Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-11-15
Message of Governor Perry.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
South Carolina, November Z, 1865.

South Carolina, November Z, 1865.
To tie Honorable tie Senate and House q
l.. Representatives.
GENTLEMEN =. / had the honor of receiving
! from the President Of the United States, the
following telegraphic despatch, on the 2Sth
of October last: q
.Tb B. F. Perry, Prorisional Gorernor: -
| q Youc last tyo dispatches have been re
ceiyed and the pardons suggested have been
ordered.
~ hope that your Legislature viii have nc
hesitation in adopting the amendment to the
slavery. twill set an example, which viii,
no doubt, be followed by the other States and
place South Carolina in most favorable at-
titude before the nation. /. trust in God that
| it Will be done. The nation and che State
will then be left free and untrameled t. take
that course which sound policy, wisdom and
humanity may suggest. -
- p - ANDREW JOHNSON,
President .. S."
Three days afterwards Ireceived the fol
lowing telegram from the President, dated
| WASHINGTON. October 81, 1863.
"To B. F. Perry, Provisional Governor:
"There is deep interest felt as to what
course the Legislature will take in regard to
| the adoption Of the amendment to the Con-
stitution of the United States, abolishing
slavery, and the assumption Of the debt Gre
ated to aid.in the rebellion 'against'the Gov
.ernment of the United States. If the action
of the Convention was in good faith, why
hesitate in making tia part of the Constitu.
ton. of the United States / trust in God
| that the restoration Of the Union will not be
defeated, and all that has, so far, been well
done, thrown away! I still have faith that
all.will come out right yet. This opportuni-
| ty ought to be understood and appreciated by
| the people of the Southern States. If ! know
my own heart, and every passion which'en
ters it, it is to restore the blessings ofthe Union
and tie up aud heal every bleeding wonnd
which has been caused by this fratricidal war.
Let US be guided by love and wisdom from
on high, and union and peace will once more
/ reign throughout the land.
ANDREW JOHNSON"
| To these telegraphie dispatches, l replied
| that the war debt of South Carolina was very
incons:derable; thet our whole State debt, o:
this time, was only about $6,OooO0o that
this was mostly Sncurred, anterior to the war,
in constructing railroads and building a new
State house, with an cid debt OF long stand
ing that we had assumed no portion Of the
Confederate debt and were responlble in no
way for it. The expenditures which the
State had incurred up to certain period had
all been settled and refunded by the Confea-
crate States.
stated that South Carolina had abolished
slavery in good faith, and never intended or
wished to restore it; that the Legislature was
then considering . wise, just and humane
system ottsws for thv,gorcrnmcptaudp p.otec-
ton Of the freedmen, in all theirrights ofper-
son and property;a dthatt there was NOT oobjec-
tion to the adoption of the proposed amend
mend to the Federal Constitution, except an
apprehension that Congress might, under the
second section of that amendment, claim the
right to legislate for the negro after e.aSery
was abolished. I likewise state]. that nc
official notice had ever been received by the
Legislature, Of the proposed amendment to
the Constitution of the United States.
| In reply to this despatch, I received, 5es-
terday, the following telegram from the Sec
retary of State, dated
WASHINGTON, November 6, 1865.
" To His EsceUency B. F. Perry :Propisioaal
Goprnor of South Carolinq:.
"Your despatch to the Rfesident, Of No
vember 4, has been received. He is not en-
tirely satisfied with the explanation ii con-
tains. He deems necessary the passage Of
adequate ordinances, declaring that all insur-
rectionary proceedings 10 tbe State, unlawful
and VOID a6 initio.
"Neither the Constitution nor the laws di-
rect official information to the States Of
amendments to the Constitution submitted
By Congress. Notice Of the amendment, BY
Congress, .abolishing slavery, was peverthe-
less sent by the Secretary Of State, ut the
time, to the States which were then in com.
munication with this Government. Formal
notice will Immediately be given to these
States, which were then in insurrectior.
"The objection which you mention, TO los,
clause of the Constitution amendment, is re.
garded as querulous and unreasonable, be-
cause that clause is really restraining in it's
effects, instead Of enlarging the power Of
Congress. -, -. go.
"The President considers the acceptance
of the amendment, by South Carolina, as in
dispensable to restoration of her relations
| with the other States, Of the Union. -
=; VIM. II. SEWARD.n
| This formal notice Of the proposed amend
ment to the Constitution Of the United State,
has not yet been received. When it is, ]
viii communicate, the same to you. The
amendment may bo seen in the Acts Of the
last Congress, and is in these words:
aNeither slavery NOR involuntary servitude
cxcep. as punishment for crime. whereo
the party shall have been duly convicted
shall exist within the limits of the United
States, or any place subject to their jurisdic
ton.
"SEc. 2. Congress shall have power ts
enforce this article by appropriate legisla
tion."-Approved Feb. /, 1855. ~
/ A few days since, 7 addressed communi