Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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letter from HH^SHHH^^X)|t? political situ ^^ Bl^^raNnoVlo ujf, from the ^^HHHHHPiWioh lOnroil in many ^ N|HRS3FlKttfyaf articles, that we are H^btf^'P'w^^ Got. Perry, and will Mp^PSlHnbD' to make aome comments HhSudob the nreaent communication : F" Tbfc fruited States shall guarantee to averj State io this Union a republi can form of govern men t."?Section 4, Article IV, Uonitiluiion of the United States of America. Under, this authority, the Congress of the United States, after excluding frotn their seats the Senators and Representatives Of ten Southern States, has established in all of the excluded States a military government, absolute and unlimited in Its powers! It is well known that these States have exhausted their power and resources in a gallant and heroic struggle for independence and self government. They now have no alternative but unqualified submission to the military despotism thrown over them. It is to be hoped, and it is generally believed, that the military commanders in the Southern Slates, will exercise their despotic powers wisely and humanely. It is the adminis* tration of a government, and not the form of a government, which makes it odious and oppressive. \ despotism, wisely, justly and virtuously administered, is the most perfect government that can be established. It is the government of .God, established by llim fg the government-of tbe universe. Five or six months ago, South Carolina, with all the other Southern States, rejected, with scorn and indignation, the constitutional amendment, which proposed to exclude froui office their leading men, and reduce their representation in CongroM, unless they permitted universal negro suffrage. Now, it is proposed by the military hill not only to exclude this class of persons from office, but to disfranchise them and exclude them from voting in all elections, and at the same lime to enfranchise their former slaves and give universal suffrage to the negro. Strange to say, that there are many persons in the Southern States whose high sense cf honor would not let them adopt the constitutional amendment, who are now urging the people to voluntarily swallow the military hill, regardless of honor, principle or consistency. I am hap py to know that they are secessionists, and never were Union men. The inquiry is, which, then, shall we do t Whilst I have been writing, the telegraph brings the glorious news that Mississippi and Georgia have appealed to ibe judiciary for tbe protection of tbeir constitutional rights as sovereign Slates of the American Union. Would to God thai South Carolina stood by the side of Mississippi and Georgia, in this their last noble effort to maintain tbeir dignity and honor as States, and tbe just rights and liberties of their citizens. If this last grand, expiring effoit in favor of freedom should fail, then . the South will have to quietly meet the tyrranny of Congress ; but, in meeting, she need not embrace tbe hideous thing. When the military, or. tier is issued for a registration of voters, let every man, not disfranchised, go fors tvard and register his name. When the election ie ordered for a convention, it will be the duly of every voter to cast his vote for the wisest, best, and most trustworthy men, who are eligible to seats in that convention. This much be is forced to do for relf-protection, and to keep tbe State Government from falling into the bands of unworthy and base men. He need go no further.? bet him then endorse on bis ticket, " No Convention." If he is a patriot and an honorable man, be cannot de? ipa (Ka an/va aktwk V* a mtltlaaw kill uiiw ?uv vu?u^v ttuivu ?uo uiimnijr mn contemplates, and be eboold not vote a lie ! With the canning which always characterizes the tyrant, Congress has enacted that the people themselves shall endorse thecal! of a convention, m order to give legal validity to iu acts.-? Without this endorsement, the whole proceeding miaht be regarded as forced on the States by the military government, and, therefore, null and void.? Hence, the trick of making the people endorse the call of a convention. It h to be hoped that they will not be caught by this cunning device, and that they may be able to influence their freed men to act with them. But should a majority of the votes be for a convention, then' it is to assemble, and not otherwise. When it amenable#, the honor and deatiny of tha State will be in its keeping. i But if the people ehonW vote M no convention,** what then T The honor [i And dignity of the Slates will, at least, ,.i not be thereby sacrificed by their cSii < "*** ,. MBEWBitoiln as we are, UP- I IPBBBKBwBHwL till lb are is a reac- ! HMwPSrlb'. It has already oom KHHrConnectieut, and will; sooner ftuKpr, sweep over