Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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COLUMBIA. Thursday Morning, May 30, 1867. Letter from Ex-Governor Perry. "Wo publish, this morning, another letter from Hon. B. TV Perry, in which his viows of the political situ? ation and tho duty of the peoplo of this State aro very forcibly presented. His sentiments, Ave have no doubt, find a responso in tho bosoms of many South Carolinians; and while they may disagree with him as to the wis? dom of tho policy ho recommends at tho coming election, yet wo believe that nearly all accord to him sincerity, consistency and honesty of purpose. We think, therefore, tho Governor is in error when ho speaks of tho "abuso" ho has received, for wo have observed littlo or nono of that com? modity in tho criticisms or comments of tho press of this State on his let? ters. With tho writer, wo wish to sec tho whito peoplo of this State thoroughly united, for we believe that, so united, by voting for a convention, they will , bo enabled to control its organiza . tion. That being dono, the framing of tho now constitutiou, by tho best available and qualified men wo can select, will bo the most important work. If they should fail to frame one acceptablo to tho dominant party in Congress, thc poople of South Carolina will at least have done theil duty, by complying with the requisi? tions of tho laws in all their forms; and then, should they be still ex .cluded, they would bo in no worse indeed, in not such a bad-conditior as if they were peremptorily to ref us( the main requisition of tho law-th? calling of a convention. While wo deplore any movemen that would bo likely to produce divi sion* in this State at the cominj ordeal through which her people ar called to pass, yet we cheerfully giv placo to the viows so ably presentei by Governor Perry, that the pcopl may hear both sides, and act as thei judgment, after mature reflectior may dictate. Tile Knil of 111? C rusade. It is much to bo hoped that, wit the return of Senator Wilson an Judge Kelly to the North, ends tl crusado originated by the Republics party. It hos been stated in oue i our Northern exchanges that, nf ti the disturbance in ?Tobile, the lea? ers of the party had t?l?graphe Judge Kelly to return home. Wh thor this bo true or not, one thing true-that tho few speeches ho mai subsequently tu tho Mobile demo titration gave abundant evidence th he learned something at that mel by which hu profited) and that w.i that violence of language rather o 8tructed than facilitated tho prop induction of political tenets ai theories, especially to the class whi .was chiefly to be benefitted by sn teachings. His next .'.peech was delivered V Montgomery, which was of a with different character than his Mob ? , harangue; so was that at Atlan Tho purport and tenor of his li . reported speech, in Charlotte, N. ( may be inferred from the notice the Times, which we published Tuesday. Senator Wilson has gc back, and expresses his satisfacti with tho courtesy and kind treuttm ho hud received wherover ho spoke tho South. Now, the question will not the party, on the repo that thesu returned missionaries n make, come to thc conclusion t! the interests of the party will be b subserved by lotting the South alo Without secret organizers in ev rural district of the South, it highly improbable that any last benefit or wide-spread effect, y accrue to the interest of tho party the ettbrls of their emissaries in principal cities. Tho rights and ] vileges of the freedmen are am secured by the reconstruction 1 and tho military officors will see t the provision which prohibits um influence or violcnco to sway tho vi of tho freedmen, will be strictly forced. Wo hope, therefore, t tho party will see that tho idea i necessity to send missionaries Se was fallacious, and based upo total misconstruction of the relati existing between tho white and b races at tho South. A telegram from Uniouville, N da, says thero is excitement al rich discoveries of gold in tho r district. The lodes are large and defined. I WIU lt be a'finality 1 Tho Union Congressional Republi? can Committee have issued nu ad? dress tb the Southern people, on "Tho policy of Congress in rofereuco to tho reetoratiou of the Uniou," of which Gov. Boutwell is said to bo the author. Several hundred thou? sand of these documents have been printed for circulation throughout the Southern States, aud aro impor? tant to our people in this respect, that they furnish some indication of tho polioy to be pursued by the party in Congress. Tho address enumerates the condi? tions imposed by tho reconstruction Acts, and says that the spirit of these laws must be complied with before the States aro re-admitted; but ts tenor throughout indicates that if said laws