin from the Tucker plantation;
that was the starting point; all the com
panies in this section were to meet there,
fully armed and equipped (as well as pos
sible), and commeuce the line of march,
going first to Dr. A. J. Haines’, to march
through his yard, to take all his money,
and then go on to Wrightsville.
Question —John, in case Dr. Haines
should have defended his home and
property and have endeavored to protect
his money, what would they have done ?
Answer —They would have killed him.
Question —John, in this line of march
you allude to, from Tucker’s plantation
to Wrightsville, what did they intend
doing with the white people and property
along the way, and what did they intend
doing after reaching Wrightsville ?
Answer —As I have said before, the
object of the organization was to kill out
the whites, from the babe in the cradle
up; to get all the money we could find
and put it in our treasury; to divide all
the personal property between us, and to
divide the lands into forty acre lots be
tween us; and I suppose you know that
their mteution was to kill all the whites
along the line of march, but I don’t know
what they intended doing after reaching
Wrightesville, except to hold a mass
meeting, and at that time all would know
what to do. I might say just here that
oue of the main objects of this organiza
tion was the enforcement of the civil
rights bill, representation in the jury box,
&c. I know that Corday Harris is the
principal leader in this section of the State
aud all orders were issued by him.
Question —John, what did they intend
doing with the present crop now in the
field ?
Answer —Their intention was to take
the crops, aud give to the whites only so
much as they saw fit. This was the order
from Corday Harris, and Morris and
Rivers.
Question —Do you know of anything
else, John, going to explain this move
ment ?
Answer —l believe I have told you all
I know. There might be some other
little things which I can’t recollect, but
the main objects I have given you. My
quitting the organization at the time I
did prevents me from giving you other
secrets connected with the organization,
as their late secrets are unkuown to me.
Question —Now, Johu, do you say on
your oath, and in an open, free confes
sion, without any fear of punishment or
hope of favor and reward, and in the
presence of us, whose names appear be
low, that all you have said in the answers
to the questions propounded to you, is
true to the best of your knowledge and
belief ?
Answer —l do.
his
John X Chiles.
mark.
Sworn and subscribed to before us this
17th of August, 1875.
Shadrick Williams, J. P.
W. H. Parsons,
J. A. Coleman.
ITS MAGNITUDE AND FEARFUL RESULTS.
Some thoughtless person has called
this a “big scare,” which is in no sense
true. I never saw people so cool and yet
so determined, so fearless and yet so just,
under circumstances far less threatening
and dreadful. The very absence of any
reliable aud definite knowledge of the
movement only made the danger more to
be feared. Letters about miunie rifles to
be distributed, “Gen. Rivers and staff,”
with two thousand armed negroes from
South Carolina, and the colored people,
men, women and children in nineteen
surrounding counties, armed with.pitch
forks. hoes, axes and deadly weapons of
all kinds, the entire force to march in a
body for the indiscriminate slaughter of
the white people, and the confiscation of
their property, was certainly something
out of which a “big scare” might have
been created. But in the midst of all
these well founded, yet unconfirmed re
ports, and with no light to guide them to
a direct solution of the plan of attack,
the white people of the threa
tened counties acted nobly and
promptly, and with such an ab
sence of fear and undue excitement,
that not a single gun has been fired nor
a single negro killed—a case, I claim,
without a precedent in thejhistory of this
nation. And what were the fearful re
sults that threatened to flow from a suc
cessful rising of the negfoes f The fol
lowing sworn statements wQI show the
horrible pu -poses and bloody designs of
the insurrection ; and if any white man.
the father of a lorely and pure daughter,
can read this testimony and not feel his
very blood curdlo in his veins, as he
thinks of what would have been the result
of this “big scare" had success attended
the purposes and plans of the vile mis
creants who were the leaders in this pro
posed hellish outrage, let the pity of the
world, with its contempt, fall upon his
degraded humanity.
CONFESSION OF JAKE MOOREMAN.
Georgia, W<ushington County.
I, Jake Mooreman, do make this my
confession, in full, in reference to the in
surrection which we, the colored citizens
of Washington. Laurens, Johnson, aud
sixteen other counties, the names of which
I do not know, have entered into;
I am First Lieutenaut of a colored
company, commanded by Jerry Walters ;
we were under the command of Francis
Murkerson. who iu turn was in command
of Corday Harris, who iu turn was com
manded by Joseph Morris, of Burke
county, who was appointed' and
commanded by P. R. Rivers, of
South Carolina; Murkerson was first
Captain of the Eighty-eighth District,
and he appointed Balkwin Fluker. On
last Friday or Snurday we receive!
orders from Francis Murkerson and Cor
day Harris, that all our companies aud
all the black men were to meet at No. 11,
Central Railroad, to trausact our busi
ness [this he explained to be the carrry
ing out of the insurrection plans], and
we were then to commence to kill all
THE WHITE MEN AND UGLT WHITE WOMEN,
AND TAKE THE PRETTY WHITE
WOMEN FOR OURSELVES. Then
we were to take axes, hoes aud brick
bats, and take the guns and ammunition
of the whites as we killed them, if the
white men did not submit and give
up. We were also to get all the
money we could from the dead whites,
and divide. This movement was to com
mence on Friday, August 20th, 1875.
Then orders came from Francis Murkeu
sou, who got them from Corday Harris,
who got them from Major Joseph Morris.