tbe whole North Hfarn end Middle States Then we Hell be restored to oer rights in the Union, with, honor unsullied end the right of suffrage unchanged. Let us await this Democratic triumph, be it a hundred years, rather than seek new Ixl DJ 1 X* 1 *? associations who oar dimk Republican tyrants and oppressors, and be guilty of the baaenos* of abandoning our friends at the North, who have nobly defended onr cause, for two years past, and sacrificed themselves in the struggle for Southern rights and constitutional freedom. If we are unwilling to bear the ills to whioh we are subjected, for the maintaioenoe of honor and principle, then we deserve our destiny. It is said that, if we do not accept the degrading terms now offered, worse will be imposed I Have we any assurance that worse may not be imposed, if we do accept f Like the woman who consented to her own dishonor (o save the life of her husband, and was then made to witness his execution ! There is no faith in tyrants. Threats of confiscation are futile. Almost every one has been pardoned, by taking the amnesty oath, or by special application. The Southern people may be robbed and murdered, but their properly cannot be confiscated. In order to debauch prominent Southern men, offers have been made in Congress to remove theif disabilities, and, it would seem, not without success ! Threats to the many, and bribes to &faw, is the policy adopted for radicalizing the Soul hern States. Wit1, uni vprnal naorm anffirana ?t?/l ,1aKannli./l nnl BT" ?<?vvn?viiv? |"" j iticianS, we may bid farewell to all hope ! of republican institutions. Virtue and intelligence alone can sustain a republic. When the .negro has acquired intellir gence to understand his political rights, and properly to make him f?el an interest in lite proper exercise of them, lie should be allowed to voto. This principle has been adopted in most of the Northern States, and is w ise and just. But it is wicked to put ballots into the hands of those who will he the passive tools of their emvloyers, or the mischicv ous agents of Black Republican etuis** ries. ? Nothing oan be more unjust and ini ! quitous than the discriminating disH an chisemenl of the military hill A Union man, whose life has been -pent in liying to maintain the integrity of the Union, but who was a member of the Legislature or a judge ten or twen tv v^ats ago, and who, after his State seceded, f**d? or clothed a son in the Confederate army, is disfranchised !? But the man whose v hole life mav have been spent in treasonable efforts to destroy the Union and involve the country in a bloody civil war, who was a leading member of the secession Con renlion, and afterward* a distinguished General in the Confederate army, hurling his command against the United Sta'es forces in a bundled bloody fields of battle, is not disfranchised, utw less be bad previously taken an oath to ' support (ho Constitution of- (be United i States I There are rnanv instances of this character which might be mentioned, showing the injustice and folly of this disfranchisement. It is believed that neither Generals Beauregard; Hill, 1 Mngruder, nor General Lee himself, the < illustrious commander-in-chief of the Confederate forces, is disfranchised.? 1 But the humble Union magistrate, who relieved the distresses of a son or friend in the Confederate army, is dLfianchis ed! There is not the remotest hope or probability of the Southern States be tng restored to the Uuion till after the next Presidential election. Why, then, shall we voluntarily degrade.ourselves, and give up our dearest political rights for a delusion! If dishonor must come, do not embrace it. If we are to wear manacles, let them pe put on by our tyrant^ not by ourselves. If a man threatena to kick you, self resptot would forbid your exposing your per too to ntm and asking him to kickyou at one* and be dona with it ? We have lived already two years un- ' der military role, in great poverty and distress, and bave been cheered all the 1 time by the consciousness that we are not a degraded, though a conquered < people. We can continue to live in j the same way two yoars longer, or, If ' need be, ten years, and feel a pride < in knowing^ that we have maintained < oar honor, and made every effort possible to preserve our freedom and oon* ' stitutional rights. A man who fsels ' that ha has dishonored himself, is < lost; and so it is with a people. < Let us lire, quietly and peaceably, ' attending diligently to our various < vocations la life?obeying patiently ? the powers that be ; but never think 1 of voluntarily voting away onr rights < se a State or our honor and freedom as men. Let ns tenet in n returning < sense of justioe on the part of our < oppressors, which sooner or later must < come. Have patience, forbearanoe ? GREENVILLE, SOUTH rod long offering. Tho Son thorn 3utw fought four long bloody ton br who! they beliwed to bo o Mcred ngoi proclaimed by all the American people In their Declaration of Independence. Can they not now afford to live four years longer out of that Union, rather than sacrifice their hot) or, their rights, as States, and the great republican principles of freedom ! B, F. PERRY. Fr?