The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1865-12-13
FAREWELL SPEECH OF PROVISIONAL
GOV. PERRY.
INAUGURAL ADDRESSES OF GOVERNOR ORR
AND EUTENANT-GOVERNOR W. D.
PORTER.

The following addresses were delivered be-
fore the Legislature on the occasion Of the in
auguration of Hon. james L. Orr and Hon.
". D. Porter, as Governor and Lieutenant
Governor of the State. Mr.. Orr was inaugu-
rated on Wednesday and Mr.. Porter on Thurs
day:
FAREWELL ADDRESS OF PROVISIONAL GOVERNOR
B. F. PERRY.
Senators and Members Of the House Of Repre-
sent0tlves:
I have come here to-day to bid you fare
we'll, as Provisional Governor OF South Caro-
| lima, and to congratulate you on the restora-
ton of the State, once more, to selt-goVern-
ment and independence, as MEMBER OF the
Federal Union. Like the leader of Gods s
chosen people of old, have had the honor of
conducting you through the wilderness, with
in sight of the promised land, but am not per-
mitted to enter it. That great boon has been
reserved for my distinguished friend who IS
now about to be inaugurated as the hrst Chlet
| Magistrate of the State ever elected BY the
sovereign people. If not within three days, ne
will within very short time be able to pass
YOU over the confusion and military rule, un-
! der which YOU have so long lived, to that hap
py state in which you will be able to govern
| Yourselves, ard enjoy all the rights and prlTl-
! ieges of free and enlightened people. Under
his wise and able administration, | hope to
see the good old State revive, prosper, and be
once more happy. =,
am sure, gentlemen, that may say with
perfect propricty, as the representative OF the
! Federal Government in South Carolina, that
the State has done enough to entitle her to be
received back as a member Of the Federal
Union, with all of her Constitutional rights
fully restored. She was foremost in assuming
the post Of danger in the recent revolution,
and in her appeal to arms in defence of what
she honestly believed to be her reserved rights
as a State Gallantly and noby her sons
fought through the war, pouring out their
blood and sacrificing their lives on almost
every battlefield throughout the Southern
States. When conquered by Overwhelming
numbers, seeing their towns and villages no.
thing but smoudcring ruins, their beloved
State widespread dcsolation, their wives
and sisters, and little children, and aged pa
rents at the point Of starvation, like brave men
they accepted the DEGREES of God, and sub
mittcd themselves to the dire fortunes Lf war;
Sad and silent, with manly fortltude and firm
ness, they awaited the terms ofthe conqueror.
When those terms were made known, they
were first, with generous pride and hlgh
chivalrv, to assume the humiliation which
their State had been foremost IN bringing on
our common country.
As soon as the Presidents Proclamation
was issued the people of South Carolina went
chccrfully forward and took the amnesty oath
They promptly assembled in Convention un-
der the order Of the Provisional Governor, ,and
reformed their State Constitution. as was de-
sired By the President, They abolished slave
ry and freely gave up their two hundred NIL
| lions invested in slaves. When advised to
adopt the Congressional amendment to the
Constitution Of the United States aboliShinng
| slavery, South Carolina was the first South
ern State which ratified the same, and set an
example for her sister States to follow. She
| has been first, also, in preparing wise ana
! humane code of laws for the protection OF the
| freedmen in all their rights of personal pro
perty, and allowing them to give testimony in
| her Courts of Justice. She has now elected
her Representatives in both Houses OF Con
gress, and commissioned them to take their
seats in that body. She has organized per
| feet State Government with Legislative, Ex'
ccutive and Judiciary Departments, all Re
publican in their character, and the members
of each swearing to support the Constitution
of the United States Her Ordinances OF Sc
cession have been repealed, and she now
pledges herself to stand by the Union IN good
faith, and with all sincerity.
Having done all this, you and your State
have done your duty, gracefully and faithful
ly, as becomes a gallant and generous people,
| who are never afraid to assume any position
where honor and patriotism prompt. know
the President desires to relieve you of military
rule, and see your Representatives once more
seated in the councils of the nation. cannot
believe that Congress will exclude them, oy
test oath, which does not apply to members
of Congress, for they are not officers OF the
! Federal Government, as was early decided IN
| the history of our Government. Nor has
| Congress any power to impose on its members
any other oath than that prescribed IN the
! Constitution. To admit a contrary doctrine
would enable the majority in Congress to ex'
clude the minority, because they were Demo
Gratis or State Rights men, or professed any
other principles repugnant to the creed OF the
majority. The Constitutional oath was wise
" ordained, and excludes all other oaths. Tho
powers of Congress are delegated and specific
and they have no others. The reason for tho
passage of this test oath has passed away, =2t
If not repealed no one in South Carolina car
fill a Federal Office till a new generation ha:
sprung up, for all now living-men, womer
and childrcn-did, in some way, countenanc'
the war.
1t is known to you, gentlemen, that l wa:
opposed to the secession of South Carolina
No man in America regretted more deeply
than did this fatal movement, for though
| foresaw all the evil consequences which have
resulted from it. But, when the issue wa
made, my feelings in sympathy were all witt
my native State, And yet, l conscientious'y
believed that even the success Of the Southern
States would be disastrous. The jealousie
and errors of the Grccian States were con
stantly in my mind. Disintegration once com
nenced in confederation Of republics, no ont
could foresee where it would end, except IL
petty tyrannics, or consolidated military
despotsm.
Hcnccforth, no one will Iepudiatc the fare
well advice ut Washington, as to the lmPor
tancc and Dcrpctuity Of the Federal CuloN