Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1865-11-17
w. A. LEE. EDITOR.
MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR PERRY.
EXECUTIVE DEpARTMEET,


MESSAGE OF GOVERNOR PERRY.
EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT,
South Carolina, November 7, 1865.
To the Honorable the Senate and House
Of Representatives.
ing from the President of the United States,
tho following telegraphic desb,tch, on the
2s:f of October last:
ITO B. F. Perry, Provisional Governor I:
"Your last two dispatches have been re-
ceivsd and tho pardons suggested have
been ordered.
Il hopo that Jour legislature will have
no hesitation iu. adopting the amendment
to the Constitution Of the United States,
.bolishing slavery. 1t will get an example,
which will, no doubt, be followed by the
other States and place South Carolina in
most favorable attitude before the nation.
trust in CID that it will be done. The
nation and State will then be left free and
untrammelled to take that course which
sound policy, wisdom and humanity may
suggest.
"ANDREW JOHNSON,
:. "President U. S."
Three days afterwards I received the
following telegram from the President,
dated
WASHINGTON, October 81, 1865.
"Io B. F. Perry, Provisional Governor:
AThere is deep interest felt as to what
course the Legislature will take in regard
to the adoptiou> of the amendment to the
Constitution of the United States, abolish
ing slavery, and the assumption of the
debt created to aid in the rebellion against
che Government Of the United States. III
the action Of the Convention was in good
faith, why hesitate in making it part of
tue Constitution of the U nited States? II
trust in God that the restoration Of the
Union will not be defeated, and all that
has, 20 far, been we'll done, thrown away
still have faith that all will come out
right yet. This opportunity ought TO be
understood and appreciated by the people
of the Southern States. If 1 know my
own heart, and every passion which enters
it, to restore the blessings Of the Union
and tie up and heal every bleeding wound
which has been caused by this fratricidal
war. Let US be guided by love and wis
dom from on high, and union and peace
will! once more reign throughout the land.
"ANDREW JOHNSON"
To these telegraphic dispatches, 1 re-
piled that the war debt Of South Carolina
was very incousidersble; that our whole
State debt, at this time, was only about
{, 1000, 600 that this was mostly incurred,
anterior. TO the war, in constructing rail
roads and buildinga q new State house, with
an old debt Of long standing; that we had
assumed no portien Of the Confederate
debt and were responsible in no way for it.
The expenditures which the State had in.
Cured up to certain period had all been
settled and refunded by the Confederate
Statess
I stated that South Carolina had abol>
ishea slavery in good faith, and never iu-
tended or wished to restore it; that the
Legislature was then considering a wise,
just and humane system of laws for the
government and protection Of the freed
men, in all their rights of person and prop.
erty; and that there was no objection to
tBe adoption of the proposed amendment
to the Federal Constitution, except an ap.
prehension that Congress might, under the
second section of that amendment, claim
the right to legislate for the negro after
slavery was abolished: T likewise stated,
that no official notice had ever been re-
ceiyed, BY the Legislature, of heproposed
amendment to the Constitution of the
United States.
In reply to this despatch, Irecsived. yes
terday, the following telegram from tho
Secretary Of State, dated
"WAsHlNeros, November8, 1865.
%1o Ris Escelieaeg B. F. Perry, Proui-
sional Governor Of South Carolina:
"Your despatch to the President, Of No
vsmbes. 4, has been received. He is not
entirely satisfied with the explanation it
contains. He deems necessary the passage
Of adequate ordinances, declaring that all
tnsuTrectionsry proceedings in the State
unlawful and void al i;niio.
I" ''Esither the Constitnsson nor The Laws
direoe official Information to the State W
.susndmsnts to the Constitution submitted
BY congssss. Notice Of the ssnendnent
by Congress-. sboiishins slavery -. -,