The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1865-11-22
Message Of Governor perry. !.
. EXECUTIVE DEpARTMENT,

4 - q >
To the Ronofe57e the Senate and 2ep7sseG5a
GENTLEMEN: 4 had theiS honoEsof receiyine
from the President ofthe United States, the fol-
lowing telegraphic despatch, on the 2Sthc of Oc-
tober last: I,
ts1'o B. r Perry, Provisional Gousrm0ri,. -
Your lasttw dispatches haFe been received
a9d the pardons suggested have been ordered. s
u hope that Your Legislature will have no
hesitation, in adopting the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, abolishing
slavery. twill set an example, which viii, no
doubt, be followed by the other States aud place
South Carolina in most favorable attitude be-
! fore the nation. I trust in God that it will be
sdone. The nation and State will then be left
free aud untrammelled te take that course which
sound policy, wisdom and humanity,nIay suggest
s: : ANDREW JOHNSON, president q. S." &
Three ays afterwards / received the following
telegram from the President, dated ~
-, - WASHINGTON, October 81, 1865.
| "1o, B. FxPerry Provisional G61ernor::
tsThereis deep interest felt as to what course
the Legislature will take in regard TO the adop-
ton of the amendment to the Constitution of the
United STATES, aboiishing slavery aRd the as.
sumption of the debt created to aid IN the rebel
lion againstt the Government ofthe United States.
IF the action of the Convention was in good
| faith, why hesitate in making It part of the
God that the restoration of the Union will not be
defeated, and alIaEat has so far, been well dones
thrown away! shall have faith that all viii
come out right yet. This opportunity ought to.
be understood and appreciated by the people of
the Southern States. IF know my owl heart,
andeserF passion whiel, enters it, is to restore
the blessings of the Union and lie up and heal
every bleeding wound which has been caused by
this fratricidal war Letus be guided by love
and wisdom from On high, and union and peace
will once more reign thronghous the land.
'.ANBREW JOHNSON. .nsss
| To these telegraPhie dispatches, 4 replied that
the war debt of South Carolina was Tery incon-
siderable; that our whole state debt at this times
was only about 6,0oo, ,000s; that this was
mostly incurred anterior to- the war, eonstract-
ing railroads and building q nea State house..
with an old debsGflopg standings that We had
assumed no portion of the Confederate debt and
were responsible in no way Tor it The expendi;
tnres which the State had incurredupS to q GER
tain period had all been settled and refunded by
the Confederate States.
stated that South Carolina had abolished
slayeFysin good faith, and never intended or.
wished to restore it; that the Legislature 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 prop
erty and that there was no objection to the
proposed amendmentzto the Federal SConstitu-.
ton, except tanapprehe tha: Congress might,
| under the second Section of the amendments,
claim the right to iegisfSte for the negro after
slavery was abolished Ilikewise stated, thatn nc
official notice had ever; been received by Jse
Legislature, of the proposed amendment to the
Constitution of the United States.
In reply TO this despatch, received yester-s
day, the following telegram from the Secretary OF
State, dated g s'WAsHRGToN, Nov. s, 1865. 8
go HIS Bacsllencg B. +! Perry, Provisional
Goreraoy OF South CaroliaG
< sY Your despatch to the President, Of November.
has been received. He is not entirely salts
Fed with the explanation it contains. He deems
necessary the passage of adequate ordinances,
declaring that all insurreefionary proceedings IN
the State unlawful aud void a6 iaitio.
8 Neither the Constitution nor the laws direct
official information TO the States of amendments
to the Constitution submitted by Congress No..
tiee of the amendment, by Congress, abohshing
slavery, wasneyertheles sent by the Secretary OF
State, at the tine, 10 the States which were then
in communication with. this Government. For
nal notice will imraediatel be given to these
States, which were then in insurrection.
ssThe objection which you mention, TO last
clause of Constitutional amendment, is regarded
as querulous and unreasonable, because that
clause is really restraining in its effects, instead
of enlarging the power of Congress.
ssThe President considers the acceptance of
the amendment, by South Carolina, as indispensa-
Bile to restoration of her relations with the Other
States of the Union. H. SEWARD. -
This formal notice of the proposed amendment
to the Constitution of the United States has.not
vet been received When it is, / will cohmuAis
cate the same to you. The amendment may be
seen in the Acts of the last Congress, and is in
these words1
s S Neither slavery or involuntary serYitnde; e1-
cept as a punishment of crime, whereof the par.
ty shall have been duty convicted shall exist;
within the limits of the United States, or any
place subject to their Jurisdiction.
aSEc=2 Congress shall have power to en-;
force this article By appropriate legislation -Ap-
proved Feb. /, 1865.
AfeR days since, addressed a communiea-
ton to Mr. Seward, Secretary of State, by mail,
{ IN which repeated and enlarged on che views
previously expressed TO the President, in refer
enee. TO the objections which we're entertained in
South Carolina tosthe proposed Constitutional
amendment: am happy to find t at the Sec.
retary of State does not regard these objections.
as well founded but considers them @queruleus=
and unreasonable tits true that plainss hon.
estconstrueticn of the language of the ameadueRt
would be, that slavery vas abolished IN the uni
ted States, and that Congress should simply ems
force it. When this Ras done, their legislation
would be ended They could net attempt, pn-:
der the authority given by this amendment
to pass laws for the government OF the;
tsfreedmen. in their free state. The Attor-:
ney- General of the United States and the Presi.
dent have both been understoods as cone1rrIng
In this opinion. It Monil therefore, be well, an
adopting the proposed amendment, to place on
record The construction which had been gfYens to:
EfSsby the Executive department Of the Fedetaf
GoFeFument.
tits manifest, from the earnest, eloquent and
patriotic terms 10 which the President has urged
The adoption Of the al anendment, thatshe regards
as he says, all tyat South Carolina has done
and soueii. done las thrown away, unless the.
amendment IS accepted BY tile Legislature. The.
Secretary of State is still more explicit in his
language. He says tsthe President considers
the acceptance Of the amendmentbY South Caro-.
lima as indispensable to a restoration of her re-
! lations with the other States of the Union"
The reason why this exaction is made of the
Southern States after they have abolished slavery,
Is that they might otherwise, at some future day,
change their Constitutions andrestore slavery, IN
! defiance of the Federal Government.
You, gentlemen, have, at this time, the destl'
nv of the State in your hands, and feel assured
that you will act calmly and dispassionately,