The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1866-11-28
Governor Pcrry,s Letter.

| tracted more attention, so far as our
observation has extended, than any
other paper which we have seen. 1t
has been published from New York to
New Orleans, IN the leading papers
of every city, and has been generally
accompanied by very commendatory
motto es. We have not space for all the
comments Of our contemporaries on
this admirable production, but sub
Join extracts from two Southern lead
ing journals.
The New Orleans Times has very
long and able notice of the letter, in
which it says the antecedents of
Governor Perry "entitle it to the
highest consideration OF the people
of the entire South 1t says:
"No living statesmen can show q
fairer record, and although we have
often differed from his views, promul-
gated in times of high party excite
ment, yet we are prepared to bear
testimony to his thorough honesty
A native citizen of South Carolina,
and, for the last quarter of century,
one of her most .honored legislators,
he was yet opposed to the leading
doctrines OF what was called the Caro-
lima party. IN the old notification
controversy that took place in 1882
3, he ranged himself on the side of
the Unionists; and, in 1850, when
! q H. tri,, ,,fc
ed and maintained with great ardor
by many Of the most eminent citizens
OF that State, he raised an earnest
voice against it, through the columns
of 4 press then under his able direc-
ton. When the State of South Caro-
lima, at length, in 1860, actually
seeded, he bowed to her behests,
and united his fortunes with that Of
his State, during the unhappy war
that succeeded"
The Times then proceeds to sum
marize approvingly the arguments
used by Gov. Perry against the
amendment, and concludes as fol-
lows:
'These views, nobly expressed by
Gov. Perry at the proper time, are
very encouraging The South has no
cause for despair Her citizens are,
and will be, true to themselves in this
hour of threatened danger to their
liberties, and tho Chief Magistrate of
the nation, who, in the midst of
difficulties, has displayed the energy
of jackson, and the courage of a
Cromwell, will, we are sure, prove
himself equal to the further trials to
Which they may be subjected by the
unhallowed designs and crafty ma
neuvres of the enemies of the Union
and the Constitution.
The Columbus (Ga.) Sun expresses
more fully our own opinion when we
published the letter. We have to
limit ourselves to one or two extracts
from the editorial Of that paper:
"We can recall nothing from all that
has been written or spoken upon the
acceptance by the South of the Con-
stitutional Amendment, which will
compare in point, clearness and force
to this production of the pen of the
CAL iON1SlOIol OONCruOr OF SOutn
Carolina. From it the North may
learn the exact status of every true
Southerner, and in addition, may
find in it q faithful portraiture of the
wandering vagabonds who claim to
be the e1ponents Of Southern loyalty
and Unionism.
This last effort Of Governor Perry
has filled to repletion, the measure Of
our admiration for his intellectual
capacity and exalted honor. He
alone, Of all the Union men of the
South, can present record which
will command universal respect for
its consistency, and in comparison
with his own, the prosecutions of all
the rest, for devotion to the Union,
have been light and trifing. Almost
unaided and alone, he fearlessly faced
the intolerant spirit Of the domi
nant party in South Carolina His
devotion to the Union cast shadow
upon his life in the early days of his
manhood, and throughout the strug-
giles of after years, he stood by his
principles in the face Of social ostra-
cism; and in times when the express
sion of Union sentiment was almost
a badge of personal infamy."
We are truly gratifed to see that
this able letter has been properly ap-