Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-06-19
COW. Perry,s Last Letter.

even more emppatlC aHu lnulS naliI eli'ili Iis
others. We may, therefore, infer that if he
can find encouragement he means to become
the political leader Of party 1hat, not
simply content with an expression Of his cpin-
ion, which was very natural in one occupying
his distinguished position in the Stase,, he in
tends, if possible, to give practical effect to
that opinion, aud induce such of his fellow
citizens as he can to join him in the course OF
action which he recommends.
This letter reaches US at the same time with
the announcement that the Supreme Court
has refused leave to the States Of Mississippi
and Georgia, to!fIe their petition for injunction.
The. field. therefore, is clear, and the issue
very simple one.
Tie Reconstruction Act is to day the law
of the land, with ro possible obstacle in the
way of lis execution.
The preliminary arrangements for the regis,
tration OF tie voters Of the State hare been
ordered.
The qualification Of those voters is deter
mined u the Act, and as soon as the regis
tratui. is complete an election for members
o; tie Convention will be held.
AL this has been done aud will be dore
without tic slightest reference to or wishes
or opinions, and Governor Perry and the
whole State. If it agreed with him. could moi
urdo what has been done or prevent what
will be donc.
The simple question submitted 10 Us, nov,
s,whe,ner VIC willuse such power as wc have
left us, and 90 into the Conycntion for the
purpose Of doing our best TO make is action
beuelici;;l to the interest Of the Slate, aud
prevepliug the mischief which our absence
will most.assureGly proyoke. :.
Governor Perry advises the State most ear
nes!!y not to Go SO. l. Because, f we do
nor, matters viii, with the help Of ;he Demo.
cratic party, right themselves one Of these
days. =.
With or without The Democratic party; VIC
haze no doubt that, as has hee,i sai!i long ago,
Tine and the hour runs through the rough
est day" but to US the important poin. is
wacn?7 Governor Perry does not pretend
to assert that even this reaction can come be-
c1rs the termination of this Congress, that is
,wo years hence, and rs the Convention vii!
meet some iilnc in the coming autumn, ai
tic evils, The confscatiCn Ct Gur land, tii;
sutiusalion Of ou- race, wL;cA ;he Governor
c!ic,s ~ TIC result Of ti:.. Convention, viii
have been ace up!:shel. I1iiccd.. tie plain
st%tcmcn! Of This argument seems 10 be. as
Goveync- Perry told Governor Niean;' iaa;
TIC State waS going 10 the deri!, SIT! he WAS
going with it, lie Is Unwilling tlrag anybody
Should interfere with his .oarner. i9r he Gov.
crnor will scarcely atimii lhatve lad reached
that uncomfortable point during his ProSi5-
iongi Government.
z. Because, do what we may, we will not
be Admitted TO representation vixen NC have
done it.
This j. Gov. Pcrry's opinion, formed in hi.
lrountaia solitude and under't..o iadaercc o'
that melancholy which always im':cts p:
minds OF grea. ac.ors in pubic a!itiis: wEfn
they retire from the stage. Charles '. in The
EscurlaI, Napoleon ct Fonta;nbicaIl, Mr.. We'll
er ihn elder, when he laid Gown tue rc!ns cf
IN, Giovernment, took tie same gloomy view
Of the iutare, and their successors. Bu'
against even tbs opiEion, We think practical
men can safely put the opinions OF leaders
like Sherman, and Fesscade", and. Wilson,
and Coltax, and F:elinehuyse;i, tic open a:ld
;.llnos. unanimous declaration Of the North
ern Republican press. and ,he whole current
Of events siucc the adjournment Of CONGRESS.
A:d when he Governcr sa'ss, "iha Cnion
will not CT restored Until after The :!esi Pccsi
der,al eiec;ion--tGe votes Of the Southern
States are rot wanted in that election" wc
would asl; If this is SO? # the Republican
party is 20 overwhelmingly s'rsng. where is
tic hope IT that Democratic reaction, when
is 10 be the result and the reward of our pa
t"ncc?
5. Because tho, Convention vii! Be col,
trolled ny the vote CT tie IF, edmcn in the III
teres. Of the wildes; raGicalism.
va have as yet seen nothing 10 JUSTLY This
prediction. Indeed the Governor himself
s1ys" at presen: out Of the towrs ;.i.d villages.
the negro cares nothing about bis sight Of
suffrage and krows nolhipg unless influenced
By bad men, he,wiH not trouble hi,r.sclt TO
register or vote. THIS however, will not al
WAYS be the case" Does it not cccuc to the
Governor then that it would be wise for us 10
acr, while it is The case-that now while ac-
cording to his oSn account, the great mass Of
the cyl6rad vote OF the State willing TO trust
p,}itieal power to the white, that'%e shpu'd
use it, Use it wisely and justly. s. that as
they do take an interest in their right Of suf.
irage they may continue to feel that their con-
tilcnce has not been misplaced
We have endeavored at various times to
pat .tnis issue gravely and honestly beiorc'our
people; SO often, indeed, that We do not think
it useful to reproduce the argument. /. comes
too near hon. to our dearest aud mos, sacred
interests not to force itself upon the attention
of every man who feels that he has any re.
sponsibility to bis country. With Judgment,
perseverance, and energy We believe that the
Convention to be held in this State can aud
will be CONTROL for good. of course there
will be much to discourage, sorac things to
dishearten and even disgust US. But isola
ton from the active struggle will save US not
one humiliation or misfortune. With our
genuine respect for Governor Perry, with our
knowledge of the courage with which he main
tains his convictions, and the influence which
is Justly due to his long and honorable lie,
we would have hailed with peculiar pleasure
the cooperation of his ability and influence
in the effort we arc-making to meet tie diff
culties of painful, but an inevitable position.
While we respect the honesty of his purpose
and sympathize with much Of the sentiment
he SO manfully expresses, it is our conviction
that his advice can only end in producing di-
vision and discord, and aggravating evils
which can vet be avoided.-Cherleston News.
SILVER CnAL1cE REcovEnED-Thc Charles.
ton Mercury says;
During the siege of Charlestas. a quantity
of plate, the church records and othef prop.
er:y belonging to St. -Michael's Church, in
this city, were sent up to Columbia, and
stored there in the vaults of tho Bank of
Charleston for safekeeping. After the burn
ing of Columbia, no trace of any of 'tae val
uables belonging to the church could be found,
and it was with sadness assumed thit they
had been altogether destroyed in the terrible