I told my upuapauy, and Murkerson told
Captain Harrisou Tucker’s company.
Both companies said that they would do as
we said, and would go with the movement.
Our orders, from Morris, through Mur
kerson, were to go from Sandersville to
Wrightsville, and then to Dublin, and
then to Irwinton, in Wilkinson county.
The four counties of Washington, John
son, Laurens and Wilkinson.
his
Jake X Mooreman.
mark.
Iu presence of Wm. Henry Wylly, S.
G. Jordan, lieubin Mayo, August 17th,
1875.
Confession of ben davis.
Georgia, Washington County:
The confession of Ben Davis, Third
Lieuteuant of -Jerry Walters’s company,
says: lam Third Lieutenant of Jerry
Walters’s companj. Jacob told me that
we was to organize the company—his
company—aud go down the road and
start to killing out the whites. He didu t
say what day we were to start. He said
we would kill the whites. He didn’t say
what he wan going to do with the chil
dren. He said he would kill some of the
women. [Mark this, in connection with
Mooreman’s statement.] He didn’t say
anything about the money. It was to
take place ou Friday, the 20th of August,
1875. I didn’t know what they were go
ing to fight with. Capt. Jerry told me
we was to fight with first one thing and
then another. He said we would leave
a FEW OF THE women. I heard about No.
II (Tenuille) a few days ago. Our sign
was so. [He makes a sign with the right
hand across the breast.] We had a
secret oath, which was binding on us; and
any one who was to break the secret, we was
to turn him over to tho United States and
Grant would punish him. I was persua
ded into this company by the head men.
Corday Harris and “Gen.” Rivers was to
command us on the day they come to
Sandersville. “Gen.” Morris was to com
mand us on the day when we commenced
the killing. He didn’t say how far we
was to go, only Jake said we was to get
up anything to use. Jake Mooreman is
First Lieut, of Capt. Jerry Walters’ com
pany; Bob Hightower is Second Lieut.
These officers were appointed, not elected.
They were appointed by Jerry Walters
and Jake Mooreman.
his
Ben X Davis.
mark.
Confessed and sworn to in presence of
A. A. Barnes. August 18, 1875.
OF ELIZA YOUNG.
Testimony of Eliza Young, colored,
touching the insurrection movement now
on foot in Washington county :
Eliza Young, being duly sworn, deposes
and says: I hear that the colored folks,
both wojneti and children and men, are
going to rise with pitchforks, hoes, etc.,
and kill every white man, woman ami
child. Tom Derasaw told me that my
brother and Virgil Walker was in the
fuss. I heard Uncle John Hasty talking
about it at Tennille, about a month or
six weeks ago; he said there would be
better times in the county in about six
weeks; I inferred from what he said that
the present troubles were what he had
reference to; I heard the men
from Jefferson telling the col
ored folks iu town the day
of the big meeting in town that if the
colored folks would lean their heads to
gether they could succeed. I have heard
the colored folks saving oftentimes that
they did not like the white folks; that
there would be another war soon and if
there were they would take their hoes,
pitchforks, Ac., to kill the whites with.
I have heard so many talking about this
matter that I cannot remember all they
were saying about it.
her
Eliza X Young.
mark.
The above testimony, sworn to and
subscribed before me this 21st August,
1875. J. B. Joyner, J. P.
WHY THE INSURRECTION FAILED.
No sane man, with the testimony al
ready made public, can doubt for a mo
ment that a wholesale slaughter of the
whites was the purpose of the attempted
insurrection, in order that the negroes
might thereby secure a division of the
lands and other property of their victims,
and enjoy unmolested the privileges of
the civil rights bill and the jury box.
The original plan of operation, however,
failed to harmonize in its various parts,
and after frequent failures, unprepared
and unsupported by their allies, a few
companies under the lead of “General’.-
Morris, and Rev. Corday Harris, made*
sufficient demonstrations, by their fre
quent conferences and dark insinuations,
to show the real nature of their diabolical
purpose. Then followed the arrests to
which jou have already devoted consid
erable space in your columns. The
prime cause of failure was in the ab
sence of proper leaders. “Gen. Rivers
and staff,” for some reason, did not cross
over from South Carolina with 2,000 armed
followers; “Gen.’’Morris, the moment he
heard that there was danger ahead, tied
like a “scared dog;” and Rev. Corday
Harris, who is a far better talker than
fighter, “hid out” until a promise of pro
tection was given him if he would sur
render. Thus did the three chief warriors
fail their ignorant and duped followers.
I have visited and interviewed the
prisoners in this section, and the sub
ordinate officers are not negroes of suffi
cient intelligence and nerve to lead a
movement like this to completion. They
are nearly all plantation negroes, the
town negroes being too sharp to go into
the movement. Epbriam Brantley, Rev.
Wesley Simmons (Baptist), Captain
Harrison Tucker, Rev. Nathan Lawson
(Methodist), and Capt. Nelson Brown,
with a score of others, have some little
intelligence, and are shrewd, tricky,
dangerous negroes; but the rest of the
prisoners are common field hands, ignor
ant, superstitious and easily deceived.
Many of them were drawn into the
movement under false representations, aud
will be released at the earliest piossibie
moment. Wm. Thomas, President of one
of the societies, in his conversation with
me stated that the whole thing was a
purely mutual affair, and benevolent in
its character. Under orders from “Gen
eral” Morris they were to bring money in
to the Treasurer, and this money was to
be used to purchase lands for the mem
bers, and these lands were to be divided.