^ the Columbia Pa^lx. Governor Perry's Letter. The communication that we published in yesterday's issue will attract attention, from the high position which the writer has occupied, for many j errs, in the public affairs of the State, and on accunt of his political antecedents? being always an earnest, consistent Union man, and opposing nullification and secession. There is np public man in our Slate who has a clearer record for political consistency and devotion to the Union. This reeord doubtless induced the President to appoint hira Provisional Governor, io direct and com trot the measures then deemed necessary to restore the State to the Union.? The President failed in his policy ; and the last constitutional amendment whs submitted to the States fur ratification and rejected by the Soathorn Slates.? To this course, Governor Perry advi-ed through the columns ol this journal Hnd be now proffers counsel to the peo nla a a I rs I lit i * aali/?n *?)<%> ? I'.v ?UVM nvuwu UIIUUI UIC III 1111H ry reconstruction law. We regret exceedingly that, at llii: juncture of our political affair^ Gov Perry considered it bis duty to lav be fore the people any arguments calcuht ted to produce the impression on thei minds thai thoy ought not to organizi their Slate Government in confirm,:!; with the provisions of the tnilioov hill The constitutional amend iit**in. it i Jtrue, was opposed hy nine leu h* of ih people, anrl rrjec'ed with "scorn and in dignation " hy Southern Legi*Utu'C Hut did that rejection, with remark thl unanimity, throughout the Sou<lion States, bring to them anv easier terms " Strange to say," the (iovernor write* "that there are many persons who*, high sense of honor would not let then adopt the consiituional amendmont. hit are now urging the people '.o voluntari I* swallow the military bill, regatdies of honor, principle and coiMsteucy." We do not see anything " strange 1 nor anything at variance with con,is teney, thai those who counseled r?j->c .tton of what was con*ideted a hai>l amendment of the Constrution, shotih now ad vino the people l?> obey a law passed under all the foi ins at least o the Constitution. The foiiuer we hat the po wcr to reject ; the latter demand obedience, and obeying it involves neith er " honor, principle nor con*i?teiicy.' This is no argument at all. an i we sin cerely regret that the hackneyed phra<e of "swallowing" anything degiadin; should be used in discussing a gravi question, that invoWes not only the po iitical intej-esls of the S:ate anil people but tbeir progress in material prosperity. The people of South Caroliua uav< come face to face with the reality ?.| their present situation, and we do rtol believe that, if even their great politica leaders of the past were to. talk ahoui honor and dignity, and principle antl all that sort of thing, they would follow their counsels. The first movement is, bo get restored to the Union the next to recuperate and develop their resources. We have not the hope that any advantage will result to the Southern States from the injunction against the law now pending before the Supreme Court, which Governor Perry evidently entertains. The Chief Justice has already decided that the President can not bqttnade a party to these bills ol complaint, and that he is bound to execute a law of Congress without let 01 hindrance from the Judicial Department of the Government; and although it may be the last noble effort of Southern Slates to maintain their dignity and honor as States, and the just rights and liberties of tbeir oitizens, yet Governor Ferry bu bad too much experience in the field* of politic*, and too wall ao> quainted with tba tactic* and policy of tba majority in Co napes*, to bopa that tba decision of tha Court, if favorable, would work any amelioration in tha dfstreaaad oondition of tha Southern people. Such a decision would only inflame their passions, and rekindle sao tlonal strife?that great ban* of tha sottntry'a advancement and prosperity. Tha advia* wbieh the distinguished writer of the eoinmuncatiou referred to ?to endorse, * No Convention " on tba tickets as they are deposited?with nil. iue deference, we say, is a grave error, ind fruitful of miaehief if acted upon by he people. We had fondly hoped to tee?and we believe it i* the determine ion an of overwhelming majority of the fitisen* of the State, that is shall be so ?the people of South Caroline carry >ut, in good faith, aa a measure of rejonstructlon, the provisions of the law >f Congress. They ere weary of poMtital excitement, and while greet princi ^ t rtLV ' ' . V . ^ K CAROLINA. APRIL 25. 