The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-09-21
The Revolutfon I'm south Carolfna-GOv
ern0r Perry's Address.

That terrible French revolution which
changed the most presumptuous, oppressive
and offensive monarchy in Europe to the re-
public of "Liberty, Equality and Fraternity"
as ON astounding transformation, is almost
equalled by the revolution which has come
upon South Carolina. Mark the contrast be-
tween the speeches of her ruling oligarchy at
her secession convention Of 1860 and the
address of her present Provisional Governor
Perry to the convention called to reorganize
the State as loyal member of the Union. See
what four years of whitening war have done in
her case. Where now Is that gorgeous fabric
of an imperial Southern confederacy, resting
upon the corner stone Of slavery, and bring
ing the destinies of all nations under the sove-
reign will Of King Cottonf 1t has all vanished
like a mirage in the desert, and the once impc-
rious city of Charleston, which dreamed of the
glory Of Rome, has narrowly escaped the fate
of Carthage!
The ruins of Sumter tell the story of South
Carolina. The condition of the fortress is the
condition of the State. II must be rebuilt
from its foundations. The local oligarchy, the
institutions, ideas and class distinctions of q
hundred years. ripening have all been shat
tered by shot and shell into heap of rubbish
From these ruins Governor Perry is called by.
President Johnson to rebuild the fabric of the
State, and with hitch or two, he goes to his
task like skilful workman. The convention
summoned together by him has assembled, and
he has chalked out the work which 1t is re-
s,vtr N do TJa all tha sv,
,neral TERMS that II is their duty to organize
State government, whereby justice may be
established, domestic tranquility insured, and
loyal citizens protected in all their rights of
life, liberty and property" and whereby the
state may be restored to her constitutional
relations to the federal government" and then
he proceeds to his specifications.
He admonishes the convention that AFRICAN
slavery, cherished institution Of South Caro-
lima from her earliest colonial history" "is
gone, dead forever, never to be revived or
hoped for in the future Of the State" After
the sacrifice, in an exhausting war, Of the
white bone and sinew of the State, and pro-
perty to the extent of two hundred and fifty
millions of the three hundred millions Of her
wealth, and all for the perpetuation Of African
slavery, this tremendous fact, that ut Is gone,
dead forever" Is presented Is the starting
point Of the convention. They must build
upon the corner stone Of Abraham Lincoln's
emancipation proclamation. They must de-
clare slavery abolished in their new State
constitution. It IL the fixed condition prece-
dent of the Presidents amnesty, the condition
to q readmission to Congress, from which there
is no escap. This may be painful duty, but
the Governor is sure that the members Of the
convention, patriotic and honorable men, will
fulfil it. He next advises them, and all con-
cerned, that 'by wise, just and humane treat
ment of your freed men and women you may
attach them TO you as strongly in their new
condition as they were while your slaves"
The Governor then proceeds to recommend
"popularizing the State constitution in sew
cral particulars" The representation in the
State Senate is arbitrary, unjust and unequal.
II ought 10 be rectiAed. The Legislature has