Unfortunately for Thomas and his story,
which has been repeated to me by several
of his class of prisoners, the following
sworn statements disprove his declara
tions and show (as do several other state
ments already included in this report,)
how they were to get lands for division:
EXAMIN ATION OF TOBE MORRIS.
Blackshear’s Mill, Laurens Cos., Ga.,).
August 18, 1875. >
Question —Do you know anything of a
secret organization among the negroes of
this neighborhood, and, if so, state all
you know about it ?
Answer— there is a secret military
organization in this neighborhood. It is
known among the colored people as a
military company. About three months
ago Harrison Tucker and others asked me
to join this company, stating that I was
a pretty smart fellow, and they wanted to
put me in office and make me do all the
writing. I consented, and joined at the
next meeting, but paid ouly ten cents of
the initiation fee of fifty cents. At that
meeting Harrison Tucker was appointed
Captain. Jim Tucker was at that time
chairman of the meeting, and is
still, so far as I know. The meet
ings of the company have been ir
regular, sometimes every Saturday,
and sometimes every other Saturday.
I don't thiuk the company ever drilled
any in this county, but think they did in
Sandersville and at Mrs. Williamson's; I
was given no office at the first meeting, or
any other meeting, because the Captain
begun to suspect me; on Saturday, the
24th day of July, the company received
orders from Capt. Tucker to assemble at
Mrs. Williamsons and form the company
aud march to No. Id, (Teunille,) Central
Railroad, where we would meet “Gen.”
Morris and Rivers, and be marched with
other companies to Sandersville, to hear
speaking in the Court House. We met
“Gen. Morris and about seventy-five
men at No. 13, Central Railroad, aud
started to Sandersville, uuder Morris's
orders; somewhere on the route we
heard that Mr. Mayo (Sheriff of the
county) was trying to arrest “Gen.”
Morris, when he deserted us and ran like
a .-wared dog ; we returned from Sauders
ville, but had no other meeting, I think,
uutil two weeks after.
Altout this time I heard Andrew Peters
and Tony Wright say in conversation, this
icas government land and if it is govern
meat land it mutt he cut up ingocernment
pieces, and they would have it so. The im
pression left on my mind was that each
man should have a piece, and I Mievt that
to be the impression of every man in the
company. From the language used and
manner of expression, / think they in
tended to take the land by force if necessary.
At any rate they intended to have the land,
let what come that would.
Three weeks ago last Friday “Gen.”
Morris, in a conversation with Corday
Harris and myself, at Harris’s house in
Washington county, said if Harris could
not find two men in Johnson or Laurens
county who would burn the Court House
in Washington county, he could bring
two who would do it. The whole con
versation led me to believe that there was
a settled purpose to burn it between them.
Question —Did you take any oath on
joining the organization ?
Answer —They asked me if I was will
ing to abide by the laws of the company;
if I told any of the secrets, and I an
swered yes. Tobe Nokris.
Georgia, Laurens County:
Before me, the undersigned, Justice of
the Peace in and for the Eighty-sixth
District, G. M.. of said county, person
ally comes Tobe Norris, of his own free
will and accord, who, being duly sworn,
deposeth aud saith that the above state
ment is true, to the best of his know
ledge and belief. Tobe Norbis.
Sworn and subscribed before me, this
August 18, 1875.
D. J. Moobeman, J. P.
Witnesses:
D. S. Blacksheab,
R. A. Kellam,
C. S. Guyton.
EXAMINATION OF RICHARD SMITH.
Blackshear's Mill, Laurens County, Qa.,
August 18, 1875.
Questum. —Do you know anything of a
secret organization among the negroes in
this neighborhood, and if so, state all you
know about it ?
Answer. —Yes, there is a secret organi
zation known as a military company. I
went to a meeting 'for the purpose of
joining, but declined to do so because
the Captain would not tell me the secret
before joining. It was about midnight
when I attended this meeting. I asked
Alexander Rose, an officer of the com
pany, what was the object gf the organi
zation.
lie replied that this land was government
land, and that the negroes were justly en
titled to a part of it, and they intended to
have it or blood, one. He, Alexander Rose,
said he would tell me nothing more until
I joined the company. From all I heard,
1 firmly believe t/uit the negroes intended to
kill the white people and get their lands.
They expected help from the North, or
somewhere.
I do not know when they were to com
mence killing but I have been looking for it
to commence every day. Harrison Tucker
is Captain aud I believe Toney Wright is
Ist Lieut., and Alexander Rose 2d Lieut.
bis
Richard X Smith.
mark.
Georgia, Laurens County:
Before the undersigned, Justice of the
Peace in and for the Eighty-sixth Dis
trict, G. M., of said county, personally
came Richard Smith, of his own free will
and accord, who, being duly sworn, de
poseth and saith that the above state
ment is true, to the best of his knowledge
and belief.
his
Richard X Smith,
mark.
Sworn to and subscribed before me, this
August 18, 1875.
D. J. Mooreman, J. P.
Witnesses:
D. S. Bi.ackshear,
C. S. Guyton,
R. A. Kellman.
PRUDENT STEPS TO SUPPRESS THE RISING.