186 plea iwrtr change, the mere political dignit^'ftnd honor of their 8tale hare loet their magic effect open a people who have suffered?are still suffering? from poverty and sectional legislation. We are surprised to hear Governor Perry ask, M Hare we any assurance that worse terms may not be Imposed if we accepi I" We think we hare, fn the declarations of their leaders and in the express assertions of their newspaKra, that these measures are a finality. it still, again, the Governor falls into the errot we hare already noticed, when he speaks of " acceptance." One thing is certain, that if we do not?not accepi?faithfully carry out the programme presented in the law, worse terras will aituredly be imposed, and the Stale either territorialized or parcelled out to her neighbors?her lands confiscated, her whole people disfranchised?leaving to lliero only the ref* ugo of expatriation. We affirtn that this would, inevita( bly be the result, if the people of South Carolina should exhibit any contumacy | about a cheerful compliance with the law or Uongress ; and we further affirm, that (he people of South Carolina are uot prepared to be drawn again into I the maelstrom of national politics.? ( They have certain duties to perform ? certain forward movements to take, and ' we believe they will be performed and taken without any reference.to the Democratic or any other party at the ' North. The idea of re action there, or of culertaining hope from any party there, is obsolete. We have trifled too long with our best interests, in 1 leaning upon such a broken reed ; and * j if every Northern State would go as I Connecticut, while we might feel that i there was redaction,yet we would earnr j estly trust tbat, tinder no circumstances, e I would onr people bo seduced into the 1 belief that parly poliics can ever hen. efit tliein in any point of view. * From our en lie-t acquaintance with y ! South Carolina po'itics, we were always ; taught to regtrd Gov. Perry as the ' | champion of the Union, in the midst 15 | of a wicked ami perverse generation; ' and, therefore, it is no more singular, * I to day, to see secessionists anxious for * the restotalion of the Union, than to . see Gov. l'erry giving the aid of his ' t counsel against such a course. It is 1 j the (tr-i deviation from a rigid adhe*? I sion to Union principles thai we re ^ it ember in his political career ; and al () | though he, with others, may be tempo rarity di*fs aneliised, yet we think that ' l calm t . flcM'vn ayd dispassionate judgment, an characteristic of Gov. Perry, * will V el i in! lire liiin to nn.nniii ola ?.nl. ^ our prominent citizen* in securing, in the moil, and indeed the only, practical mode, out restoration a* a people to ' j the political :igh's and to our repre?ens ! tation in C-ongres* as a Slate of the ' Union. Let all our people, whether ! Union or t-eceioion in their former pro' ' clitiiie*, unite and work heartily in this I great woik, and the end will be attain' j ed. Uuiou and harmony should now 15 be our watchword*. ' A R ibdi:r Outwittkd.? A short time since, an I<i?liman left Coppempj! j oiis, California, for Sail Andrea*, with | I his carpet-sack on his back, and, when I about five miles 011 bis way. was met by ( a ' road agent," (ihe name given in Cal I ifornia to highway robbers.) who demanded his money. Pat. immediately dropped his pack on the ground and sat ' down on ii, and thus addressed tho ' man : " Holy Virgin, yez must be thick along this road. I've only come five miles this iporiving, and this is the fourth time I've been stopped and asked for 1 money.*' ' * la that so?'' asked the highwayman. ' liy mo sowl it's the gospel llirulh," replied Pal. ^ " Well, then, you had better proceed ' on your way. It wouldn't Dav to t?o through vou." Phi. shouldered his carpet bag. and ibey were about to separate, when ha 1 turned round and said : " Have ye iver such a thing about ye as a match, to light me pipe wid f" He was supplied with one, and the two separated. The Irishman bad five , hundred dollars in gold in his bundle, and by this piece of shrewduess saved his money. Aw Of'cm Rk>r.?Deacon A , while passing through bis lot the other day, stooped down to tie his shoe. A pet ram which the boys had trained, among other things waa taught to regard his posture aa.e*lreroeiyoffensive, lie instantly C' ohed into ths old gentleman's undeded rear, and laid him full length in a mud hole. Picking himself up, the descon disoovered the cause of bis overthrow, standing in all the calmness and dignity of a conscious victor, His rage was boundless, and be saluted biin with the energetic language: - You d d old rascal P At that moment he caught a glimpse of