The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-26
SOUTH CAROLINA.
Another Speech of Governor Perry.

The following speech was delivered at
Greenville, S. c., by Gov. Perry, on Au-
gust LIST, on his return from Washing
ton:
Fellow. Citizens-I have met you this
morning, not to make a speech, but to
talk over the incidents of my late visit
to Washington. / started there, three
weeks since, as your delegate, to ask for
the appointment of Provisional Cover
nor, and the restoration of civil authori-
ty in South Carolina. On my way l
met messenger from his EXcellency
President Johnson, bearing commits
sion appointing me Provisional Cover
nor of the State. This was an honor
which had not anticipated and never
aspired to.
On my arrival in Washington l adj
dresseda note to the President, asking
the honor of an audience for the purpose
of receiving his instructions and COM
municating to him my views in refer
ence to the political tone and temper of
the State. After waiting that evening
and the next day without hearing from
the President, paid visit to Governor
Dennison, Postmaster General. This
gentleman received me most kindly and
seemed gratified at the account 1 gave
him ofSouth Carolina. He assured me
that the President had not received my
note, and very Obligingly ordered his
carriage and went to the Executive Man.
sion to ascertain thetruth of the matter.
In short time afterwards I received a
note from President Johnson, stating
that my communication the day before
had not been received, and that he would
see me at o'clock. In reply l stated
that / would do myself the honor to call
on His Excellency at the hour desig-
mated, and that my friends Colonies Orr,
Elford, Williams, Bacon, and Messrs.
Leitch, Grady, Gibbes and Bladgett
would accompany me. We were re-
ceiyed very cordially, and remained an
hour or two with the President I told
him that the people of South Carolina
accepted the terms of his proclamation
and were disposed to return to their al
lepiance to the Union. That from hav-
ing been the most rebellious State i'm the
South, ] was satisfied South Carolina
would. henceforth, be one of the most
Ioyal of the Southern States, That she
would reform her Constitution and abol-
ish slavery, give the election of Cover
nor and Presidential Electors to the peo-
ME. and equalize the representation of
The state. gave it as my opinion that
the disuniou feeling OF the South had
originated in the parishes.
The President expressed himself graft
t;od Of the course South Carolina was
likely to pursue, and instead of mani
fasting onV bitter or revengeful spirit,
he eyinced great kindness, solicitude
and magnanimity The whole w dsle "a
c com dignity and ability of His Ex-
ceiiency. His political views expressed
to us were those of a patriot and q states
man. He wished to see the country
once more quiet. peaceable, happy and
prosperous. In regard to the relative
powers of the State and the Federal
Government, his opinions were identl-
cal with my own, so long expressed in
South Carolina. He was equally opposed
to the Capitalization and consolidation
OF powers in Congress as he was to the
secession Of the States. 1t must be left
to the Legislature of each State to decide