It is difficult to please all classes of
people in an emergency of this kind, and
while some blame Col. Wm. H. Wylly,
acting Solicitor General, for his zeal and
promptness in arresting suspected par
ties, others censure Gov. Smith because
he did not at once order the military
from Macon, Augusta or Savannah, to
proceed to Sandersville for the protection
of the white people. Gov. Smith was in
constant telegraphic communication with
the authorities of the counties threatened,
and knew exactly what was the most
prudent step to take, and he took it. The
good results of his action now show the
wisdom of his course. The Washington
Dragoons, mounted, and the Washington
Rifles, both composed of men living
here, and whose dearest interests
were involved, were considered amply
able to defend the threatened territory.
I never saw men in ranks, even in war
time, with broader shoulders, firmer set
faces and a steadier step than these brave
fellows have displayed to-day. Governor
Smith and his aids paid them a high com
pliment for the possession of these sol
dierly qualities. During their short ser
vice in guarding the hundred prisoners in
the jail and Court House here, they have
been cool and prudent as well as active
and fearless. No acts of violence or
cruelty have been allowed, and the ne
groes speak kindly of their treatment.
It is true that the whole community
has been stirred to the quick, as well they
might be, by the horrible revelations that
made known the proposed uprising of the
negroes. But I can truly say that I never
saw a calmer, more prudent people in my
life. At Toombsboro, Midville, and this
place, where the subordinate ringleaders
are under guard, not a negro is taunted
or treated with disrespect. They are in
the hands of the officers of the State, and
fearful as were the foul crimes they
meditated, the citizens, whose wives and
daughters were to have been the victims
of their lust, stand silent and motionless
before the sacred majesty of the law.
Not a shot has been fired. Not a hand
has been raised in retaliation upon the
negroes.
You have already detailed the circum
stances which led to the first arrests here,
and I need only add that great credit
is due, in this connection, to Col. T. J.
Smith, Master of State Grange (acting for
the Governor); Col. C. S. Guyton, of
Laurens; Dr. A. S. Haynes, of Johnson;
Capt. Coleman and Messrs. Hardy Smith,
E. B. Underwood and B. H. Blackshear,
for their untiring efforts to secure the
arrest of guilty parties. This is also true
of the county and city officials, and a
host of patriotic and fearless men,
who have aided in the most
prompt and successful manner to
suppress the insurrection. Col. Wylly is
a gentleman of strong impulses and great
activity, and he has labored under many
disadvantages, and contrary to the views
of some good and prudent citizens; yet
his course has been approved by the
highest legal authority, and by the Gov
ernor himself. But for his prompt action
and his inflexible purpose, many of the
guiltiest of the accused might have es
caped and the ends of justice been de
feated. The emergency came suddenly
upon him, and he could but meet it with
equal promptness.
Gov. Smith, in his public address, paid
a high compliment to Judge Herschel V.
Johnson- (whom he emphatically pro
nounced “a great and good man, for such
he really is,”) and stated that the Judge had
written him that this insurrection was a
terrible reality in its foul and bloody pur.
poses* And it was this latter that led
Gov. Smith to visit Sandersville to-day,
that he might, in view of the terrible
fate that had been hanging over their
lovely and innocent daughters, counsel
the people to prudence, giving them the
assurance that the guilty should have no
mercy shown them under the law, and
that the innocent should not bo made to
suffer. Although the people had promptly
bowed to the supreme power of the Law,
it is well that Gov. Smith aud Judge
Johnson have acted so wisely and pru
dently in the matter. The following let
ter of instruction to Col. Wylly will show
the views of the latter gentleman :
LETTER FROM EX OOV. JOHNSOX.
Shady Grove. August 17th, 1875.
Col. Wm. If. Wylly, Sandersville, Ca.
Dear ‘Sir— From information I have
received touching sundry arrests of per
sons charged with insurrectionary con
duct and intentions in Washington coun
ty, it is important that the State should
be represented on the preliminary trials,
aud Mr. John W. Robison being absent
from the btate, I respectfu ly request you
to attend the preliminary examinations re
ferred to, aud represent the State. I
have no power to confer on you official
authority pro tern, but as an attorney and
a friend of law and order, you can be of
great service in the premises.
If necessary, call in the aid of any
other attorney in Sandersville. It will
possibly become my duty to hold a spe
cial term to try those * cases. In that
event I shall ask the Governor to send
the Attorney-General to aid in conduct
ing the prosecutions. I hope that the
law will be the guide of all citizens in the
emergency which may be upon them.
Let all be prepared, but calm, aud entirely
on the defensive. Avoid force as long as
possible. If it be known that they are
prepared to meet force by force, if neces
sary, it will probably avert all violence
and bloodshed.
In this emergency the Sheriff of the
county should be exceedingly active, firm
and discreet. Let him have as many
deputies as he chooses, and summon a
posse sufficient to make arrests, without
shedding blood if possible, and let him
have the jail so guarded as to protect
those who may be imprisoned from being
treated illegally audio prevent them from
being rescued aud liberated by outside
confederates.
All ringleaders, whether officers or pri
vates, should be arrested. This is due to
the gravity of the affair, which ought not
to be permitted to pass off without thor
ough investigation and exposure of the
truth.
Very respectfully,
Herschel V. Johnson,
J. S. C. M. D.
OFFICIAL VISIT OF GOV. SMITH.