are faithfully complied with, the work of restoration will be com? plete. Wo mako a brief extract: "Tho restoration of tho Union means the establishment of thoso re? lations of friendship between the States of tho North and tho South which now subsist between the States of tho North. When the momeut arrives, as it will soon arrive, if the purposes of Congress are met in" a proper spirit by the peoplo of the South, the nation will at once employ its immeuso resources aud power for the development of that region of country, and iu a short period of time, not only will the evidences of ?war hnvo disappeared, but recognized States will bo iu tho enjoyment of a degree of prosperity not beforo ex? perienced. It is true that the exactions from the whites to the freedmen, referred to in this address or circular, are based upon tho most rigid construc? tion of the Acts of Congress; never? theless, if the Southern people act iu unison, in honestly fulfilling tho lotter of the law, wo have no doubt it will disarm tho radical party, and deprive it of tho power-by tho weakness which will accrue from division iu its rauks-of inflicting further iujury. Thc Attorney-General'* Opinion. It will have been perceived by thoso who read tho opinion of tho Attorney-Geucral, published yester? day, that this portion bears directly upon tho personal action aud respon? sibility of every citizen ! in the ten excluded States. The opinion iu re? ference to tho duties aud powers of the [administrators of the law will next bc given. The Baltimore Sun, in noticiug the document, says: "Mr. Stanberry, it will be seen, after a careful examination of the Acts of Congress, as well as all State laws bearing on the questions in? volved, arrives at the conclusion that there is uo authority for ?113' other oath to be taken by any one, touch? ing the qualifications of the applicant for registration, thau the oath pre? scribed by the supplementary Act of Congress of March 23, last. Tf the applicant takes that, his name must go upon the register, aud the inquiry whether he bas sworn truly or falsely must be reserved for the court which may afterwards have jurisdiction to try an indictment for perjury. In superintending the subsequent elec? tions, the duty of the board is to re? ceive the votes of all whose names are upon the registration, and reject all others, not then having power to erase or add a single one." Tho Nation rf Intelligencer concludes its notice by saying: "The meaning attaching to the several phrases is so minutely aud clearly set forth, that it leaves no? thing to be added. No intelligent citizen can fail to decide readily for himself whether or not ho eau take tho oath prescribed, and thus secure the right of suffrage under the Acts of Congress, and the people of thc South, and, indeed, of the entire country, are greatly indebted to tho Attorney-General for thus throwing light upon a perplexing and delicate question. Ouo point, however, is still left unsettled-ns to who are in? cluded in the phrase, 'judicial and executive officers.' But this is to be cleared up when tho abstracts are prepared for the several States, which will exhibit all these officers and the duties which appertain to them. ' -? ^ ? > FROM THE PEE DEE SECTION*.-The Uenuettsville Journal says: Under the influence of the success ive showers which visited us tho firs! of the week, tho crops, generali', speaking, begin to look quite promis ing, and our planters, although labor? ing under many difficulties, such af ! deficiency of force, want of means, ! kc, are inspired to renewed exer tions, and evidently feel cheered bj the prospect ahead. Pee Dee River has again beer visited by a heavy freshet, tho watei spreading over the low grounds foi many miles around. The crops neai tho river were injured to some ex tent, but wo learn that tho injury sustained is not so material as to de stroy it entirely. -?-<<?*??-? Baltimore is to erect a hotel at ai I expense of $1,G50,000. . . i Iietter from Hon. B. V. Perry. To the Editors of the Columbia Phoenix: There ia' one important and vital fact which should be remembered by those who aro goiug to vote for a Convention. The military bill makes it obligatory ou tho convention to provide for unqualified negro suf? frage iu tho State-Constitution. No discretion is left with the convention, to adopt or reject this odious feature. They are not allowed to establish im? partial suffrage, and require property or intelligence in the voter, whether white or black. All must voto who are twenty-one years old, whether or< not they huvo property, or can read and write, or aro white or black. This fundamental error, this black "Trojan horse," full of strife and woe, must be introduced into the State Constitution. Thero is no help for it, if we go into n