The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1866-05-08
Oh 4 r L E S TON.
TUESDAY MORNING. MAY 8, 1865.
GOVERNOR PERRY,s LETTER.

0OPEhROf fERh + y LETIER.
Ex-Governor PERRY wrote q letter to the
Editor of the New York Tribune, dated April
Is, and which is psblished in the issue of that
journal of May 8. The letter, quite lengthy
document, treats Of such topics as we have
been frequently regsled with in the testimony
of Southern men before the Reconstruction
Commistee in Washington. AS the Governor
was not undergoing the thumb-sorewing pro-
cess at the time, he was able to take wider
range, and tell the men of the North fully
and oircumstantially what the condition of
tho South 10 at present; discusses the ques-
tions Of suffrage and representation, a2d after
showing up some Of the leading fallacies in
vogue among Northern logicians, he says:
SHOW unreasonable 1t is in you Northern mer.
to suppose that we have less sincere regard for
the negro than you have. It is against nature,
and contrary to all reason and experience. The
negroes have been our slaves and property, the
objects Of our care ar attention. They are known
to US, and have lived with rs for years past. They
have descended to Us from our ancestors, and
were the OBJ jects Of their and solicitude. In
many instances, they and their progenitors have
been in our families for moro than century.
There are others who have been raised by us. or
have grown up with us as companions, faithfully
we eheuld under these circumstances, feel deeper
interest in their welfare than strangersp The
Southern people are not less humane, or less af-
fectionate, or less iafuenced by sentiments OF
honor, than the Northern people are. They are
as generous and as kind to persons In distress.
think their history and character al people show
much s about the protection Of the negro Z" 90 ~
He next goes on to show what emancipa.
ton has already dono for the negro race in
the South; in this confirming the testimony
lately given by Judge sHARkEY, of Missis.
sippi, before the Central Directory at Wash
ington,-that tho next United States Census
would show decrease Of .25 per cent. in the
colored population the four millions of 1860
would be found to be scarcely three millionl
in 1870. 1' 80. '''
The influence exsrted by the Freedmen'
Bureau, encouraging the negro in itlenes
and vice, is the next point made by Sensto
Perry. He then adverts to the alleged phi
lanthropy, upon which all this guardianshil
of "the nations wards" is based and he use
the following argun.sntum ad hominem
'1f you really and sincerely wish to protect On,
benefit the negro, Why do do you not take him MORT
o suo
to you, especially those who will not labor, en-
whom you are now protecting In idleneos at tn
J expense Of the Southern people. Having them a
? home with you, and Immediately under your ow
? supervision you may be able to benefit them. Blu
IL 70 impoasible to do go when they are thousan
miles from you. While they remain in the South
ern states they will have to look ultimately TO tn
Southern people for protection"
And again he asks: ..,.t.g
"Why Is Il that you love the negro so well an
hate the white race so muoh2 They have ere
anu gone astray, It is true but they are now per
: iteht. and are making mercy at your handB. Thei
8 punishment and suffering, It would seem, wer
, enough 70 eatisfy the most malignant revengt
and ought certainly to appeal to phiIanthropit
] like yourself You shonld remember that ther
are thousands OF Union men In the Souther
: sESftefing equally With those who brought on Chi
!. We close our extracts here, and can onl
wonder at Mr. PEaRY's patience, In yolunt.
rily undergoing the labor involved IN thi
{ oct of sapererogetioD. For urely no did nc