As announced by telegraph, Governor
Smith, accompanied by Col. 0. S. Wil
liams, of his staff, and a volunteer aide,
left Atlanta on Friday night for this city.
On their arrival at lennille (No 13, C.
R. It.), they were met by tho Mayor aud
Aldermen of Sandersville, the acting Soli
citor General, Col. C. S. Guyton, Major
Mark Newman, Mr. P. Happ, Deputy
Sheriff Harrison, Col. T. J. Smith, and
others, and were conducted to carriages
in waiting to take them to this place.
The Washington Dragoons were drawn
up in line to reoeive the Governor, and
escorted the carriages to the outskirts of
the town, where the Washington Rifles,
headed by the Saudersville brass band,
joined the procession aud conducted the
Governor to the residence of Col. John
W. Gilmore, Mayor. The streets and
public square were thronged with people
from every direction, who had come in to
see the prisoners, and to hear the Gov
ernor’s views on the situation. A com
mittee at once waited on His Excellency
and asked that he would address the
citizens from the steps of the Court
House, which he consented to do. Es
corted by the military, the procession re
formed and proceeded to the place desig
nated, where, on being introduced by
the Mayor, Gov. Smith delivered a most
appropriate and eloquent address upon
the peculiar circumstances by which they
were surrounded.
Time and space forbid a detailed re
port of his remarks, yet I must refer to
liis manly and emjffiatic declaration, that
so long as he remains Governor, law and
order must and shall be preserved within
the borders of this State. Every inno
cent man shall have a fair and impartial
trial, but when he has had this, and the
result is against him, he must not appeal
to the Executive clemency, except there
are very remarkable circumstances to
justify that step. He was the last man
in the world to interfere with the honest
verdict of an intelligent jury. To the
negroes engaged in this, insurrection
ary movement, whether innocent or guilty,
he guaranteed a speedy and impartial
judicial hearing. The innocent will be
protected, but the guilty shall be made
to suffer the extreme penalty of their
crime. The law shall he vindicated, and
black as well as white must submit to its
decrees. With this assurance he was
confident that the white people of the
community would be satisfied, and seek
no retaliation upon the negroes. He bad
come here, after hearing from Judge
Johnson of the magnitude of the pro
posed massacre, to speak a word of
caution to the people, but to his sur
prise he found them perfectly law abiding
and in no way unduly excited. He was
proud of their conduct —proud to be the
chief magistrate of such a people. “You
have acted in this matter,” he said, “like
true Georgians. Such a spectacle of for
bearance as this, under such a terrible
provocation to violence, the world has
never before witnessed.” This may seem
strong language to your readers, few of
whom can realize the true condition of
things here, yet I am fully propared, after
conversing with at least fifty of the ring
leaders, to endorse the Governor’s em
phatic statement, and join him in paying
the people of Washington and adjoining
counties the tribute of praise they have
so nobly won for themselves.
Hundreds of negroes were present to
hear the Governor, and he wisely took
occasion to give them some excellent ad
vice for their future guidance. Every
right guaranteed them under the laws of
the State they should be fully protected
in, and- their homes, however humble,
should be as safely guarded as the
princely mansions of the rich. If they
would but attend to their duties, respect
themselves and endeavor to be good citi
zens, they should never have occasion to
complain of injustice or w r rong under his
administration of affairs. He talked to
them kindly but candidly in regard to
“Gen. Rivers and bis staff,” and “Gen.
Morris and his staff,” and asked them
what these adventurers had ever
done to benefit the negro race
in Georgia. Morris had written
him a threatening letter, in which
he declared that if guns were not fur
nished for the negroes of Burke county,
the bones of these negroes would rise up
against him in the day of judgment.
Such trifling adventurers and disturbers
of the peace should not be allowed to
mislead them by their vile counsels, rob
them of their hard-earned money, and
keep them constantly dissatisfied with
the treatment they were receiving at the
hands of the white people. - In every
court of justice they could stand up and
seek redress for any wrongs inflicted
upon their persons and property. Both
whites and blacks were highly gratified
with the Governor’s plain and practical
remarks, and I am sure his visit at this
time will result in good to all classes of
citizens who listened to his able address.
After dinner Gov. Smith, CoL Wylly,
Mayor Gilmore, Col. Williams and other
officials visited the Court House and ex
amined the confessions and statements
on file there in regard to the insurrection,
and also interviewed some of the prison
ers. “Gen.” Morris has escaped capture
up to this time, and “Gen.” Rivers is
safe in South Carolina, so that Rev. Cor
day Harris is now the great head centre
of the movement. From him, however,
nothing can be obtained but a long string
of nonsense about his efforts to
stop “Gen.” Morris in his plans
for holding mass meetings, and
his own visit to Atlanta to get arms from
the State for a military company. He
denies all guilt in this insurrection, al
though a dozen negro prisoners as posi
tively accuse him or being the third
highest in command, ranking next to
“Gen.” Morris. Many of the prisoners
are entitled to sympathy, for they have
been sadly duped. These will probably
be discharged on Monday next, and I am
quite sure that no more than twenty-five
or thirty of the leaders, who are officers
of the companies or preachers (of the
latter there are three), will be brought to
trial.
Judge Johnson will hold a special term
here on Wednesday, the 30th, for this
purpose, and Governor Smith will prob
ably request Judges Bartlett and Gibson
to pursue a similar course in the adjoin
ing counties, which are in their circuits.
