The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1867-05-30
Gov. Perry's Letter.

The Charleston Mercury has tho follow
ing comments on the last letter of Gov.
Perry: ..-s e.. .... .>.-..
Mr.. Perry, of course, has out before us
his anti.war Unionism, which, considering
the experiences Of the war, and the preseng
condition OF things, eliciling his letters,
scme might suppose he would be thy of an
nouneing. Saving this harmless efferves-
cence, we object TO one thing in Mr. Perry's
letter, and that is the counsel he gives, that
the white race should, In South Carolina.
vote against the call Of convention, and
We object to this counsel simply because We
do not think that we can defeat the call OF
the convention.
Mr.. Perry himself, in a previous letter,
says that the black populatiou In this State
are more numerous than the whites, by Co.
600. Deduct the women and children. and
this will give about $4,000 voters. $4,000.
therefore, is the majority Of black voters.
Now. suppose the white population votes
against convention, is IL likely that no
portion of this $4,000 majority will reach
the pollsi If IL does, the convention will
be called. The relative strength Of the
white and black population will be ascer-
tained by the registry, when We will better
understand the real state of the case.
To us It appears certain that portion Of
these $4,000 voters, will reach the polls, il
and q convention will be called. And il .
convention is called, by such division Of
the races at the pole, will not that very an
tagonism which Mr.. Perry 90 strongly dep
recates be put into full operation 7 The
fl st election 10 to be held on this question
and il division arise upon II, parties must
be formed, and their results secured for all
the otter stages of reconstruction, by its OPP
erations
II, then. the white race united eanuot pre-.
vent the call Of a convention in South Caro-.
lima, what use can there be in their assum-
ing an attitude OF organized antagonismY 7
To us it appears that it will be far wiser, IL
possible, to endeavor to keep the two races
| together in harmony with each other by
acting together. If we fail In this effort.
through the influence of Northern emissa-
| ries and the hostility of the black popula.
ton, be it so. On them will be the fearful
responsibility Of the consequences which
will ensue
The whole population, white and black,
voting for convention. the organization of
parties will truly arise on the election of
| delegates to the convention. Here will be
better field for keeping the races together.
The candidates will have their personal in
fiuence; and the white population, having
voted with the black for q onvention, will
he In better position to influence them.
By proper energy on the part of the
white population, we have little doubt that
a conservative convention can be elected.
We beg leave, however, to cay, that We
are by no means satisfied that the conse-
quenees Of the Military Act so forcibly de-
picted by Mr.. Perry, will occur, even II the
black population should control, for time =,
the State. We have not the least appre-
hensioh that they will rule the white pop
uiation. That result may be accomplished
by standing army of the ,ohits race in
South Carolina but negroes, in no form or
nnmbers. can produce Ii. A terrible state
Of things may be produced by such an at
tempt. but IL will fail utterly. Nor have
we the least fear that q convention Of ne.
gfoes 10 South Carolina will eonfiscate the
lands Of the white people, for their benefit
or appropriation. 1t would require 10, 900
United States troops In each District in the
State to turn the white population out OF
their homes, and put negroes into them
and after such work was accomplished, II
would have a depiorabls tendency to be
undone, which all the troops of the United
| States may fail 70 prevent