the beoign face of toe miuister, peeping through the feoee, and he in* stantly added : M If I may be allowed the expression." ETVESNTS 17. Important to tho Citizen* of This State Who Hare Lost Their Legs Boring the Becent War. For the purpose of carrying into ef. feet the provision* of an Aet entitled u Ao Aet to provide Artificial Legs for all citizens of the State who *have lost their legs during the recent war," approved December 20th, 1866,1 caused a notice to be published to all Manu- < facturer* of Artificial Limbs, to exhibit their specimens in the city of Columbia on the fourth Honday in March, and Appointed i Hoard of Surgeons, com* posed of Doctor* A. N. Talley, Robert VV. Gibbes end B. W. Taylor, to ex> m!ne the various specimens submitted. They unanimously recommended the " Army and Nary Leg," of Dr. Bly, and hie u Anatomical Leg," as combining more advantage* than any others exhibited ; and I, therefore, concluded a contract with Dr. Bly, to furnish the citizens of this State with the u Army and Navy Leg," at the price of $74.65 each, which amount is to be paid by the Stale. The cost of Dr. Bly's anatomical ball and soccet jointed leg precluded .me from contracting for it, because the sum appropriated by the Legislature was insufficient to have furnished that leg to each citizen ; nevertheless, each persou who chooses to do so, may, by paying Dr. Bly from his own means, the additional sum of $75.35, secure this more perfect limb, tlie cost of which is $150. His offico will be located in Charleston, and but one tiip is necessary to be mnde there /or tiro purpose of having the limb properly adjusted to the stump. Before its delivery, each leg will be in. spected by a competent person. To procure a leg, be following rules have been adopted : 1. No person, other than a citizen of! i this State, i< entitled, under the Act of the Legislature, to receive an artificial leg2. The person applying, must appear , . before the l.'le; k of the Court for the , . Oi*l rinf in ut) ?*%K ho 1 ?r ~ ( *<u?uu no icniuco, ?IIU PHllSiy I that officer that he is a citizen, that he lost his leg during the recent war, and is embraced within the provi-ions of the Act of the Assembly aforesaid. The Clerk will thereupon give such person an original and duplicate certificate, under the seal of the Court, certifying that the party is entitled to receive a leg. 3. The Clerks of the Courts have had forwarded to thein blank forms for measuring the slump. - Each citizen will procure two of these on obtaining his certificates. After carefully making the measurements, as directed in the form, he will enclose the original certificate and measurement to I)r. Douglass lily, Charleston, S. C The duplicate certificate he will re tain in his possession, until he receives notice-that his personal presence is re quirod. at Dr. lily's office, foT the pur pose of adjusting the leg to ih6 stump. Upon exhibiting this certificate to the conduotors of the several railroads of the State, they will doubtless give him free transportation, going and returning, one time, the Legislature having in the Act requested the Railroad Companies to furnish transportation free of cost, and each conductor will make such endorsement upon the certificate as will prevent it from being fraudulently used again by the same or any other person. Dr. 13ly will notily persons at what time it will be necessary for them to attend at his office in Charleston for the purpose of fitting the leg to the stump. As two hundred nnd fifty or more Artificial limbs are to be supplied, considerable time will necessarily be con? sumed in their manufacture, and you are requested to practice patience in what may seem to you an unreasonable delay in procuring your limb. Dr. 13ly advises, that unless some pressing emergency exists, the new leg should not be fitted to the stump during the warm season, and that the patient himself will be most likely to obtain. a. satisfactory result by awaiting the return of cool weather. The Clerks of the Court will be entitled to charge their fees for their offi cial certificate, but it- is presumed that they will, under the circumstances, cheerfully render the service gratuitously. ' JAMES L. ORR, Governor of South Carolina. Rkturn Dat.? Last Saturday was Return Day for this l>istrict. From an examination or (be Ulerk s book*, it seems that something over a thousand cases hare been returned, including acceptances and confessions. Man/ of the cases are small 'processes, suits brought bjr administrators and ex9cu* tors, and suits brought for litigation- by consent on old notes for negroes. The return though large, is not so great as i anticipated by many, and is not the largest return erer made in the District ; there baring been a larger, we i leam, at a former term of the Court. 