The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1867-05-29

ANDERSON, S. C., WEDNESDAY, MAY 90. 1867.

people pc, as if they had rights and liberties
Which they would lose by adopting GER
tain course 0f action, when in fact our
rights are ignored completely-we row
being under military rule-and the poor
privilege is only allowed us to act with
those who were so,:ce our slaves, sand who
were made our political equals, notify our
will, as the following sectionof the bill
will show:3,le i.e: dF,;4l; ~
assSEo 6.4That urttil the people .ofs.aaid
rebel States shail3ibetby law, admitted to
representation in Congress of the United
Stutes.iany civil government which may
exist thereinfshall be deemed provisional
only, and .in,all, respects subject TO the
paramountauthority of the United States
at any, time to abolish, modify, continue
OF saperseds the same; and in all cleo.
tions to any Office under such provisional
government, all persons shall be entitled
to vote under the provisions of the nth
section of. this act"
We think this question narrowed down
to one point; either to take the terms and
act under them, or refuse them entirely.
No half way acceptance can. avail US now
we have not the power to defeat the will
OF Congress, and the man who counsels
inaction nnow-covert hostility-is anFene-
my to the State, and should such counsels
prevail, we shall all be treated as enemies
to the United States, when Congress re-
assemblies.
57is From the Camden Journal.
Gov. Perry has published letter in his
worst style and worst temper, urging the
peopielot the State to vote against con-
ventioil Wc@can sympathize with and
fully comprehend the bitter disappoint-.
ment and tallsits train of irritations, suf-
fered by this gentleman at having snatch
ed from his grasp. in the very moment
of their fruiti0n, the luscious harvest OF
his labor and his hopes. But how can
Mr:-Perry fail tossee in the political doc
trines iot the day, consolidation,and uni
versal suffrage, the logical sequence OF
the ideas which placed him SD long, so
honestly and..so tearlessIy, in opposition
to the old South Carolina Democracy.
:. But, we have to.do with the future and
not. the past. MI. Perry says. that we.
are led By our fears of confscation to
adopt a policy which will lead to contis-
cation and the surrender OF the State
Government into the hands Of the negro
race. We think there is no reason to tear
confscationin either contingency. Con-
eress has not the power to conhscate
lands, nor has o State or people under
the constitution. Article Fifth of the
amendments OF the constitution OF 1889,
declares that no person shall be deprived
of life, liberty or property, without due
process Of law. SO long as we remain
under the military law OF conquest, TO.
watch permanent condition Mr.. Perry
would consign us by his counsels, we are
not under the constitution and lot pro.
tcrtcu by its provisions, but the moment
we enter.nto State Government legally
authorized, The mantle OF It's protectlOii Is
thrown over us, and no person can be de-
prived OF l.s lie, liberty OF property but
by. due process. Ut law. 1t Is for this pro-
lection, that we enter earnestly upon the
work OF reconstpEtion, on terms accorded
US. Upon u conviction OF treason, it is
true, tue property OF the few unpartoned
rcoels in the STATE, might be forfeited to
the United States, Tor The lives OF the OF
tenders, but this would hardly be sufficient
to excite the cupiuity Ot the lawless in a
recoilstructed State, while the readicst
wayto incite to the prosecution of such
cases, would be to adopt the contumacious
COURSE prescribed by Governor Perry.
Now, it MIR. Perry has any reasonable
ground TO hope That the State can be-
curried at the next election aga;nstta con-
vention, how much more reusOnsis.t there
tor hoping, as we do, that we can carry
the election for members OF q convention
upon u sound and safe platform, which
will secure just and moderate constitu-
liou and government, offering due protec-
ton TO ull the people of the State. Mr..
Perry twilis the quondam sccessionists
with leading off in favor OF u convention.
We accept the imputation, and thank
him Tor the valuable testimony he thus
bears, to the wisdom and moderation OF
that Iong.sutfering aud much reviled peo-
ple--of whom solne day it will be said
athese are they who come out OF great
trbulation."
Iuc ADDeFtlie IIeso, ouo VI o'io ieNi GOV
papers of the State commenting on Major
Perry's second letter. says:
Ex-Governor Perry has addressed
another letter to the people of the State,
in which he reiterates tho sentiments OF
his former letter. and even greater earn.
estness and feeling. No one could feel
more seEsibly than ourselves the injustice
of the present military measure, or. the
dangers which threaten us from universal
negro suffrage, but the argument OF Gov.
Perry has only served to impress US the
more, with the conviction that our only
hope consists in accepting the terms which
they propose, '.icst q worse evil befall us. /"
Ii unlimited negro suffrage is to be depre-
Gated even when tempered BY the suffrage
- tLo ontro nnh;.od whites how much