The Cleveland leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1865-1865, 1865-07-22
sample specimens of south Carolina

We ventured some time since TO express
the belief that the experiment of recon-
strucsing the Southern States on 1.-THE Pres
dents plan" was hazardous in all the
Southern States, and most especially so in
South Carolina. The effort to restore the
Union and at the same time to ignore the
political existence of the only real Union
men of the South, we declared, was fore
doomed to failure, and most inevitably in
South Carolina, where hardly q white
Unionist can be found within the confines
Of the State. We regret extremely TO see
this reluctantly uttered prophecy so soon
fulfilled. The Union Governor of South
Carolins, selected by President johnson,
as the man., of sll resident South CAROLYN
isns, prominent for Unionism and hatred
of Rebellion, has been making q speech to
his South Carolina brethren, which is pub
lished in full, as a sort of official exposi-
ton of his views, in the Charleston
and New York papers. We reproduce
the most significant parts of the speech in
another column in order that our readers
may inspect q sample of the best quality
of South Carolina Unionism, and may
judge therefrom the prospects of feorganiz-
alton on q sound basis, under the Union,
in South Carolina.
Governor Perry begins his speech In
tones Of commiseration for the sufferings
of the Southern States. lie nHs no word of
sympathy for those who have fought and
fallen for the Union. He has no joyous
utterance for the triumph of the nation
over treason. His tears are reserved for the
rebels; he weeps because the Union has
been victorious. Hedeclsres that there is not
in the Southern States a man who feels more
bitterly the humiliation and d~e,radstion
of going back into the Union than does he.
He regrets that the rebellion was not wsged
more bitterly; that every man snd boy
had not been forced into the army. He
spends much time in a laOOred argument
to prove that rebellion is not treason. He
proceeds to praise General Lee as "the
most perfect model of a pure and great
man, save WashiDg ton )" to glorify those
who shave won immortal honors" in the
rebel armies to stigmstize the Hdeeds Of
stIocity committed by the Union armies
which can never be forgotten at the South p
to exhort his fell ow citizsns to abandon,
at once and forever, sill notions of Secs
sion, Modification, and Dsunion p TO urge
that the North and South are agreatly ne.
cesssry to each other"-snd to beg all &c
come forward, take the oath of allegiance
and help reconstruct the Government.
Throughout his whole speech Governor
Perry-this Union ~Governor-ssys not a
word in recognition of the large majority
of the citizens of South Carolina who sre,
ua-a AAI for tho Union
who rejoice instead of grieve at the
triumph of the Union, who are ready tc
support it joyOusly and freely, and who
will give their whole efforts for its success:
and triumph. That they are to be any.
thing more than serls, that their loyalty
and devotion should ever be rewarded by
giving them citizenship, Governor Perry
obviously never dreams.
We have thus briefly analysed the
"Unionism" of the p~re-eminent UniOnist Of
naods- no comment
We leave to u readers to judge from i
how much real loyalty there is among The
Southern whites and how much hope there
is in plans of reconstruction which lool
solely to them for accom- plishmsnt.