137. A FREEDMAN PLEADS TO THE GOVERNOR TO ALLOW HIM TO BEAR ARMS AGAINST THE KU KLUX KLAN A fantastic and rare letter written by Georgia freedman Elijah Bailey of Augusta, to Provisional Governor Rufus T. Bullock requesting permission to form armed companies to protect himself and other freed slaves from the Ku Klux Klan. A.L.S., 2pp. 8vo., [n.p., n.d. Nov. 9, 1868], reads in full [spelling not corrected]: "Governor Bulloock Dear Sur I take my pen in hand to let you no how the K. K.K. is Doing our friends in the Contrea thay air killing us on Ever Side now I Elijah Bailey Do Ask you for permishen to orgernize three company in this plais and if you Will no A low us to Do this then we mus make up our mind to Be kill like Dogs. We must proteck ourselfs we Do not want to make a fuse But we Want to kepe peaserbul but the Ku Klux will not Let US alone. What shall we poor Colrd. pelpol Do I leave it to you Elijah Bailey Augusta. G.a. early answer if you please" A desperate plea from a desperate man looking for any means to defend himself and other freedmen against increasing white violence. The Governor did not reply personally, but his executive secretary did take the time the following day to reply in an A.L.S., 2pp. 4to., Atlanta, Nov. 10, 1868: "Sir: I am instructed by His Excellency the Governor to acknowledge receipt of your communication without date, postmarked 'Augusta Ga Nov. 9' and to say in reply that there is no law which will authorize the organization of companies as suggested by you. He directs me further to say that it is his wish and hope that the colored people will not attempt, in any way, to take the law into their own hands; or make violent defense against the outrages which are being constantly perpetrated; but that they will rest yet awhile in the confident hope that the Election of General Grant will ensure to every American citizen, be he rich or poor, black or white, the freedom and protection guaranteed in the Constitution of the United States of this State. Resply. Eugene Davies Sec. Exec Dept." Bailey's heart must have dropped upon reading this reply. Indeed, there was little Bullock could do to prevent continuing violence against Blacks attempting to exercise their rights under the Constitution, as he enjoyed very little popular legitimacy himself. Rufus Brown Bullock (1834-1907) was originally born in New York State, but moved to Augusta, Georgia in 1860. Although he opposed secession, he accepted the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Confederate quartermaster's office. When the war ended, Bullock entered politics, played a prominent role at the Constitutional Convention in December 1867, and won the election in April 1868 for governor over the Democratic favorite, John B. Gordon, a former Confederate general who was soon to become the head of the Ku Klux Klan. His unwavering support for African American equality flew in the face of recalcitrant white supremacy. He often traveled to Washington, D.C., to plead with U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant and the Republican Congress to support the military reconstruction in Georgia. His opponents began a "Lost Cause" campaign to return Georgia to Democratic rule. When the 1870 election returned a Democratic majority to the legislature, Bullock secretly resigned and fled to New York. Critics increasingly denounced Bullock and manufactured a false picture of his actions by filling Georgia newspapers with unsubstantiated slander, invective, and charges of corruption. $800-1,200