The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-08-15
Speech of GOV. e. f. Perry,

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. I started
| there, three weeks since, us your dele
gate. to ask for the appointment of a
Provisional Governor, and the :rcsto-
ration of civil authority in South
Carolina. On my way, I met a mes
senger from his Exccllcncv President
johnson, bearing a commission ap-
pointing me Provisional Governor of
| the State. This was an honor Which
l had not anticipated, and never as
pired to.
On my arrival in Washington. 7 adj
dressed Il notc to the President, asking
| tho honor of an audience for the p,,r-
pose of receiving his instructions, and
communicating to him my views in
reference to the political tone and
temper of the State After waiting
that evening and the next day, with
out hearing from The President. l paid
Il visit to Governor Dennison, Post
master-Gcneral. This gentlemen re-
celrcil me most kindly, and seemed
eTatl!lcd at the account 1 gave him of
South Carolina. He assured nc that
the President had not received NV
note, and very ob!iginwly ordered his
carriage and wrat to the Executive
mansion to ascertain the truth Of the
matter. Ina short time afterwards, 1
received Il note from President John
son, stating. that my communication.
the day before lu:,l not b>'cn received.
and thai he wouhl see me ut three
O'Clock. In reply: I stated 1h.t [
would do rNsclf the honor to call on
his EXrrllcncv ut the hour dcsign:ted.
and that my friends Cols. Orr, Ellord.
Williams, Bacon, and Messrs. IIcitrh.
Grady, Gibbcs and Blodgctt, would
accompany me. We were received
very cordially, and remained an hour
O.. two With lhe President. [ told him
that the people OF South Carolina ac-
ccpted the terms oi hi~ Proclamation.
and were disposed to return to their
allegiance to. the Union. That from
having been the most rcbcilious State
IN the South, 1 was satisfied South
Carolina would, hcnc"forth, be one of
the most loyal Of the Southern States.
That she would reform her Constit.,-
ton and abolish slavery. give the c!rc-
ton OF Governor and Presidential
elections to tie peol'ln. ;.sl cu,,a!izc
the representation OF Tie State I
gave 1t as my opinion that iiir ,;;.;-
union feeling of the South had or;:si-
mated il tleparis!ies.
The President expressed himself
Sratiticl at the course South CIrni;n,
was Likely to prrsur, and instead of
nanitos:ing amy bitter or rvvanc, f1l
spirit, he cvjncrd great Kindness, soil
cit.slc ana nmgnalnmi.v. Th. whole
delegation was deeply impressed with
the courtesy dignity md ability of
his Exccllcncy. Ills political views
expressed to us were those Of Il patriot
and statesman He wished to see the
country once more quiet. peu.cabl,.
happy and Prosperous. In regard to
the relative powers Of the State and
the Federal Government, his opinions
were identical with my. own, so LONG
expressed in South Carolina. oHe was
equally opposed to the Capitalization
and consolidation of powers in Con
Grcss us he Was to !he' secession OF the
States. 1t must b. left to the LeSisll-
turc OF each Stac2 to decide who shaI,
be allowed to vote in the State. ANY
attempt on the rlrt of Congress to
control the elective franchise OF a State
would be an mwalrantable usurpation.
lie expressed all ardent wish to see
the Constitution of South Carolina
popularized by abolI.hinS the parish
,rcprcs entatiM anl cqualizing the po-
ltlcal power Of tie upper and lower
country, giving TIE election of Go
vernon to the people, and also the
election Of electors of President and
Nlcc-Presi(@Nt.
On leaving the President, he re-
qllcsted me to call aad see Mr.. Seward.
Secretary of State, and give him the
same information Ihad given his Ex-
cellency III reference to the public