Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-05-21
The Convention Question---Another Str6ne
Letter from Ex-Governor Perry.

Letter from Ex-Governor Perry.
To the Editors Of the Columbia Ph@nlc:
The people of South Carolina were persuaded
six or seven years ago, that their only hope of
maintaining African slavery was in. the destruc-
ton OF the American Union and the formation
OF Southern Confederacy. | did not think
so, and raised my warning voice against this IA
tai delusion. | said to them that slavery was
safer In the Union than it could be in a separate
Confederacy. | told them that the extinction
OF the Union would be the death kne of slave
.ry. They spurned my counsel, and madly rush
ed into bloody civil war, which ended in the
abolition Of slavery. Now they are being per-
suaded, again, that the only way to save their
lands from the coniscation Of Congress, is in
adopting the provisions of the Military Bill,
giving universal suffrage to the negro, and dis
tranchlslng their leading public men. 1t is
with sad heart that | see indications, all over
the State, OF a preparation to adopt this second
delusion, which will prove more fatal to the
State than the first has been. 1t is true, they
lost by the first their property in slaves, and
involved their country In a long and bloody war,
which desolated the State and sacrificed thou
sands of their most gallant sons it is true, also,
that they were conquered, and have been placed
under a military government. But now they
are going to sacrifice their honor as a people,
and lose their lands into the bargain They
are going to enfranchise 10000 black votes, and
surrender the political power of the State into
the hands Of the negroes The inevitable re-
suit OF this deluslon and criminal folly will be
the establishment of the most atrocous govern
ment and horrible state of society that civilized
people were ever subjected to.
Already the negro watch-cry In Virginia and
elsewhere is Lands for the landless - Homes
for the houseless'' Political equality to all
{
will 40, 600 white votes have in South Carolina
with this watch-cry ringing at the polls? 1t is
against nature and reason to suppose that an
ignorant and debased majority will not pursue
their own interest, regardless of right, and carry
out their wicked purposes, whatever they may
be. 1t is possible to restrain them at first be-
fore they acquire concert of action. Hence the
importance of defeating the call of Conven-
ton at the first election, before this majority is
organized and emboldened by agitation and evil
counsels. 1t cannot be controlled afterwards,
but will make South Carolina a political and
social pandemonium. Is there an instance in
the world S history Of class of men, invested
with political power. who did not unite to pro-
mote their own interests! :!
Just as sure as general suffrage is given to
the negro, in South Carolina he will feel his
numerical strength, and sooner or later, under
the vile lead of Black Republican emissaries,
seize the political power of the State, and ex-
ercise it to Cypress and plumber the white race.
There are thousands OF unprlncipled white men
among US, who will unite their destiny with the
negro for the sake ofspoils and plunder. They
will easily be persuaded, and persuade them
selves, that it is right and proper that the lands
of the State should be divided out equally
amongst all her citizens Every one should
have home-the poor freedman as well as his
former rich master. Having the power in their
hands, with this belief, it is folly and stupidity
to suppose they will not execute it. They must
serve on juries and hold office, ride with you
and your wives and daughters in the cars, and
eat with you at the hotel and sit with you in
the church. All this, and ten times more, you
must endure from your black political masters.
And can it be that the pride of Carolina has
sunk so low, and been so degraded, as to vote
for all this voluntarily, for the purpose of get
ting back into that Union which her citizens
professed to hate and despise so cordially few
years since? Are they willing to go to the polls
and cast their vote for Convention, with this
destiny staring them in the face, in order to
save their lands from con6scation? No They
will be voting the ultimate confscation of their
lands and their political rights as surely as they
are voting away their honor as men and Caro-
llnlanS.
There are in the State only ten Districts out
OF the thirty IN winch the White voters are In
the majority, and these Districts are the small
est; consequently wo-thirds and more of the
Convention may be negroes or Black Republi-
cans. The Legislature will be similarly com
posed. Do the people of South Carolina really
think OF these consequences or are they pre-
pared to accept them? Better thousand times
let Congress confiscate your lands than entail
such Government and such degradation and
misery on yourselves and posterity. DO your
duty and leave the consequences to God Act
like men and Carolinians. Declare, by voting
against Convention, that you will never vol
unfairly yield the right Of self government, or
place yourselves under the control of your form
er slaves. Better-far better-to remain as
you are, under the military rule of your con-
querors, and await their returning sense of JUS
tice. I feel assured that nothing but mista-
ken appeal to base fear, and that dastardly vir-