Attorney General Hammond, one of the
ablest and most judicious lawyers in the
State, will conduot the prosecution, and
this is a sure guarantee that the accused
will have an impartial trial Now, as to
a conviction of many of the imprisoned
parties, I desire to say, that while
there is not a single doubt as to
their guilt, it may be a difficult mat
ter to convict them. These insurrec
tionary companies and organizations
are secret in their character, and a solemn
oath is taken by each member not to re
veal the objects, purposes or acts of the
organization. The President of one of the
societies, now under arrest, was obliged
to talk with mo in a whisper to-day, and
even then his manacled companions made
demonstrations of violence, fearing that
he would reveal the secrets of their order.
And again, the movement was nipped in
the bud, and therefore many persons
view the whole affair as “a big scare.”
But I think it far better that such should
have been the case, even though it may
result in the acquittal of every prisoner
concerned in the insurrection. Think of
what fearful results would have followed
the commencement of the bloody work
which was contemplated. Who can
predict where the conflict would
have ended, and when, if ever,
confidence in the negro race
would have been restored. As it is, no
lives have been lost, no homes destroyed,
no innocent girls outraged, aud no con
flict of races inaugurated. Peace pre
vails, the guilty ringleaders are safely
turned over to the custody of the law,
and the poor dupes that followed their
blind lead are kindly forgiven, and will
go back to their homes and to their la
bor, wiser aud better for the sad expe
rience of the past few days. With these
almost priceless results, it is a matter
of indifference whether people laugh at it
as a “big scare," or contemplate it as a
Providential deliverance from a fate so
terrible aud apparent that, viewed in any
light, it would have been a foul blot upon
the history of the civilization of tho pres
ent century. One negro killed in retalia
tion or defence, aud the peace of
Georgia would have been disturbed
to the very centre. The pru
dence of the people threatened, and the
calm and wise action of Judge Johnson
and Gov. Smith—these, aud only these,
thank God, have prevented of
rivers of blood, and given to "this grand
old Commonwealth a position prouder,
nobler and grander than she ever before
occupied. The Governor was right when
he said he was proud of the people who
acted so sublimely in such an emergency;
and I know that they are also proud of a
chief magistrate whose prudent counsel
and cautious action did so much to
enable them to conquer themselves and
their passions, and thus defeat the vile
purposes of a base political faction, who
long to see the “bloody shirt’ wave once
more within the peaceful borders of this
now prosperous and happy State.
Sidney Herbert.
■ ► ♦ ♦-*
GEORGIA GLEANINGS.
Cream of Our State Exchange*.
Columbus Enquirer : Captain Charlie
Brockaway, pilot of the government boat
Clara Dunning, tells the biggest one yet.
The other day in Moccasin Sluice the
hands killed an enormous moccasin. The
reptile was brought on board, aud im
mediately thirty-three young ones leaped
out aud commenced trying to bite the
members of the crew that were standing
around. Such a lively killing of snakos
was never known before. Captain Charlie
vouches for it.
The Quitman Reporter says that the
committee of the Brooks County Agri
cultural aud Horticultural Society lias
decided that it would not be altogether
practicable for the society to attempt to
have an exhibition this fall, but resolu
tions looking to the permanent establish
ment of a Fair Association were passed,
which will be submitted to the society
at its next meeting. Committees were
also appointed to ascertain where and
upon what terms suitable grounds could
be obtained, and the probable cost of the
necessary buildings for the purposes of tho
association.
Ilawkinsville Dispatch: Fiom various
sections Yve hear of the rust having ap
peared in the cotton fields and began its
destruction. Sandy lands seem to be
most affected by it.. In the vicinity of
Ilawkinsville many fields have changed
from a green to a red color, and there is
no longer any hope for a further yield on
the stalks. From what we can learn and
have seen, the cotton crop in this section
will be far less than it was last year.
Some estimates plaoe the crop at one
third, while others think it will be only
about one-fourth less.
Wayne Triumph: On yesterday morn
ing about (i:3() o’clock, the boiler of the
steam saw mill of Mr. De Vaughap, about
eight miles above this point, on our line
of road, exploded, killing two men, Mr.
J. W. Briggs, the sawyer, and Mr. J.
Coons, another employe of the mill.
From the particulars wo glean it was
certainly a most heart sickening and ter
rible calamity. One of the parties, Mr.
Coon, was blown some twenty or thirty
steps from the mill, whilst the other party,
Mr. Briggs, was completely torn to pieces,
his arms and legs being broken, and his
bead terribly mangled. Mr. Coons ex
pired immediately, but Mr. Briggs was
alive up to several hours after the ex
plosion, though without the slightest
chance of recovery. Two other parties
were somewhat injured, but not danger
ously. We come in possession of the
news at too 1 ate an hour to furnish our
readers such report as wo would wish.
Warrenton Clipper: We have now to
record a very singular inoident, which
took place at Raytown, in this oounfy, a
fews days since. Rev. Nathan Davidson,
while preaching, had occasion to ailude
to the miracle of Jesus having restored a
blind man to sight by putting clay upon
his eyes, and remarked that this was
“very foolish in Christ,” when he was
suddenly stiicken with paralysis of
the tongue, and remained speech
less, utterly unable to articulate for sev
eral hours. Since recovering his speech
he says that ho intended to say that it
was “very foolish in Christ, viewed from
a worldly point of view,” and then in
tended to show why it was necessary. It
certainly is quito remarkable, and the co
incidence is very singular, but the truth
of the story can be vouched for and may
be relied on.
