The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-28
Gle alorfolk 2ost,
FRIDAY. JULY %, 1865.
The Speech of Governor Perry.

Inc Opeecn OF governor Perfy.
A great deal of excitement has been
created among the radicals in the North
about thesrecent speech of Gov. Perry of
South Carolina. We have carefully read
that speech, and must confess we find
nothing in it that any Southern man at
the present time should be condemned
for uttering, although it might be out of
place for Northern man to express the
same ideas to Northern audience Gen
tlemen in the North must recollect that
the locality makes great deal of differ
ence We clip the following interesting
paragraphs from that speech:
THE BITTER FRUITS OF SECESSION.
A cruel and bloody war has swept
over the Southern States. One hundred
and fifty thousand of our bravest and
most gallant men have fallen on the fields
of battle. The land is filled with mourn
ing widows and orphans. There is
scarcely house in which there has not
been weeping for some loved one lost.
Three thousand millions of dollars have
been spent by the Southern States in car
rying on this war; And now we are
called upon togive upfour millions of
slaves, worth two thousand millions of
dollars more. Our country has been
ravaged and desolated. Our cities,
towns and villages are snouldering
ruins. Conquering armies occupy the
country. The Confederacy has fallen,
and We have been deprived of all civil
government and political rights. We
have neither law nor order. There is no
protection for life, liberty or property
Everywhere there is decentralization, ra-
pine and murder. Hunger and starva-
ton are upon us. And now we meet as
a disgraced and subjugated people, to PEE
tition the conqueror to restore our lost
rights. Such are the bitter fruits of Sc.
cessiOn.
RETROSPECT.
How different, Mr.. Chairman, In tone,
| spirit and character, was that meeting
OF the citizens of Greenville, just five
years ago, in the same building, which
inaugurated this most fatal, bloody and
disastrous revolution! Then all was Joy,
hope, eXcitementa and confidence. Seated
in my law Office, looking toward this
court house, saw crowd of persons
rushing in, composed of college boys and
their professors, merchants, mechanics,
doctors, lawyers and idlers from the no
tells, with sprinkling of farmers and
planters. Soon heard the public speak
ing commence, and the air was rent with
the wild and rapturous applause of the
excited audience. The more eXtrava-
giant the denunciations OF the Union,
| the louder were the shouts of applause
| repeated in my heart the memorable
words of Christ-"Father, forgive them,
| they know not what they doW My
mind was then filled with the worst of
| forebodings as to the future. / thought
l foresaw all the evils which have since
befallen our beloved country. But my
political influence was gone, and my
voice was powerless to stay the angry
and excited feelings of my fellow-citi-
zens.
After abiding to the causes of the fail
ure of the Confederate arms, (Which it
is objected to that he should have re-
jjoiced at rather than deplored-but ma
ture is nature), he hits certain trouble
some class in the South hard blow, as
follows:
THE REBEL CONGRESS ALSO TO BLAME.
Congress, too, Mr.. Chairman, is great
ly to blame for their exemption. All be-
tween the ages of eighteen and forty
five should have been forced into the
army and kept there. 1t mattered not
whetherhe was doctor, lawyer, preacher,
politician, editor or school teacher, if an
able-bodied man, he should have been sent
to the army. But, strange to say, the
three classes of men who were mainly
instrumental in plunging their country
into this mad revolution, were all eX-
empted by Congress from fighting! 1
allude to the politicians, newspaper edi-
tors and preachers of the Gospel. This
was not fair. The man who gets up
fight should always take his share Of it.
PRESIDENT LINCOLN AND PRESIDENT
JOHNSON.
It has been said, and repeated all over
the Southern States, that the South has
sustained great loss in the death of
President Lincoln. do not think so.
President Johnson is much ADLER and
firmer man than Lincoln was. He is in
every way more acceptable to the south.
In the first place he is Southern man,
and Lincoln was q Northern man. He
is Democrat, and Lincoln was u Wing
and Republican. President Johnson
was q Shareholder, well acquainted with
the lnstIlutloll, anu KNOWS Wldt IL pro-
per to be done in thegreat change which
is taking lace. President Lincoln was
wholly unacquainted with slavery and
Southern institutions. President john
son is man OF iron will ard nerve, like
Andrew Jackson, and will adhere to his
principles and political faith.
On the other hand, President Lincoln
showed himself to be nothing more than
clay in the hands of the potter, ready to
change his measures and principles at
the bidding of his party. President
Johnson has filled all the highest and
most honorable offices in the State OF
Tennessee with great ability and salts
f clion to the people. There is no stain
or blot Oh his private character. The
ablest speech verdelivered in the Senate
OF The United States OH the issues be-
tween the North and South was made by
President johnson. He voted for Breck
inridge in the Presidential canvass of
1860. Judging, then, from his antece-
dents, the South should have every hope
and confidence in him.
AN ENCOURAGING VIEW OF TUE FUTURE.
Mr.. Chairman, the future, to my
mind, is not so gloomy as some would
l,,,,o nc baIioyn i hava mn dion hi tbat