Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-12-08
PROV. GOV, pERRY,s ADDRESS.

| aud TO congratulate you on the restoration of
| the State. once more, TO self government and
| independence, member of 1he Federal
Union. Like the leader Of Gods chosen peo-
| pie Of DID, have had the honor Of conducting
you through The wilderness, within sight Of
the promised lanl but am not permitted to en-
ter IT.. That great boon hns been reserved for
my distinguished friend. who is now about to
| oe InnuSuratsd ns The first Chief Magistrate Of
the Stnte ever elected by the sovereign pco
| pie. II not within "thtce days" he will with
,n ,h Wy short time be able TO pass you over
the confusion "nd militnryAe: e: under which
yot have SO long lived, to tHsl happy state in
which you vi i'll be able to govern Yourselves
| aud enjoy aH the rights aud privileged of free
and enlightened people. UnJcr his wise and
able administration, hope to see the good old
State revive, prosper, and be once moro hnp.
ny.
am sure, gentlemen. that I may say with
j. perfect propriety, ns The representative of the
| Federal Government ip South Carolina that
the State has done enough 10 entitlc her to be
| received back ns n member u tho Federal
I'm on, with all Of her Constitutional rights
| fully restored. She was foremost in assuming
the post of danger III The recent revolution.
and IN her appeal to arms in defence of whoL
shc honestly believed 70 be her reserved rights
rs q Stnte Calamity mud molly her sons
| fought through the war. pouring out their
bloo! and sacrificing their lives on almost ev-
cry battle field throughout The Southern States,
When conqut red by overwhelming numbers,
| seeihS toWnS ana villages nothing but
snl"ul,lering rrins, Their beloved State a wide.
| sEreaS des"lntion, their wives, and eistere and
little children, and aged parents ut mt
Of stnrvation. like brave men
| the DEGREES of God, and sublilitten ..
| to the dire fortunes of war; Sad u..u
with manly fortitudc and tirmncss tlcyav ).
ed the terms Of the conqueror. When those
! terms were made known they we're first, with
u gener"u' pride and high clivalry, to assume
the huniialiop wiich their State had been
foremost in bringing on our common country.
As soon ns the Presidents Proclamation was
issued. the people OF South Carolina went
chcerfully forward, md took the amnesty
| onth. They promptly assembled in Convcn-
ton. under tho order Of tho Provisional Gov.
ernoI, and Reformed their State Constitution
| as was 'i"si' cd by the President. They abol-
ishc'l slavery. and freely gave up their two
hundred miYps, invested III slaves. When
advised to ad6pt the@ Congressional amendment
10 the Constitution OF the United States nbol-
aboI:shing slavery, S"n,h Carolina was the
| hr>t Southern State which ratified tho same
and SIT an example for her sister States to fol.
| low. She lnus been first, also,. in preparing n
wise aud humane code Of laws for the protcc.
ton oi the freedmen jim oil their rights Of per-
s"nal prGpcrty, nnd allowing them to give tes.
| tim9py in her Courts of Justice. She has now
| elected her Rcbrescn tatives in both Houses Of
| Congress, and commissioned them 20 take their
| seats in that body. She has organized q per-
| feet State Government. with Legislative Exc
Gu'ive and Judiciary Departments, ali repub
iican III their character, aud tho members of
each swearing 70 SUPPORT the Constitution of
the United States. Her Ordinances of scces.
| sion have been repealed and she now pledges
herself 10 stand by the Union in good faith,
and with u sincerity.
Having done all This, YOU and your State
have done yuur duty, gracefully nad faithful
| W as becomes gallant and generous. people
who ARE never afraid to assume a,.y rcsition
where Ior"nd patriotism prompt. 7 know
the PRESIDENT desires 10 relieve you Of military
rule, aud see your Representatives once more
seated IN The councils of the nation. cannot
beliavc that Congress viii exclude them. b1 a
teet oath, which does not apply to members of
Congress, for they are not officers Of the Fed.
erai Government, ns wns early decided in the
history Of our Government. Nor has Con
gress any power to impose on It's members any
other oath than that prescribed in the Cons,i
tutIor 70 admit a con trary doctrine, would
enable the majority in Congress to exelutl. the
minority, becaGsc they were Democrats, or
States Rights men, prufcssel any other
principes repuynnnt to the creed of the II: DIOR.
iiJ. The CoEs'itp, ioual oath was wisely or
dained. ans excludes I'LL other oatlls. The
powers of Congress are delegated and specific,
and they have noolhers. The reason for the
passage Of this test oath has passed awap, and
if not repealed, M South Carolina can
fill D Federal office till new generation has
sprung up, for nll now living. mien, women and
children, did, in some way, counten"nce tho
war.
1t is known to you, gentlemen, thut I vas
opposed to the secession of South Carolina. |
No man In Aperiea regretted plpre deeply than |
! did this fatal movement, for thought fore. |
say all the evil consequences which Eaye re. T
suited from it. But. when tho issue was made. !
my feelings i'll sympathy were oil with my
native State. Aud yet L conscientiouslv be-
lieVed thnt even the success Of the Southern
States would be disastrous. The jealouses and
errors of the Grecan States were constantly in
my mind. Disintegration once commenced in
a confederation Of republics, no one could.
tyrannies, or a consolidated military despot-
ism.
Hencef"rth. no one will repudlatc the fare.
we'll advice OF Washington, as to the imi,or.
tanee and perpetuity of the Federal Union, It
has shown power and strength, moral and
physical, which defy dissolution till some cx- 4
traordinnry change has taken place in tle con:
dtion of the people. . The tendency of.eiviIi-
cation is to eninrge Governments. and not to
disintegrate them. All causes of disco tent or
dissatisfaction between the North aud the
South, lave been removed by the abolition of
slavery. The different sections of this great
Rerublc are mutually dependent on each
other. The Southern States plant cotton and
the Northern States manufacture it. The
great est grows grain, and raises live stock
for-the supply Of both sectione.. = We all spenk
the same language. and have the same common
origin. Our opinions apd feelings in regard to
the republican principles Of government are
identical. There IL, too, q similarity in our
pursuts and habits. manners, customa, and re.
ligion and educatioD. 2a - , - Il
History teactfes US that the present asperity
of feelipg, wliiciimay exist in The breasts Of
many. in consequence Of the wrongs and inju.
ries of the war, will soon wear out. Brave
and honorable men are always ready and viii. |
ling to become reconcilcd. History teaches ms \