Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1865-09-30
Governor Perry's Message.

Perry, Of South Carolina, addressed to
he members of the State Convention now
n session at Columbia, the capital Of the
State. 1t is an able and we'll digested
'tate paper, and boldly meets the
issues which the people Of that section are
sailed upon to decide at this time. The
events of the last four years have irrsvo.
cably settled certain great questions,
among which is the absolute freedom Of
the colored race--a fact universally re-
cogniEed at the South, and which will
be universally acquiesced in by a modif-
cation OF their system Of labor to the wants
and demands Of capital. He invokes the
people not to be desponden, in view Of the
past, but to meet with courage aud firm
ness the duties made imperative by the
exigencies Of the future. He assures the
Convention that the President desires the
speedy restoration Of the State to all her
constitutional rights within the Union,
and that he will set his face inhexibly
against any attempt at consolidation or
absorption by Congress Of the powers le.
ultimately reserved 10 the States by the
Constitution. With this assurance, which
he gives in behalf Of the President, he
calls upon the Convention to embrace this
opportunity of republicanizipg the consti-
tion Of tho State, in accordance with the
progress of events and the new order OF
things precipitated upon them. The Par
ish system, with its arbitrary and arti'
cial distinctions, he insists should be abro.
gated, and a principle of representation
adopted which shall be based more equally
upon the elements of property and popu
lation, the freedmen being counted in the
inhabitants of the respective districts on
the Federal basis of FIVE to three. He
proposes that each judicial District shall
have one Senator, with two for the City
of Charleston, and one additional Senator
for that district. In reference to negro
suffrage, he declares that the Government
was established for the white race, and
that to confer suffrage upon those recently
their slaves would lead to confusion and
disorganization, and that the State must
decide this question for herself, as it is
incontestably her right to do.
He proposes that the election of Presi.
dental Electors shall hereafter be made
by the people, and calls upon the Conven.
ton to commit this matter to popular
verdict, SO that the ensuing Legislature
may furnish the requisite enactment to Sc
cure this result. The appointment of
State officers he thinks should be made by
the Governor, with the advice and consent
Of The Senate: He announces the restor-
alton of Civil Law Courts and officers,
except as to freedmen, who are to be ad,
judged by the Provost Courts, until rc.
construction is fully accomplished. He
states that the colored troops are to be
removed from the interior Of the State,
where their influence has been so demor-
alizing, to the sea.board Notifications,
where they can do no further harm, if not
entirely from its territorial limits. The
is full and complete, and covers
almost every measure of needed reform. r.
1t is clear and explicit in its statements
wise and judcious in its recommendations
and will no doubt receive the earnest and
consideration of the Convention.
His declaration that the President entire
y approves the policy he has thus far
pursued, aud stands imm ovably upon the
Constitution aud the rights it guarantees
The States can hardly fail to assure the
Convention that its great and paramount
abors will not be lost in a futile attempt
1t restoration.