convention. If tho military bill left it discre? tionary with the convention to form such a Constitution as they, in their wisdom, might sec proper to adopt, then there would be some excuse in voting for a convention. But when ordered (aid required, in violation of nil right of self-government, to incor? porate so mischievous and degrading a feature in their Constitution, it does seem that the people of South Carolina, prompted by the spirit of liberty, should cry out "touch not, bandle not, ihe unclean thing!" They must know that it will be impossible to maintain a just, wiso and perma? nent republican form of government where a majority of the voters are ignorant, stupid, demi-savage pau? pers. They ought to sec, too, that tho peaco and quiet of tho State can? not bo preserved where there aro too untngouistic races clothed with equal political powers, and tho inferior race superior to it in numbers. They must come in collision in their con? tests for power. In two-thirds of the Districts of South Carolina, the ne? groes have tho majority of voters. They may and will elect their sheriffs, clerks, ordinaries and tux collectors. They will send their own members to the Legislature, and elect their own Governor aud members of Congress. If wo lived in a monarchy, or were to be continued under military rule, then both races might be properly governed aud made to do justice to? wards each other. In a republic, the people aro the sovereigus, ?iud they must he wise and virtuous, or their government will practice the most revolting tyrnuuy and oppression. Look at Mexico, where they have had a republic founded on a stupid, igno? rant, mongrel population. Their Government has been nothing but a S'iccession of bloody revolutions and cruel militar}- usurpations. Without tho highest virtue und gr,ent intelli? gence on the part of the mass?s of population, it is impossible for a re? public to stand. England attempted one in 1G40, but it was a melancholy failure, owing to the ignorance and viciousness of the masses. France hus tried the experiment twice, and after wading through rivers of blood, hud to seek repose in despotism. In both Eu gland and Franco, at the time those efforts were made, there were thousands distinguished for their vir? tuos and talents; but the great masses were ignorant and uninformed, and were swayed by their passions and vices. But how infinitely superioi were those masses to the freedmen ol South Carolina. We havo a foretaste of negro legis lation, assisted by radical cunning, ii: the platform adopted at their Charles? ton convention. Beforo they havo been allowed to cast a vote, or exer? cise tho tirst political privilege, the} boldly proclaim that properly alone and not persons, is to be taxed. Be member, this avowal is publicly madi by those who have no property to bi taxed. In other words, tho negroe: are to pay no taxes towards the sup port of the Government: but all taxe: are to be paid by the white race Next, they declare that their childrei must bo educated at our expense, am their aged and infirm parents mus bo supported by us! We must sup port, too, their idle and vicious win becomo paupers! Tho hearty, hal negro mau, who makes his hundrei or two hundred dollars per annum and spends it foolishly, must not b taxed ono cent to educate his owi children or to support his own fathe and mother! They declare, also that the lands must be divided int? Kinnll tracts, and that it is not goo? policy for one man to own a larg landed estate. In other words, ever negro must have a home. The way and means of getting that home wi! bo explained hereafter, in the con vention or Legislature. It would really seem, from tin programme, that the black race ar to bo a sort of aristocracy in Sont Carolina. They are, by their snperi or numbers, to have the reins of Gt vernment in their hands, and elei all tho State and District officers, t make nil of our laws, and bo exempte from taxation, like tho feudal nt blesse of France, prior to their rovoh tion in 17?0. The white mau mus cultivato his lauds, pay the taxes c the Government, and obey tho law made bjr the freedmen! This is wilt the friends of convention aro inn< cently preparing for themselves an posterity! What worso can a Hine Republican "Bump Congress" do ft us? But it is said that it is in vain t think of tlofeatiug the call of a coi vention. This is very true, whilst e many white persons are determine to vote for it," und n portion of tho newspaper press of the State refuse to publish anything ou the other side. If the white race were united as they ought to -bo, by every principio of honor, patriotism and interest, they could very easily vote it down. In the country, remoto from tho influ? ence of vile, radical emissaries, the freedmen know very little, at present, about