The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-11-08
Message OF Governor Perry.
ExECUT1vE DEPARTM

South Carolina, November z, 1865.
To the Honorable the Senate and House Of
Representatives.
GENTLEMEN: had the honor of receiv-
ing from the President of the United States.
the following telegraphic despatch, on the
28th Of October last:
ss1o B. +. Perry. Provisional Gorermor:
'eYour last two dispatches have been re-
ceived and the pardons suggested have
been ordered.
''I hope that your Legislature will have no
hesitation in adopting the amendments to the
Constitution of the United States, abolish
will, no doubt, be followed by the other
Statos and place South Carolina in q most
favorable attitude before the nation. I
trust in God that it will be done. The
nation and State will then be left free and
untrammelled to take that course which
sound policy, wisdom and humanity may
suggest. "ANDREW JOHNSON,
president U. s."
Three days afterwards 1 received the fol-
lowing telegram from the President, dated
WASHINGTON, October 81, 1865.
"7o B. +. Perry, Provisional Goce''mor:
'sThere is deep interest felt as to what
course the Legislature will take in regard
to the adoption of the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, abolish
ing slavery, and the assumption OF the
debt created to aid in the rebellion against
the Government Of the United States.
If the action Of the Convention was in
good faith, why hesitate in making it
part of the Constitution of the United
States? l trust in God that the restoration
of the Union will not be defeated, and all
that has, so far, been well done, thrown
away! still have faith that all will come
out right yet. This opportunity ought to
be understood and appreciated by the
people of the Southern States. If l know
enters it, is to restore the blessings Of the
Union and tie up and heal every bleeding
wound which has been caused by this frat
ricidal war. Let us be guided by love and
wisdom from on high, and union and peace
f, will once more reign throughout the land.
''ANDREW JOHNSON"
To these telegraphic dispatches, 1 re-
piled that the war debt of South Carolina
was very inconsiderable; that our whole
State debt, at this time, was only about
anterior to the war, i'll constructing rail-
! roads and building new State house, with
III old debt of long standing; that We had
assumed no portion Of the Confederate
! debt and were responsible in no way for it.
| The expenditures which the State had in
| CURED up to q certain period had all been
settled and refunded BY the Confederate
| States.
I stated that South Carolina had abolish
ed slavery iii good faith, and never intended
or wished to restore it; that the Legisla-
tllre was then considering wise, Just and
humane system of laws for the government
and protection of the freedmen, in all their
rights of person and property; and that
there was no objection to the adoption of
the proposed amendment to the Federal
Constitution, except an apprehension that
| Congress might, under the second section
of that amendment, claim the right to lc-
gislate for the negro after slavery was
abolished l likewise stated that no official
notice had ever been received. by the Le-
gislature, of the proposed amendment to
No if,,fin Of thn IT,,it Il Ct,fn
In reply to this despatch, l received yes
tcrtlay, the following telegram from the
Secretary of State, dated
''WAsHINGToN November 6, 1865.
''To HIS Erceliency b. F. Perry, Prori-
siond{ GOre1mo1 Of South Cdr0tlla:
''Your despatch to the President, of No
vembcr t, has been received He is not
entirely satisfied with the explanation it
contains. He deems necessary the passage
OF, adequate ordinances. declainS that
| all lnSurrectionary proceedings in the State
unlawful and void ab inIio.
Neither the Constitution nor the laws
direct official information to the States of
amendments TO the Constitution submitted
| by Congress. Notice of the amendment,
by Congress, abolshing slavery, was never
the time, to the States which were then in
communication with this Government.
Formal notice will Immediately be given to
these States, which were then in i;isurrcc-
| ton.
THE objection which you mention, to
last clause of the Constitutional amend
mcnt, is reSuardcd as querulous and un-
reasonable, because that clause is really
restraining in it's effects, instead OF enlarg-
| ing the power of Congress.
''The President considers the acceptance
of the amendment, by South Carolina, as
| indispensable to restoration Of her re-
lations with the other States of the Union
'WM. H. SEWARD"
This formal notice of the proposed
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States has not yet been received.
| When it is, will communicate the same to
you. The amendment may be seen in the
Acts Of the last Congress, and is III these
| words:
| ''Neithcr slavery nor involuntary :3ervi-