Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1866-03-23
SENATOR PERRY,s LErrER.

recent letter OF Se6utoE Z eIty .,o''Suahy
published in the Nationos Inteligencr:
It would seem that the object Of the ra'
dical party in Congress, in offering so ma
ny amendments to the Constitution, and in
insisting on the application of the test oath
to members of Congress, WAS TO perpetuate
their power in the Government. Instead ol
having this effect, however, it will more
than likely have just the opposite tenden-
cr Their amendments will never bo adop.
led by three-fourths Of the States, and
their continued exclusion Of the Southern
mombers must produce reaction against
them,. when they go before the people
again.
lfthe Southern members were all admit
ted, the radical party would still have
majority in both Houses. They need not
therefore, be afraid Of the sceptre departing
from Judah, during the Thirsy-ninth Con-
gress. It is true their majority would be
diminished, and it is possible that measure
like thu. of the Frecdmen's Bureau bill
might have been endangered on it's passage,
if the Southern Representatives had been
permitted to show its monstrous injustice
to its dcmora!izing influence on the freed
man, its ruinous consequences 10 the culture
of the Sea island cotton, and startling ex-
pendtures it will require to support the idle
and vicious negroes, who Will not work,
and are to be fed and clothed by the Gov
ernment. This bill taxes the poor white
man throughout the North to support the
vicious and vagrant Southern negro. 1t
takes from the planter his home without
consideration and turns his wife and chill
arne out doors 10 perish, in order that his
former slaves may not be under the neces-
sity Of making contract to work those
lands, but be able to live on them in idle
ness, and get their support from the Freed
mems Bureau.
As an evidence of the boasted loyalty
and good conduct Of these negroes. it may
be stated that a party Of gentlemen from
the State Of Pennsylvania visited one OF
the islands near Charleston the other day,
with written permission from Gen. Sickles.
The negroes captured the party, in viola
ton of military orders, and were going to
massacre the whole party Of them; march.
ed them; twelve miles across the island,
and treated them with the greatest indig-
nifty the whole routeI Those are the peo-
pie who are to be allowed to vote, and elect
out of their number a member Of Con-
gressl
The Southern people have been peculiar
ly unfortunate. At one time they thought
1t better to withdraw their members from
Congress, and live separately from the
North. This they desired to do peaceably
and quietly. The North objected, and de.
clared that the Union should not be dis
solved. They We're repeatedly told that
they must lay down their arms, elect their
members of Congress, and resume their
position in the Union. Finally they con-
sented to do SO. Now they are told that
the Union is dissolved, and they shall not
DC allowed to resume their places in it! Let
the North beware, lest in forging chains
tor the South they do not enclose them
Tbs Freedmen's Bureau is an imperiuna in
emperio, and now embraces the North az
well as. the South.
But am not disposadto despair of the
isepubi'c. I have always had an abiding
'a''h 'p the virtue and intelligence of the.
American people North and South. The
time must come, sooner or later, when the
test oath will be repealed and soubern
Representatives admitted 10 their seals in
Congress. was once excluded from office
in South Carolina BY a test oath on account
OF my Union principles. I did not then
despair, and l do not now. That oath woo
carried before an independant and enl;obt
ened Judiciary ofand State, and it was de-
clatee: unconstitutional. II the present
test oath can ever be brought before . o..
'!ar tribunal in the capitol, ii must: ,Sa.s S
.i nesame fate. The American people too.
Will to sit in Judgment on It A. ,bs
next election and decide whether the 1Jn;on
shall continue, or be superseded by a mill.
fary despotism. The North should :eons;
der that when once the Southern ;beon,.
nsys esen enslaved they beat instruments
70 ensiaEe The. North, as was said by. the
great Earl Of Chatham in reference to ou.
lore'athers and England at the: colm,nence-
ment Of the American revolution, : ~, ::
me Southern States have committed
gt'eyous errors, andterfible has been their
punishment, :" .o sufficient one would suppose,
% CRAFTY the blaekest hate .of the most
malignant sreyeDger here ia ,r;oth;r !.