Perry (Houston county) Home Journal:
Wednesday Jerry Kaigler, a black negro,
and Mat Rogers, a white woman who
claims to be of mixed blood, were brought
before Judge Killen under an indictment
of the grand jury, charging them with
cohabiting together, as man and wife.
It was claimed that the parties were of
one-eighth negro blood, and had been
lawfully married The woman’s mother
and sister appeared as witnesses in her
behalf. They were all of fair complexion,
though sunburnt, with blue eyes, straight
hair and Caucasian noses. They have been
living in the fourteenth District, and their
counsel claimed that they lived with Joel
It. Griffin..last year, and that was proof
of their being negroes. The proof by
disinterested white witnesses showed
that they had once lived at old Hartford
near Hawkinsville as low down white
people, had lived very disreputable lives,
and lowered themselves beneath the level
of decent negroes. The Court found
them guilty, and sentenced them to pay
a fine of S2O and costs each, or in default
of payment six months in the chain gang.
Sant Everett, a negro minister, was also
tried for performing the marriage cere
mony; but it appearing that he was lead
to believe she was a mulatto, he was ac
quitted. These unfortunate women be
long to the lowest class.
Marietta Journal: A battle between a
black snake and a king snake recently
occurred near Mount Airy, which was
witnessed by several gentlemen with a
good deal of interest. The snakes came
across each other in the woods, and
sprang at each other at once, with all the
fierceness of deadly enmity, as if an old
grudge had to be wiped out. The king
snake appeared to be a) out two feet long,
small and active, while the black snake
was about four feet long, strong and
powerful. The gentlemen stood and
watched their attacks, retreats and
renewals for some time, it being difficult
to tell which one of the snakes was get
ting the best of the conflict. Finally the
king snake sprang at the black snake and
caught it near its head, and then wound
itself tightly around the body of its an
tagonist. The black snake writhed to
unloose itself from the vice-like grasp of
the king snake, but to no avail. Both
became motionless, as if dead, and for
an hour they remained in this struggle,
then the king snake quietly unwound it
self, and began the almost incredible task
of swallowing the lifeless black snake,
which he accomplished successfully, his
internal capacity developing wonderfully.
Afterwards he assumed the proportion
and almost the length of the biack snake,
fully demonstrating that bites and poison
could not affect him, and that he was in
reality the “King Snake” among all the
snakes of the forest. After he had made
bis meal of his monster antagonist, he
gently glided off. This is vouched fo? by
truthful aud reliable gentlemen.
CITY AFPATPJ
A LIVELY RENCONTRE.
Ex-Judge Schley Attaekcd-He
Assailant “to UraN.”
The*following telegram dated Saratoga,*
Thursday, the l!>th, which we find i„
Philadelphia Evening Telegram of the
20th inst., will bo perused with great in
terest by our readers. It will be seen
that the Judge made it rather lively for
his assailant:
“An exciting fracas occurred at the
Grand Union Hotel, Saratoga,’ on Thurs
day, the 10th. The parties involved were
Judge Schley, of Savannah, Ga., and Jno
A. Kernochan, of Massachusetts. It seems
that a short time ago, a case involving &
large amount of property, in which Mr
Kernochan was interested, was decided
by Judge Schley adversely to the inte
rests cf Mr. Kernochan. The decision 1
made him very angry. His f, rst
vengeance fell upon his lawyers
who he charged had not dealt fairly by
him. Meantime the Judge hud come
North to Saratoga, and has been for
several days a guest at tho Grand Union
Hotel. Mr. Kernochan also came to
Saratoga, as is now supposed, to punish
tho Judge. About half-past ten this
morning, just as the band was getting
ready to play, and when a large numbe r
of ladies aud gentlemen were upon the
piazzas and in the corridors. Judge Schley
aud Mr. Kernochan met each otlnr
near the doorway leading from the main j
office and upon the north piazza. Mr. K, r-1
nochau. who is a man about thirty-eight
years old, accosted the Judge in a very
menacing manner, aud, after a few words,
struck him a heavy blow with his fist in
the face, staggering him and scattering
his eye-glasses over the pavement. The
Judge soon recovered, and struck a pow
erful blow back, cutting Kernochan s face,
aud making the blood flow. Several exl
changes were made by each party, tlioJ
Judge having the best of it, punishing!
his assailant pretty badly. By this time*
there was great excitement. Women
screamed aud men swore. Finally,*
tho belligerents were separated, each
as angry as a fighting schoolboy.
Soon afterwards Mr. Kernochan ap
proached the Judge, and with a good
deal of stern aud cold politeness handed
him his card, whereupon the Judge said,
in a most withering manner, “ Keep your
card, sir, I don’t want your card, I can
whip you any time.”
“This is the present ending of the
matter ; what else may occur it is diffi
cult to surmise, as Kernochan is a fiery
young fellow, and has come here with
blood in his eye, to do mischief.”
IMPORTANT ARREST.
The Murderer of a Macon Policeman
C up lured by 11 Sit yiiiiiiuli .WuniMiralr.
