New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-09-20

Message Of Governor Perry.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT. South CAROLINA

Message Of Governor Perry.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT SourH CAROLINA
| To h6 Members Of the STATE Contention.
GENTLEMEN: You have been convened IN ODE
dienee TO the proclamation OF his Excecncy Andrew
johnson President OF the United States for the pur
pose 81 organizing n state Government whereby
Justice may BE- established, domestic tranquility In
sured and loyal citizens protected in all their rights OF
NE p S,a ana snh nrno nnder whose orders Won
were elected and have assembled IL is proper that |
should address you the present occasion and assist
III can. in restoring our beloved State TO her
constitutional relations 10 the Federal Government
and aid you. ~ ny suggestions In presenting such
republican form Of State Government as VIII entlte
South Carolina 10 the guarantee Of the United states
therefor and her people 20 protection, by the Ded
States against INVASION insureetion and domestic VIC
! lence."
The great political commissions which have recently
take place in the Southern States and the terrific war
which has swept South Carolina, devastating her
territory and deprying her citizens Of NIL civil Severn
ment are too well known 10 you and too painful IN
their detail for to bring them unnecessarily IN re-
view before you. Instead Of dwelling on the past and
gTieving over it, errors and msiornncs let u.s. with
manly forii,ude look 10 the future and accommodate
ourselves the circumstances which surround u.s. aud
which cannot be changed or avoided.
The President Of tho CDited states has man Tested
generous and patriotic s0ciiude for the restoration Of
The southern States 10 all their civil and political gtn
under the Constitution and laws Of the United States
lie desires TO the Federal Union reconstructed
IL before the secession Of those States; and he will
oppose tie Capitalization 81 power In Congress and
the infringement Of the constitutional rights Of the
Sfats., with the same zeal energy and power with
which he resisted tho assumed right Of the
part Of tho States In order 10 accomplish this reunion
a. the States the President desires that South Carolina
ns well as all the other States In rebellion. shoud &C.
cept ~ Inevitable and unavoidable, the great hDal ~.
suits Of the
African slavery which was cherished Institution OF
south Carolina from her earliest colonial history. pa
triarchal In It's character under which the negro has
multiplied and Increased with rnpldiiy proving that
be has been kindly cared FOR and protected Is gone,
dc
future Of this State. Under the war-making power.
the military authorities Of the United states have nbol
shed Slavery In all the seeding States The oath you
have solenny taken abide by and faithfully support
all laws and proclaim atoms which have been made during
the existing Rebellion. with reference to the emanelpa
tion Of slaves, requires you IN good ialh, TO aDol
tuition. Tic express terms on which your par.
dons have been issued, stipglaic that you shall
never again own or employ slave labor IL Is Ike
wise altogether probable that tho proposed amend
ment 20 the Federal Constitution by aboishng Slavery
will be adopted by three fourths Of the States and be-
come part Of the Constitution Moreover, II u I'M
possible for Souh Carolina 20 regain her civil
rights and be restored % tho Union Till she voluntarily
aboshes Slavery and declares by an organic law that
neither Slavery or Involuntary serNtude except as
punishment for crime. whereof the party shall have
been duly ycted shall ever again exist within the
limits Of the state Until this Is done We shan DO kept
under military rule aud the negroes will be protected
as freedmen" by the whole military force OF the
United States But know that you are all honorable
men. as well "a patriotic men, will DO your duty
painful Il may be.
In making Ills unavoidable change in your Constitu.
ton aboishing Slavery. and which VIII require tue
substitution Of hired labor for that OF slave labor II u
10 be hoped that Of those evils viii be experienced
which some have anticipated by wise, Just and hu'
name treatment OF your " freedmen and women. You
NAV attach them 10 you strongly In their new condi
ton a. they were while slaves. They viii soon
learn 10 see and feel their dependence on you, and
know that their interests require them to be true ana
faithful 10 YOU IL is to be- eapectod that great and
MD "A a. a.
w produce at first confusion ideness and d4ssasfhc-
ton. This however viii only bs temporary lime
and experience must bring order and system The
freedman will soon find ont that he must work or
perish Legislation viii necessarily be required to
regulate the relative duties of tho employer and en-
poye.
II very desirable that you should avail yourselves
Of the present opportunity Of reforming and popular
iling the State Constitution In several particulars
the reproach Of South Carolina abroad that her Con
stiution IN less popular and republican in It's provisions
than that Of any other State In the Union And II 10
thought by many that TO this alone may be traced
the origin Of that discomfort and dissatisfaction with
the Federal Government which, after being nursed for
thirty three four years. ended N the secession or
rebellion Of thirteen or fourteen states.
The basis Of representation in the Senate Of this
State as You know Ia entirely arbitrary. and founded
Just principles of property population. AT the
time II was adoptod-mOro than 10 years hgo-H
wns doubt. fair aud equal But since that time the
entire relative condition OF election districts has
changed. The upper country, ut the adoption OF our
State Constitution IN 1880 was comparatively Dnt
newly settled had sparse population and very NIUE
wealth But since that time. this portion OF the state
has increased in wealth and numbers 10 much greater
ratio than the lower country Hence It h that tho PAY
ish representation In tie Senate unequal and unjust
Twenty thirty vote, in one OF tho Parishes whose
population and taxation combined cniitc II TO only ono
membcr IN the House of Representatives, lave Tue same
representation In the Senate that 600 voters have IN
EdgeGed District. whose population aud taxation en-
title It TO six members In Tie House. This ~ contrary
~ oil Republican principles of political justice aud
equality.
In carly history ~ South Carolina the representa-
lion in Tie Parishes repeatedly changed TO olua@
IL among the respective Election Districts; But an
.uoh changes have been obsnaiey refused duin6 tue
last ~ years Now thnt Slavery is abosheh reIoIh'
lion Ia this respect Is imperative and must be adopted
In cGectIEg this change II would DO wen 10 ADOPT he
basis Of presentation IN the House Of cprescnav1
which Is founded popu alton and taxntion fach Ju-
lioal District In the State slould however, nave
senator and the City Of Charleston two, IN addition To
me from the District Of Charleston. The other seba
ofs II the present number he retained, may be given
~ to largest districts in population aud taxation. as
ractions are now represented IN The House OF Repre-
eniaiycs. The two great elements Of Representative
Governments are wealth aud population and they
boud be both equally represented 80 that the one can
lot lcgislato To TIE injury OF tie otter
~ cqps.5eriny Tie 4ggfiipD Of population hjspTopcT