the right of suffrage, aud care less. They will not go out to register and vote, and mauy of them will voto with their employers. But this will not bc tho case long. lu all proba? bility, tho whito vote of tho Stato will bo larger at the ensuing election than tho black vote. It will not be so in another election. In the last Stato Convention, which assembled iu Columbia, in 18G5, there were gathered together all tho illus? trious men of tho State. It was a body of men unsurpassed for their wisdom, virtue and talents. Not one of them eau bo a member of the pro? posed convention. They are all ex? cluded by the military bill, and de? prived even of votiug for members of the convention. The proposed assemblnge will bo composed of ne? groes, Northern men, traitors to the State, and a few gallant and honora? ble young men, who may possibly consent to become candidates and be elected, in some of the upper Dis? tricts. It will bo a motley, heteroge nous collection of white, grey and black spirits around the political cauldron, into which is to bu thrown the honor, constitutional rights, re? publican principles and departing glory of South Carolina. To the few young men iu that con? vention, there will be something inef? fably mean in knowing that they have obtained their seats there by disfran? chising aud dishonoring thoso whom they have loved and honored through life. But this disgraceful sacrifice does not stop with the convention. It must be continued iu tho Govorument of the State, and in tilling all the of? fices iu the State. Every Judge on the Bench, from tho venerable Chief Justice down to the youngest mem? ber of tho judiciary, must throw nside his gown, and will no longer be permitted to administer justice in South Carolina. All who have served in the Legislature, or filled tho office of Justice of the Peace, are excluded from any participation iu the admi? nistration of the Government. In tho place of those Judges, Governors, Legislators and distinguished men, who are disfranchised and declared unworthy of holding office, the ne? groes are substituted! It is not surprising that the radical members of Congress should wish to exclude from the couueils of the na? tion all representatives who are wor? thy of being regarded as Southern men. They have so long indulged in vulgar and malignant abuse of thc South, that they would naturally feel unpleasant in having a true Southern man listening to their billiugsgate. It is very likely, too, that Mr. Sum? ner and others might not, from oh] associations and remembrances, fee! exactly safe in uttering their calum? nies. But that any honorable ant' spirited Southern man should con seht to vote for such exclusion, is ti me most passing strange. South Carolina, and the whoh South, with one voice, rejected in dignantly, last fall, the constitutions amendment, which only exclude: from office the leading men of tin Southern States, aud reduced on representation in Congress. It d? not disfranchise any one or establisl negro suffrage. But nov.-, both thes dishonoring and fatally ruinous priu ciplcs are established by the militar bill, and tho people are ready to adon them! What has produced this seem ing craven and cowering spirit? It is urgid that unless we vote fo a convention, establish negro sui frage, and disfranchise our prominer men, confiscation will be adopted b Congress. A friend said, tho othe day, that this ought not to scare ni for we were all broke and ruined p( cuniarily, and had nothing left t confiscate. Ho thought it was to late in the day to dishonor ourselv? iu order to save the remnant of 01 property. I think if any one wi read the speech of Horace Creole; iu Richmond, on confiscation, he wi soe, as I have always contended, tin there is no danger on this subjei from Congress. Mr. Greeley sa' that Thaddeus Stevens is the on! prominent member of Congress wi has ever suggested such a schein and that ho has never, with all h ability and influence, been able I persuade others to adopt it. He thc goes ou to show that such a polit would not benefit tho frecdmei whilst it would entail ruin and starv tion oil tho Southern Stutt s, .f,. But wo are told that if we do h adopt the military bill and vote for convention, something worse will 1 imposed on the Southern States, my opinion, nothing worse than n gio suffrage and a negro governnie can bo forced upon us. It would 1 a thousand times preferable to i main under military rule and Bilba to all the exactions of military a thority. The officers of the army fl generally honorablo men, men of 0 own race, and intelligent meu, w! have some regard for the opinion the world aud tht-ir own reputatio They are acting, too, under the t reotion of tho President and his C binot, who are wiso and enlighten statesmen, and will have