The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-08-17
speeeh of GOV. B. +. PerrYl

"" IUeHouT |hHyNStsl, ON NtS TetHTH
from Wasiiagtoa. Z"
FELLow.CrmzENs Il have met you
this morning, not to make a speech, but
to talk over the incidents of my late Wis.
it to Washington. l started there,
three weeks since as your delegate, to
ask for the appointment Of a Provision
al Governor, and the restoration of civ.
il authority in South Carolina. On my
way, | met a messenger from his Excel.
lency, President Johnson, bearing com.
mission appointing me Provisional Gov.
ernor of the State. This was an honor
which / had not anticipated, and never
aspired to.
On my arrival in Washington, I ad.
dressed a note to the President asking
the honor of an audience for the purpose
of receiving his instructions, and commu.
nicating to him my views in reference
to the political tone and temper of the
State. After waiting that evening and
the next day, without hearing from the
President, paid visit to Governor
Dennison, Postmaster.General This
gentleman received mo most kindly, and
seemed gratiied at the account gave
him Of South Caroline. He assured mo
that the President had not received my
note. and very obligingly ordered his
carriage and went to the Executive
mansion to ascertain the truth of the
matter. In a short time afterwards, |
received note from President Johnson,
stating that my communication, the day
before, had not been received, and that
be would see me Mt three o'clock. IN re.
ply, stated that l would do myself the
honor to call on his Excellency at the
hour designated, and that my friends
Coils. Orr, Elford. Williams, Bacon, and
Messrs. Leitch, Grady, Gibbes and Blod.
gett would accompany me. We were
received very cordially and remained an
hour or two with the President. told
him that the people of South Carolina
accepted the terms Of his proclamation,
and were disposed 10 return to their
allegiance to tic Union, That from hav.
ing been the most rebclious State in the
South, was satisfied South Carolina
would, henceforth, be one Of the most
loyal of the Southern States. That she
would reform her Constitution and abol.
ish slavery, give the election Of Govern.
or and Presidential elections 10 the peo s
pie, and equalize the representation of
the State. / gave it as my opinion
that the disunion feeling Of the Soutl,
had originated IN the parishes.
The President expressed himself gra.
titled Mt the course of South Carolina
was likely to pursue, and instead Of
manlfestng any bitter or revengeful
spirit, he evinced great kindness, solici.
tude and magnanimity. The whole
delegation was deeply Impressed with
the courtesy, dignity and ability of his
Excellency. His political views express.
ed to US were those Of q patriot aud
statesman. He wished to see tie coun.
try once more quiet, peaccable, happy
and prosperous. In regard to the rcla.
tive powers of the State and tile Fedora!
Government Ills opinions were identical
with my own, SO long expressed in
South Carolina. He was equally oppos.
ed to the centralization and consolla.
ton of powers in Congress as he was to
the secession of the States, 1t must be
left to the Legislature of each State to
decide who shall be allowed to vote in
the State. Any attempt on the part OF
Congress to control the elective franchise
of State would be an unwarrantable
usurpation. He expressed an ardent
wish to see the Constitution Of Sonth
Carolina popularized by abolishing the
parish representation and equalizing the
political power of the upper and lower
country, giving the election of Governor
to the people. and also the election of
electors Of President and Yice.Presi.
dent.
On leaving the President he request.
ed me to call and see Mr.. Seward, Sec.
retary of State, and give him tho same
information I had given his Excellcncy
in reference TO the public feelings and
sentimSsss of South Carolina. This I
do = sompany with the South Carolina
|. tI6lsgatissssE We fouad Mr.. Sowa,d kind