The union Democrat., 1867-07-06
Extract from a Letter Of Gov. Perry,


j." II we are unwilling to hear the ills to
whlch we are subjected, for the maintenance
OF honor and principle, then we deserve our
destiny. 1t IS said that ii we do not accept
the degrading terms now offered, worse will
be imposed Have we any assurance that
worse may not be imposed, if we do accept? /?
Like the woman who consented to her own
dishoner TO save the life of her husband, and
was then made to witness bis execution
There Is no faith in tyrants Threats of con.
fscation are futile. Almost every one has
been pardoned, by taking the amnesty oath
or by special application. The southern peo.
pie may be murdered aud robbed but their
lproperty cannot be conGscated.
In order TO debaucb prominent southern
men. offers have been made in Congress TO
remove their disabilities, and, it would seem,
rot without success Threats to the many.
and orlbes to few. is the policy adopted for
radlcahzing the southern States With uni,
verSal negro suffrage and debauched politi.
cians, we may bid farewell to all hope of re-
publican institutions. Virtue and intelli
gence alone can sustain a republic. When
the negro has acquired intelligence to under,
stand his political rights. and property to
make him feel an interest in the proper exer
else OF them, he should be allowed 10 vote.
This principle has been adopted in most Of
the northern States, and is wise and lust.
But 1t Is wicked to put ballots into the hands
OF those who will be the passive tools of their
employers, or the mischievous agents of black
republican emssaries
+ Nothing can be more unjust and inieuitous
than the discriminating disfranchisement of
the military bill. A Union man, whose life
has been spent in trying to maintain the in.
tegrity of the Union, but who was n member
OF the Legislature or a judge ten or twelve
years ago, and who, after his State seeded,
fed or clothed son in the Confederate army.
is DISTINGUISHED But the man whose whole
life may have been spent in reasonable efforts
to destroy the Union and involve the country
in q bloody civil war, who was a leading
member of the Secession Convention, and af
terwnrds a distinguished General in the Con.
federate army, hurling his command against
the United States forces in a hundred bloody
fields of battle, is not disfranchised, unless
he had previously taken the oath to support
the Constitution of the United States There
are many instances of this character which
might be mentioned, showing the Injustice
and folly of this disfranchisement 1t is be.
lieved that neither Gems. Beauregard, Hill.
Magruder, or Gen. Lee himself, the illustri.
Gus commander in chief of the Confederate
forces, is dsfranchsed. But the humble
Union magistrate, who relieved the distresses
of a son or a friend in the Confederate army
is disfranchised
There is not the remotest hope or probabil
ity of the southern States being restored to
the Union till after the next Presidential
election. Why, then. shall we voluntary
degrade ourselves, and give up our dearest
political rights for delusion? If dishonor
must come, do not embrace it. If we are to
wear manacles, let them lie put on by our
tyrants. not by ourselves. If a man threat.
ems to kick you, sef.respect would forbid your
exposing your person to him and asking him
to kick you at once and be done with it. We
have lived already two years under military
rule, in great poverty and distress, and have
been cheered all the time by the conscious
ness that we are not degraded, though
conquered people. We can continue to live
in the same way two years longer, or. if need
be, ten years, and feel pride in knowing
that we have maintained our honor, and made
every effort possible to preserve our freedom
and constitutional rights. A man who feels
that he has dishonored himself, is lost: and
SO it is with a people.
Let us live quietly and peaceabIy, attend.
ing diligently to our various vocations in life
obeying patiently the powers that be but
never think of voluntary voting away our
rights as State or our honor or freedom as
men. Let us trust in returning sense of
justice on the part of our oppressors, which
sooner or later must come. Have patience,
forbearance and long suffering. The south
ern States fought four long and bloody years
for what they believed to be sacred right
proclaimed by all the American people in
their Declaration of Independence. they
not now afford to live four years longer out
of that Union, rather than sacrifice their hon
or, their rights as States, and the great re
publican principles of freedom IN. Y. Day
Book.