This story is from 1856, about five years before the American Civil War began. At that time slavery was legal, and that was used to stir the people up into a conflict that would result in many Americans killing each other.

The New York Times (Dec 11 1856) published an article describing how a white man, "painted and disguised as a negro", tried to convince slaves to start an insurrection. He ended up being lashed to death.

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EXTENT OF THE CONSPIRACY - A DISGUISED WHITE MAN SENTENCED TO RECEIVE NINE HUNDRED LASHES - DEATH UNDER THE PUNISHMENT.
From the Evansville Journal, Dec. 6.

We had very serious and alarming reports in our city last evening from the Cumberland River in regard to the movements of the blacks, and from all we have heard, the excitement among the people, through the middle of Tennessee, is far greater and more general than we supposed when we wrote the article in another part of this morning's sheet. Through what is called the Iron District, on the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers, there are from 8,000 to 10,000 slaves employed at the iron works; they are there congregated in large numbers, working in the various labors of making charcoal, digging ore, and tending the furnaces, in gangs, mostly by themselves, with a few whites for general overseers. There are many of these works situated within a few miles of each other, and in sections that have few white inhabitants.

+ + A gentleman who arrived here last evening, informs us that at Dover, on the Cumberland, they had obtained such evidence as left no doubt of a widespread conspiracy existing in that neighborhood, and that a number of the ringleaders had been discovered and arrested; and that eleven of them had been hung by the excited inhabitants; and that among those arrested, was a person who had been in the neighborhood many months, who had always passed as a negro; but on his arrest, was found to be a white man, painted and disguised as a negro. Our informant says, the people being satisfied that he had been the prime mover and instigator of the rebellious designs of the blacks, took him to the woods, and by the unanimous condemnation of those present, he was sentenced to receive nine hundred lashes; and that be expired before the penalty had been fully inflicted. These occurrences had produced general consternation and terror, and the women and children were fleeing and being sent off for safety. The men were arming and organizing for defence, and the negroes were being confined or kept under very vigilant watch.

From the Evansville Journal Dec. 5.

A good deal of excitement has existed for some days about Clarksville and the neighboring counties in Tennessee, by the discovery of the preliminary preparations of an insurrection among the slave population, to come off on the 24th of December. Quite a number of negroes had been arrested and confined, and several had made confession. In the neighborhood of Louisa Furnace a plan to blow up a church was discovered and thwarted. A keg of powder had been placed under the building ready for the fatal match. A large collection of arms and ammunition had also been discovered and seized. One white man was caught in the act of counseling the insurrection, had been arrested and imprisoned. Among the negroes arrested and confined are the supposed ring-leaders - the Generals and Captains, as they are called - of the movement.

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Beware of anyone who tries to convince you to hate your fellow man, regardless of their race. They might be part of a pyschological operation to start the next American Civil War. This time immigrants are being used to foment division.