some rega for justice and humauity-which t stupid negro will not have, when 1 selfishness and passions are aroust There are some who advocate t roting for a convention as a means ot controlling tho negro vote. They seem to forget that the convention is hound to establish negro suffrage, und that no discretion is allowed on this subject. lu my judgment, negro suffrage is tho nf j)lus ultra of nil political and social evils. I have, in former letters, shown the fallacy of hoping to control tho negro vote in tho future, and will not repeat what I have nlready snid on this subject. In all that I have said, I kuow that E am in a largo miuority at this time, as I was in 18G0, and that I have been censured and abused now, as I was theu, for resisting and fighting to the last moment, what I believed to be tho ruin and degradation of the State. Minorities, which are so frightful to some, have no terrors for me. I have lived in them all my life, and grown familiar with them. Indeed, I have a great respect and ?incere regard for them in times of political excitement or panic. They have generally firmness and princi? ple, which cannot always bo said of majorities, however large they may be. I will conclude this article with an extract from a letter received, the ither day, from a noble lady, of South Carolina, whom I never ha I the pleasure ?.( seeing, or correspond? ence with before. It was the sponta? neous effusion of a spirited and pa triotio heart. She says: "I believe I speak the feeling of at east every truman in South Carolina, when I say we heartily endorse your views, and each and every sentiment rou express in your recently published letters. "We pray you to continue rour efforts to save us from such dis? honor and such degradation, to which the pain of twenty violent deaths ?vere preferable, and may Heaven aid rou in recalling the manhood of our State to a sense of what is due at east their race." This is the entire letter, with tho exception of the address and the lame of the writer. Such patriotic ind spirited sentiments from one ovely woman fully compensates for ill the criticisms aud abuse which lave been heaped on me. I now repent what I have said in ny former articles. Let every one, lot disfranchised, go and register his mine. This he must do, if he lins my regard for the preservation of lis life, liberty and property. Then et him go to tho election, without fail, and vote for good men, endors ngonit, "against convention." These ire tho words of the military bill, and must be used instead of "no conven? tion." Let him influence others to rote the same ticket, with the same endorsement. Having done this, he will have discharged his duty to the eountry aud himself, and done all he eau do to save the honor of his State. 13. F. PERRY. ? -?-.-> Tm: RELEASE OF Mn. DAVIS.-It ivill be seeu by the subjoined state? ment, that the impeachment commit? tee have seized upon the release of Jefferson Davis, ii: order to find an? other count against the President: The.witnesses before the Judiciary Committee, yesterday, were Chief Justice Chase, Judge Underwood, Attorney-General Stnnberry, Hon. Montgomery Blair, John T. Ford, of Baltimore; W. Warden, newspaper correspondent; Colonel William G. Moore, and Colonel A. K. Long, of thc President's stuff. The first three witnesses named were examined upon the facts connected with the prepara? tions for trying Jefferson Davis, the reasons why he was not tried, how far thc Administration was responsi? ble for tho proceedings and for the release of Mr. Davis on bail. It is understood that Mr. Stan berry's testimony showed that Mr. Speed, whilst Attorney-General, em? ployed Mr. Evarts to represent the Government and manage the ease in its behalf, in conjunction with Dis? trict Attorney Chandler; that after Mr. Speed resigned, Mr. Evarts was continued iu tho case, and, in pursu? ance of such authorization, did con? trol it in the usual manner where attorneys-are employed in behalt of the Government. WHY A BBIIISH CONSUL WAS RE? MOVED.-Tho Mobile Advertiser has the following: "It will bo remem? bered that during the war, when this port was blockaded, thc State ma? naged, through the assistance of Jas. Magee, Esq., the British Consul then at this port, to get a specie fund on board of an English man-of-war, for tho pnrposo of paying her British creditors. Mr. Magee, for this ser? vice to English capitalists, lost his office*,the Government of Great Bri? tain, strangely enough, recalling him for that act." DEATH or A CUARIIESTON MEIUIIANT. The News says: Mr. A. B. Glover, of the firm of Rcnneker it Glover, for over sixteen years a citizen of Charles? ton, and since 1854, one of her pro? minent merchants, in the midst of apparent excellent health, was sud? denly struck with apoplexy on Mon? day, and