The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-07-10

w udFC euucdVOIeu W SuOW eNt11 W
position to the reconstruction laws must
lead to an ahtagonisn between the races,
and that such antagonism might erentu-
ate in open cordict-the most terrible OF
all evils that could befall the Southern
people. AS Governor Brown said in re-
cent address to the freedmen at Miledge:
vile; the thing rrost to be feared is a
quarrel or war of races. 1t would be
nearly the ruin of both, but they (the
f'eedmeh) would be the greatest sufferers,
from the fact that the whites in the South
are in a majority Of two to one. But this
is theme we do not wish to dwell upon,
and trust that the good sense Of both will
guide them in the way of harmony and
peace to the goal of restoration and re-
united country.
But to the other point Governor Per-
ry says if we have no Convention, we will
remain as we are-nnder military rule.
This is even doubtful, for we believe Sc
vercr rule would be established, if not
universal distranchisement and conisca-
ton. Remain as we are ! Are our peo-
pie prepared for this continuance? Are
our planters; with halfstocked farms and
scarcely enough provisions; without mon
cy and without credit, content to remain
as they are? Are our merchants, from
the highest to the lowest, doing little or
no business; without even ordinary COM
mercial credit, content to remain as they
are Are our mechanics and artisans,
with curtailcd employmentaud low wages,
from a lack of capital among employers,
and paying heavy taxes, content to re-
main rs they are !? And assuredly not
only will all these classes in the field OF
industry remain as they are, if we are not
restored to the Union, but the future will
be worse than the present. Not q dollar
of foreign capital will come to the South
until her political relations are restored:
And this is told US by those who have
that capital to advance. Money is abun-
dant ut the North, ard there is plethora
of it both there and in Europe, and yet
the owners of the fertile lands of the
South, or the owners of other real estate
in the Southern cities and towns cannot
raise dollar, even by mortgaging such
property at one-fourth Of its value. Re-
main as we are-willfully unreconstructed
and the struggle to regain our lost pros
perity; or to secure the means of any sort
of existence in the future, will be terrible,
but short, sharp and decisive against US.
1t is useless to refer to Governor Per-
ry's hopes from the Democratic party OF
any other party at the North. The Dem
ocrats of that section may have fought
our battles, as Governor p says; but they
were bloodless battles, fought on the field
of politics for abstract principles-and
fought too, for party success and for the
spoils of Office, that grand cohesive power
of the party. But when the real strug-
gle came-when the Star of the West
turned her Prov and Fort Sumter was
attacked-did they fight our battles then
The war Democrats became power which
strengthened the hands Of the Govern
ment, and had it not been for their sup
port, settlement of the difficulties, either
in or out Of the Union, would have taken
place. AS it was then, so would it be
again, and it is unworthy ofan experienced
politician to attempt to inspire hope in
the Southern mind, through the success
of any national party whatever, so long
as reconstruction ana reunion are oP-
posed by our people.
Governor Perry closes this comiaunica-
ton with very good advice as to reglstra-
ton and voting for members of the con-
vention, and he sustains the position taken
by very sound argument. The preceding
portions of his letter had been better left
unwritten, for they completely nullify the
effect of his concluding counsels, by keep
ing, as they may do, and are calculated
to do, many citizens from the registration
offices and from the polls.