Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-11-08
GOV. PERRg's MESSAGE.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, S. CAROLINA,
CoLuMBIA, October, "A, 1863,
Honorable TIE Senate and

To the Honorable tie Senate ana
House of Representatives
GEy1LEMEx.-You have convened in extra
session, bysorder of the laie. Convention, for
the purpose of considering the new aud ex
traordinary condition. cf our State, and pro
yiding, by wise and proper legislation, for the
welfare and best interests of South Carolina.
AS Provisional Governor of tie State, and in
the absence of the recently elected constttu-
tional Governor, I consider it my duty to ad-
dress you on the present occasion, and re-
commend for yourscousiderstion such meas
ures as, in my Judgment, the interes. end
welfare of the State require.
Although have not the honor of deriving
nv authority, as Chief Executive of the State,
from you, or the people of South Carolina
vet can assure you, in all sincerity, that no
constitutional Governor Of the State has ever
had your interests, your honor and prosperi
tv more at heart, or has ever devoted his time
and energies more elclusiYely and zeslously to
what he honestly believed would best promote
= the welfare and happiness of the State. And
I mays say, With equal truth, that, although
appointed Provisional Governor ovsf South
Carolina, no one has felt more respect soEthe
majesty of her laws, or been more willing to
rander obedience to the sovereignty Of her
people.
After the termination of our recent disas
trous and ruinous struggle with the Federal
Government, it pleased the President of. tic
United States to select me, ,WitbNsts,mE
knowledge, or any solicitation on sffssp of
nv friends, for the high and responsible pcsl-
ton which l now hold, to orga-ize a State
Government for South Carolina, and have
L.. restoredto all her civil and political rights
as Nc. - - '.uber of the Federal Union. lfelt
49, G =. aelicats RESPONSIBILITY of the station
assp; w t;ah M hs heen called, and was fearful
that in obeying the orcsss a1a carrying CUT
the policy Of the Fee esai 1--WE .G Stn.a Snsn
should not be able to prot. lne ;os sse sd amo nn
save the people from unjust ex. 'I .ta 80 80. p
preston: But, most fortunately, ny p,ass, nass,
generous and magnanimous policy OF .s.
dent johnson. towards the Southern .Stasl :
has enabled me to do both, and rendered my
administration pleasant and gratifying to me.
have been greatly sustained, too, by tho
honor, patriotism and loyalty of the people. !
Although received my appointments sew
eral months sfters other Provisional Cover
nors had been commissioned, l have the |
pleasure oi informing you that South Caroli- |
na is now as far advanced in. her. reconstruc
ton as any eother Southern State. Instead
of wasting time In trying to ELL all the civil
Offices OF the State with my personal or pot
litical friends and partisaDs, determined to
restore those who were in Office .the sus-
pension.aof the evil government, sand who
had been elected by the people or appointed
BY the Legislature, and were familiar with
their official duties. l knew too we'll the
character of South Carolina to doubt, for
moment, tliat5hers sors would prove loyulrand
true, after renewing their Oa5sis of allegiance
to the United States. In this' way frees
Carolina, and greatly expedited her recon-
struction. An election for members of the
Convention, to reforna our State Constitution,
was Immediately ordered. Magistrates were
authorized to adminigrsr. the oath ofSallegi-
ance so aslto quahfy the. voters in Time for
theselection. also restored cirillaw through
out the State, and ordered the courts to be
opeaed. These measures were objected TO
by the military authorities, IS transcendlng
my powers as Provisional Governor But
the President sustained me in al that had
done, and ordered the. military authorities
not to interfere with my policy, of .recopstruc-
ton. Like awise. statenman a ID patriot. he
con6des in the people, desires to see them
enjoying civil slibsr:.F; ;sud governing then-
selves. Washington had the immortal honel
Of creating the Anne fican Republic and &c
Andrew johnson vii be assigned, in history
the glory Of having recoaStructcd its broker
and dismcmbered fragments without, narrine
ito civil beauties. Like Washington, too, ht
is, BIZ, 6isdhss cyise and Inagaanipous s;policy
uniting. g.and consehlating all parties u, tA
suoport Of bis adm ;nisti atom. s S%Ss
The State Conversion assembled. aud, afte
n most harmonious session of fifteen days
presented new Constitution for the tutur