1 These cases, it is presumed, will not i show any exceedingly large amount of indebtedness by the time of judgment and rerdict, as a heary pairing down and sealing process must undoubtedly take place Defore that time. Laurentville Herald. < p9 i ml From the O?wogo N. 7., PftluSlK^HH^BflH^S Horrible Solution of a M ?^plHBHB| Child Satan b j 8nakee^|H|HHfflffl In the early part of (be month dPB*2r*$P^; Auguet laat a girl named Glisa Drnm-^^I^BJfl| mond^bou^^^year^o^Mra "? 1 Greats live near the town-of West on roe in this ooonty, left her home one morning for the purpose of picking berries, and never returned. The most diligent search was made for her by the parents and neighbors, bat no traces could be found. She bad not been drowned, for nil places where there was water were carefully examiued, even to well# and cisterns in the neighborhood. After weeks of fruitless search and ln? quiry the afflicted parents gave up their obild for lost. It was reported that a band of vagrants had been seen near the locality about the time of the diss appearance, and the opinion prevailed that the child had been atolen and cars ried away by the gypsies. The event, whioh created a profound sensation at tbe time, had almost passed from the minds of all save the stricken parents, when it was painfully recalled by a recent occurrence. On Tuesday last five or six lads went ont hunting in the vicinity, and during the day came upon a spot where a large number of black snakes were discovered and kill* ed. Tbe appearance of the reptiles in such large numbers and at this season of the year, was considered remarkable, and it was suggested by one of the parly that a breeding den must be some* where near. A search was immediate^ ly commenced which resulted in a manner far different from their expectations. In the side of the hill near ihe edge i of a swamp was found a sort of opening, which, in tbe summer, was concealed by tall grass and bushes. In the opening was tound a human skeleton from which every particle of flesh had been taken. The bonea were as white as ivory and all perfect. Near by was a tin pail in a rusted condition and a tin cup. The boys were terribly frightened and gave the alarm. The remains were taken from the mouth of the den, and an examination ahowed that the place had been, and probably now was a breeding place for black ?nakes. The boldest hesitated to enter. The entrance, which was large enough for the admission of a mau's body, grew smaller and tended downward. Lighted balls of hay soaked in kerosene were Hir.twn into the cavity, and in less than 15 minutes eighty-two snakes, ranging in length from 1^ to 4 feet were killed. The pail and cup were recogtiiz?j< I by Mr. and Mrs. Orummoud as those taken by their child when she went away for the last time The physicians jnos nounced the remains those of a fern de child, and there can be no doubt hut that the poor girl, while picking berries in the vicinity of the spot, became tirad, seated herself in the shade of the opening to this horrid den, and wa- attacks ed by the reptiles in numbers and killed. The discovery haa shocked the whole community, and almost prostra* ted the stricken parents, whose hearts are made to bleed anew at the thought of the horrible fate which deprived them of their child. - Fools.?The King of Persia once ordered his Vizier to make out a list of all the fools in his do.miniops. Ha did so, and put his Majesty's name at the head of them. The King asked him why, to which he immediately answer* ed : " Because you entrusted a lac of rupees to men you don't know, to buy horses for you a thousand miles off, and who'll never come back." " Ay, but suppose they come back." "Then I shall erase your name and insert theirs. In a bar-room in Denver the following " rules n are conspicuously posted : " No one is Allowed to remain in the hall or passageway longer than five minutes without taking a drink, or in the sitting-room ten minutes without doing likewise. " Any one refusing to drink whea asked will be ignominiously kicked out. *" No gentlemen are expected to eat the lemon-peel in their cocktails, and those who do so will not be supplied with any more, and will not be consid* ered gentlemen in future. The Secretary of War baa submittal to the President the oorreapondenco between Grant and Sheridan regarding removal*. A special dispatch to the Baltimore Sun says Gen. Griffin recommends the removal of Gov. Throckmorton, of Texas; Sheridan agree* with him, and suggests the removal of the Governor of Louisiana. Grant, in reply, doubt* the General* power to remove Governors, and ' 'nks removal* mast be made bv Congress, or after trial under the 6tfi section. Dbath o? a Colored C?l*britv.?Romeo Price, the well known colored waiter at Barnum's City Ilotel, died at his residence, in that city, on Tuesday, in the eightieth year of his age.