The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1867-10-10
Ex-Goy. Perry on the Future o
the Southern Negro.

A letter from Ex-Gov. Perry is pub
lishcd in the Greenvillc Enterprise, in
which, after some semi-rcligious, semi
scientific remarks upon the origin OF
races, scouting the idea that the white
man and black man are descended from
common stock, he concludes in this
wise:
If the negro is to have the right of
suffrage and equality with the white
man, politically, war ofraces, sooner
or later, must inevitably onsur, and one
or the other eXtermnated in the South
ern States. That slavery can ever be
restored, OF the negro re-cnslaved, is as
impossible as il would be impolitic and
unwisc. That ,hc whole race can be
sent, all at once, to Africa, is impossl-
bic. What, then, can be done for them
Common sense and reason would an
swcr: Let them remain in the South
ern States, rs free men, entitled to equal
rights, in the protection Of tlicir lives,
property and liberty before the law;
but do not force Oh them political
rights, which they are incapable of OK
crcising wisely rprudcntIy, and in the
exercise of which must result their de-
struction.
The next best plan Of disposing of
the negro, which suggests itself to my
mind, is to colonizc them in one or two
States as 4 separate or distinct commu-
nifty, or nation, as has been done with
the Indians. The lands may be pur
chased by the Government for this pur-
pose. If they could be sent to Liberia,
and supported for twelve months, it
would be infinitely better. Could not
this be done in the course Of ten on
twelve years ? Those sent first would
make provisions for others who gre to
follow.
The labor Of the negro in the South
ern States, as farmer, will be utterly
worthless in u few years. They will
soon cease to hire themselves to work
on large cotton plantations as they have
done in jamaica to work on sugar plan
tations. This is too mu III like slavery
to be continued any length Of timc,-
The natural desire Of the negro in the
Southern States will be, and must be,
as it has been in jamaica, to be master
Of his own time, and indulge his own
idle inclinatlons and pursuits. This he
can do as soon as he is able to get a
"shanty' and n 'patcl," where he may
possibly ckc out q miserable existence.
Citizens OF this character cannot posi-.
bly, add to the Improvement or help to
enrich country. ltmatters not whcth
er there are five thousand or five hun
drcd thousand such lahorers in State,
they will not increase the prosperity Of
the State, or add to its wealth.
On the contrary, they will 0Xcludc
other laborcrs, and thereby injure the
State. What now want in the South
crn States is an Industrious, Intelligent
and thrifty population, who will build
comfortable houses, plant orchards,
erect machinery and develop the hidden
Resources of the country. This the ne
gro will never do. There may be a
few exceptions, but 50 few as not to- be
worth considering. Whilst the negro
continues to hire himself rs Il laborer
to the cotton planters, he may add to
the wealth Of the State, if he does not
to his own; others will I've benefited
10y his labor if he himself is not. But
this will not continue, ~ have alrca
dy said The experience of Jamaica
and all the other West India lslNadS,
where tAe negro has been st free,
proves this fact,
The history of the negro in the
Northern States where he has been free
for more than half 4 century. shows
that he will only work enough to OBJ
tain 4 bare subsistence He does not
Gv1w rich there or accumulate proper
~. Is It II all likely that he will do
better III the Southern states; The
history ot;Gc negro in Africa. where
be has ayvays been tree, proves the
sHWI ia}uL | do no. believe, there
,ev>, ,aa; tGc ;hy>y oy toW: millions Of
ut&v2IS IN ;ac Southern States Will, ii
.av sHU.Ss OTIS lew wears, make more
;.a&a ,@~l SUls,>,euGG And il ,hoy
>Iw;.aUa Sg0N ~ lie exclusion Of 9th
g. ,a,1r ;-> Southern States are lls-
""Ni ,Nv3Nt.N aua misery. ! am. cts
Il Z ryEEY.