The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-07-15
Benjamin F. Perry. Esq. the Provi
sioual Governor of South Carolina,


appointed B. +. PERRY, Esq, of Green
vile, Provisional Governor of South
Carolina. When the South Caroline
delegation waited upon the President to
suggest candidates for the important 20.
sition, the name of Mr.. PERRY was sug.
gested, when the President remarked,
81 know Mr.. PERRY very we'll" The
public are not probably so well acquaint.
ed with the career of the gentleman, and
we give the following facts regarding
him, condensed from sketch written
by Mr.. JOHN LIVINGSTON, which we
take from Eminent Americans J"
Governor Perry was born in Pickcns
District, South Carolina, November 20,
1906. He is descended from the same
Massachusetts family which produced
Oliver II. Perry. His father, Benjamin
Perry, fought in the army of the Revo.
luton. After the close of the war he
removed to Charleston, where he mar
ried a Miss Ann Foster. daughter of
Lieutenant John Foster of the Revolu.
tionary army, and became planter.
The son of this marriage, Benjamin T..
Perry, spent his youth In the district in
which he was born. He attended
school in the same vicinity until seven.
teen years ofage. In 1924 he entered
the law office Of Judge Earle, but finish
ed his law studies in the office of Colo.
pel Gregg, cf Columbia, and was ad.
mittad to the bar in 1927.
During the memorable notification
contest of 1882, Mr.. Perry edited a news.
paper published in Greenville, opposing
the notification doctrines Of Calhoun
with much ability and great persistence.
Among other interesting arguments
which he was forced to deliver was a
bullet. in the heart of,a notification
editor who had challenged him, and with
whom the mistaken principles of chival.
ry compelled Perry to fight a duel. He
was delegate to the Union Conven.
ton which assembled at Columbia in
August, 1892 In 1884 he was defeat.
ed by a majority of sixty votes only as
the Union candidate for Congress from
the Anderson, Pickens and Greenyille
Districts. ;. For the two years following
this defeat he devoted himself to the law.
In 1886 he was elected to the State
Legislature without opposition, and in
1888 was again returned. While hold.
ing this Office the second time he became
prominent with Memmingef, lately
rebel Secretary of the Treasury, in clos.
ing up the connection between the State
and the banks which had existed. In
1874 he was elected to the State Senate.
He was the only member of that body
who voted against the expulsion from
the State of Mr.. Hoar, the Massachu.
setts State agent. 1t noteworthy that
Memminger was the only member of
the Lower House who voted against
tile same resolution.
In 1850, when the disunion feeling
again rose bigh, Mr.. Perry established
Union paper at Greonville, and perse-
Vereu III its puollcatlon, thollgh at great
personal risk. A speech which he made
in the Legislature was widely published
throughout the North and South, and
was hailed as the first ray Of light from
benighted South Carolina. Mr.. Perry's
speech and President Jacksons's action
had'a wonderful effect in killing off Sc.
cession in South Carolina, and when in
1851 an election was held fots, ffots a State State
convention to dissolve, the Union, no
body but the Union men voted, and the
State did not ecede..
The career Of Mr.. Perry since this pc.
riod we are not familiar with. He has.
always maintained his position in oppo.
sition to the right Of secession. InIS5O
he laughed at the idea Of. South Carolie
ma soceding at that time, and expressed
the opinion that he should live to see;
the State "one of the most thoroug,go.
ing Union States of the republic. On.
the adjournment of the convention with.
out seeding, he wos told that one.lslfi
of his prophecy was now true. Yes, y