1
Magistrate Russell Monday arrested a
negro named Amos Allen, who is charged
with the murder of John Wimberly, a
member of the police force in Macon, in
1873. The Magistrate has boeu look
ing nfter this fellow for some time past,
and has made several attempts to arrest
him, but bad to proceed very cautiously
in the matter to avoid his escape. On
learning yesterday that Allen was in a
cotton warehouse on Falun street, ho re
paired to the spot, and finding his man,
arrested him. He made several
attempts to escape, but the official
went prepared for business and did not
intend to let him slip. He took tho
prisoner to jail himself and immediately
telegraphed to the Solicitor General at
Macon that Allen was arrested aud was
held subject to his order. Being engaged
at tho City Court room all the afternoon
ho could not say whether the Solicitor
had answered his dispatch. Allen ad
niitted to the Magistrate that he had
killed Wimberly, and that he was l.
ouly man who had succeeded in upturn,,
him.
Itnnkrnpt Kali.
Since our last report the fo’hfli ngpro
ceedings in bankruptcy have been filed in
the office of the Clerk of the United
States District Court.
Petition in voluntary bankrupt y
* Wilmot F. Bailoy, Owens’ Ferry, Cam
den county, Ga.; A. J. Smith, Bruns
wick, solicitor.
Petitions for final discharge tiled by
John Bailey, Owens’ Firy, 1
county; A. J. Smith, solicitor
Marcus A. Dehonoy, Savannah 1 1,.
Whatley, solicitor.
Final discharge granted in chamber
to—
Andrew J. Summerford, Vienna, Doo
ley county; L. O. Hoyle, of Dawson, and*
R. G. Ozier, of Montezuma, solicitor.
E. B. Gilbert and A. D. Wynne, Hawk
insville, Pulaski county; C. C. Kihbeo,
solicitor.
In the matter of Dunham Buckley A
Cos. et al. vs. Chaplin & Neidlinger. Re
turn of order to show cause made on
Tuesday, the 17th, and the matter ad
journed over until Tuesday, tho 21th, in
order to perfect service on Neidliuger.
Savannah and Charleston Creditors of
Duncan, Sherman &. Cos.
The New York Herald of the 17th pub
lishes a list of the creditors of that gigan
tic fraud concern, the firm of Duncan,
Sherman & Cos., which occupies nearly
four closely printed columns. Among
the list of unfortunates we find the fol
lowing:
A. Freidenberg A Cos., Savannah,
$3,024 87.
Andrew Low A Cos., Savannah, $:!15.-
039 12.
Samuel A. Swan, Fernandina, Florida,
$1,830 08. J
W. Meade, Charleston, South Carolina, j
$5,188 50.
J. H. Wilson, Charleston, South CanoJ
linn, $5,000. m
Amount due to sundry persons on trav-B
eling letters of credit, creditors unknown,®
$54,070 00.
Cotton shipments to Liverpool and
London (secured by cotton shipped),
$288,300. v
Through Coll on for Savannah and New
York.
During the cotton week ending Friday
night, the Western Railroad of Alabama
brought to Columbus en route for Savan
nah aud New York, 0 hales cotton —0
from Mobile, 0 from Montgomery, 0 from
Selma, 0 from Opelika, West Point and
other stations, 0 from Vicksburg, 0 from
New Orleans. ,
Ihe total through movement by this ‘
route, since September Ist, is 37,105
bales—4,447 from Mobile, 9,24 > from
Montgomery, 11,087 from Helm
from West Point, Opelika, etc
from Vicksburg, 05 from New Or), im
During same time the Mobile m, Dim.
Railroad has brought up 5,030 throng
bales against 2,548.
We call the attention of the Gertui
population to an advertisement in tL
paper headed “A Good German Pap* •
Pianos and Organs— Cash Prices imd I
Terms.
From $25 to SIOO can he saved in t! I
of Piano or Organ under our new gym '
ing at Cash prices, witli easy terms fo j
Pianos have never before been sold on I
able terms in the South.
Fine Pianos at $275, SSOO, $525 and $550, fully
guaranteed for five years. Terms SSO cash and
balance in six months, or SIOO cash and balance
in one year.
The celebrated Mason & Hamlin Organs are
also sold upon cash payments of $25 to SSO, and
balance in six aud twelve months.
Pianos and Organs sold also by small monthly
installments, or rented with the privilege of pnr - .
chase. Responsible p rties supplied on almost*
any terms desired. Largest stock in the South tol
select from and lower prices that, at the North.®
A good Stool and Cover with each Piano sold."
Special terms to Teachers, Schools, Churches aud
Granges. Send for our new reduced time price
lists and illustrated catalogues.
Luwjen A Bates’
Southern Music House, Savannah, Ga,
augl9-dl&wim
While Colonel McCreary’s majority, in
the recent Kentucky election, over Gen.
Harlan falls about a thousand shortJbf
Leslie’s majority in 1871, the total v/te
i t much larger. The Democratic majority
in both houses of the Legislature will ex
ceed that of the last session, there being
ninety Democrats in the House of Repre
sentatives and ten Republicans. The
official majority for McCreary, with all
the counties heard from is 30,139.
lie’s majority was 37,153.
The manufacture of horn jewelry and!
combs at Leominster, Mass., has taken 1
new impetus this season, and several new
firms have gone into tba now business, M
