The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-08-26

who shall be allowed to vote i'll the
State Anattempt on the part of Con-
gress to control the elective franchise of
State would be unwarrantable usurpa-
ton. He expressed an ardent wish to
see the Constitution of South Carolina
pOpularized by abolishing the parish
representation, and equalizing the po-
litical power OF the upper and lower
country, giving the election of the Gov
ernor to the people, and also the cleo
ton of Electors of President and Vice
President.
On leaving the President, he request
ed me to call and see Mr.. Seward, Secre-
| tary of State, and give him the same in
| formation l had given His Excellency,
in reference to the public feelings and
and sentiment of South Carolina. This
| did in company with the South CT ro-
lima delegation. We found Mr.. Seward
kind and cordial, and gratified at the
information we gave him with regard to
| the politics of South Carolina. Before
visiting Mr.. Seward had been to call on
| the Attorney General, Mr.. Speed. He
expressed himself surprised and morti-
| fled at my speech made to you on the Sd
July. But soon discovered that he had
only glanced over the speech, and did
not comprehend the tone and tenn
per of my remarks. / told Mr.. Speed
what the Attorney General had said.
He replied, | read your speech this
morning. auentively, and considering
the standpoint from which you made it,
/ think 1t very good one. When l
was Governor of New York, said Mr.
Seward, i used to make speeches which
were very severely criticised in Charles
ton, and | said to myself, what the devil
have the people of Charleston to do
! with my speech made in New York? I
didn't speak to them, or for them, but to
the people OF New York. And 1 sup
pose, Mr.. Perry, you intended your
speech for South Carolina and not for
Washington.
The Attorney General expressed
wish that while reforming our Consti-
tuition, we should give the election of
Governor to the people, and invest him
with the power of appointing all State
and District officers, with the advice and
consent of the Senate. | told him my
theory had always been to give all the
important elections, President, Gov
ernor, members of Congress and MEN,
bers of Legislature to the people, and
relieve them of the trouble of assem-
bling, so often to make elections, which
generally tended to corrupt and demon
alize them.
called OH the Secretary of the Treas
ury, Mr.. McCulloch, and was very much
pleased with him as gentleman, pub
| lie officer and q statesman. | was fur
nished in the Treasury Office with list
of appointments which | had to make.
In doing so | endeavored to fiji all the
offices with men of capacity, integrity
and experience.
| likewise paid my respects to the
Secretary of War, in company with the
South Carolina delegation, and endea-
vOred to lay before this high function
airy the true condition of affairs in South
Carolina. / regretted not seeing Gen.
Howard, who is at the head of the Freed
mems Bureau in Washington. But
addressed a letter to him, giving him
my views in reference 10 the freedmen,
and asking his instructions. The whole
South Carolina delegation We're earnest
| in their efforts to impress the President
and his Cabinet with the impolicy of
garrisoning South Carolina with colored
troops. / had hoped to see General
Gilmore on this subject as | returned
through Columbia.
The last interview | had with the
! President, he requested me towrte him,
and keep him informed as TO any diff
Guilty which might meet with in Or
ganizing provisional government. |
said to him, 81 have already, Mr.. Presi-
dent, organized a provisional govern
ment for South Carolina by adopting the
State Government. have issued my
proclamation, ordering all civil officers
in South Carolina to take the oath of al
legiance and resume their official du-
ties" "Well," said he, "youare q most
expeditions Governor" / replied by
saying that my appointment came late,
and | thought it necessary to work rapid
ly. further said to him that would
have the State ready with the Consttu-
| ton reformed and her members of Con-
gress elected by the first Monday in De
cember, when Congress convened.
In conclusion, let me say to you, fell
| low-citiZens, that lam well pleased with
all that | saw and heard at Washington
| in reference to the Southern States. Let
us now do our duty, take the oath of al
| legiance, elect good and wise men to the
convention, reform our State ConStitu-
ton, abolish slavery, equalize the repre-
sentatiOn of the State in the Senate, give
| the election of Governor and Presiden-
tial Electors to the people, and all will
be well. Immediately after the conven-
ton has reformed the Constitution, the
Legislature will be convened to elect
United States Senators, and provide for
the election ofmembers Of the House of
Representatives in Congress. This may
all be done by the first Monday in De.
cember next, when the State will be full
ly restored to all her rights under the
Constitution and laws of the United
States.