was not conscious again till lio expired, at 0 p. m. yesterday. Tho Lynchburg 2fews says: A gentleman from Pittsylvania informs tis tba' i-.iuj of tho planters are set? ting out their tobacco plants, and that a great deal hus been planted this week. One gentlemun alone has planted 150,000 hills; and others nearly an equal number. Wo aro told of three large planters, who will cultivate this season 2,500,000 plauts. Looal Itona.?. We have been requested by the Engineer of the Wnter Works to say that the water will be shut off frcmi the lower or Western end of Tlaio street all day to-day. By reference to our advertising co? lumns, it will be sceu that Sig. (not Mons.) Beraghi w.ill furnish turtle soup this day, at the Congaree Re? staurant. Drop iu. FOST OFFICE HOURS.-Thc office is opon from Sn. m. until 3'J p. m., and from G until 7 p. m. Tho North? ern mail closes at p. m.. aud ail other mails close at 8 p. m. Jon PUINTING.-The Job Office of the Phoenvc is as complete as any in , the South. It is furnished with new fonts of type of all descriptions and I of the most modern styles. All work . executed promptly, with ' taste aud ! skill, and at reasonable rates. A Gr.ACEFFL ACT.-The presence of ! Brigadier-General Green, the coin ? maudant o? this post, at the funeral j obsequies of Colouel DeSaussure, i on Tuesday, wasNi graceful tribute by* one gallant officei to another, who fell in the stern coullict at Gettys? burg, in which both were partici? pants, but on opposito sides. This act is in keeping with the courtesy manifested by the commandant in thc conduct of his difficult mission, and will be appreciated by our people. We are almost daily under obliga? tions to the polite and attentive officers of the Southern Express Company. That express companies are useful institutions, there is not a shadow of a doubt-and tho South? ern is one of 'em. If money is to be collected in any part of the habitable globe, entrust it to the Southern Ex? press Company; if goods are wanted in double-quick time, ship by t?fc Southern Express Conipnuy; and if you want to run against a clever set of folks, step into tho office of the Southern Express Company. We do "freck wently." A NICE Lrrri.E BY-PLAY.-We un? derstand that the Columbia and Au? gusta Railroad, in conformity with their charter, intended, yesterday morning, to lay a crossing over tho South Carolina Railroad track. The officials of the latter conipanj- (as a suit is peudiug as to the validity of the charter of the former, infringing . upon tho vested rights of the latter,,) j have adopted a uovel procedure to I bailie ibo efforts of the new company in laying down their crossing con? nection. Early yesterday morning, they started an eugine near the dis? puted point, and singukir enough, it has been plying all day yesterday, bvjf never out of sight of the aforesaid intended intersection. Both parties, we learn, are in earnest, and the re? sult will be looked to with interest. REGISTRATION IX THIS STATE.^ Judge Aldrich, in a letter to the Mercury, urges that every man in the State who can register his*i^.no should do so. He says: "There arc other matters to be passed upon by the country, under tho military bill, besides who shall be members of tho convention. The constitution to be framed bj- that convention is to be submitted to the peoplo for their approval, and unless tho privilege of voting is secured by registration, the power of the country may bo seized by designing and un? scrupulous men. My counsel, there? fore, is, that it will be a fatal blunder not to secure this high privilege. If a man registers, ho is not obliged to vote; if he fails to do so, he will not be permitted to exercise this great franchise." NEW AOVKRTISEMENTS. -Attention fail? ed to the following advertisements. wid;-, aro published this morning for the time: E. * G. D. Hope-Buttet1, Wine, Congaree Restaurant-Turtle Soup. W. B. Lowrance-Self-Rake Mower. Eufaula Home Insurance Company. M. Davis-New ?Store, Cheap Goods. Jacob Boll- -Citation R. J. Dunsford. In entering upon the third week ot popular clearing sales, Mr. li. C. Shiver intends offering some wonders in all styles of Embroidered Goods. The favor and popularity of the clearing move induce.-, ?lim to continue to dispense tho great lor? rains as heretofore. REIGN OF TERROR ON THE VIRGINIA , AND TENNESSEE BOIIDEK.-Informa ? tioii just received from Bristol, ou the line of Virginia and Tennessee, states that a perfect reign of terror exi.st.i there, iu consequence of the depreda? tions of a company of Brownlow s militia who invaded the town. This company numbers about one hun? dred, two-thirds of whom ure negroes. They aro represented as brutal and lawless, and have created the great est consternation among the inhabitants. [New York Herall.