Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1867-05-22
Cow. Perrv,s letter, the Second.


!, We publish in this issue the second letter
Of Gov. Perry. 1t 'istnot2because Of any good
it may do, for its effect will be exactly the
reverse, but becalseit seems to have great
influence orfthe minds of many very good
men; and,issa subject of much discussion. IT
would therefore not be proper for ustto with,
hold such "a publication for we might be
charged d9ith suppressings what we are unable
to answer. # -i aS
Upon perusing its contents one is forcibly.
struck by the fact. that tits written by man
thoroughly in bad humor. We can appre-
ciatc the disappointment of It's author, and in
this find the motive. of. his bitter, denuneia-
ton. He spares neither the secessionist, nor
his former associates of the Union Party.
Perhaps no man has better right to display
his chagrin. At the conclusion Of the war,
from having lived lifetime in q minority, he
was at once pushed in the very foremost place
of power. A glorious prospect Of new or
der of things seemed to open to his enchan-
ted view. Under the stimulus from Wash
lington, he took lis post as the Painurus /;
stood godfather TO all tbs humble petitions
presented to the President. He inaugurated
a Convention, and started the machinery OF
State. He had the pleasure of being in at
the death of "tne odious Parish SYSTEM"
and had the exquisite delight of ,teegraphing.
the fact of its Gemise to Mr. Seward, and
probably surprising that individual very much
by the announcement. He started the ship
of State under ,killful pilot of bis own per-
suasion, and for his reward, was elected
Senator Of the United States from the State
of South Carolina-and all this in the space
of two or three months. His political career
was brilliant so long as it lasted and to the
extent it went, But alas it was short. Those
pleasant dreams, in which he must have in
dulged, of the time when he should occupy
his seat in the United States Senate. and
should thunder against the originators ofre-
bellion, and the opposers Of reconstruction,
were soon dispelled. First came the Freed
mans Bureau ELL; then the Civil Rights
Bill; then the Military Bill and its supple
ment; and be fluids to his disgust that the
door is as finally closed against him as AGAINST
Barnwel Rhett, and that Senator Perry is
iust.no Senator at all. We are all human
beings, and have our fraities OF temper, and
if any one has right to be angry perhaps
Gov. Perry has.
But unfortunately for Gov. Perry lie is not
man of any practical wisdom, or any politi,
cal sagacity. HD has never appreciated the
fact, that his devotion to the Union during
the war has meyer been fully allowed at the
North, BY reason OF his having accepted q
Judicial office uader the Confederate Gov
ernment He does not seem to know that
| with the dominant power in this Government,
from being the appoinlee of President John
son, and one of his political engineers, he
is in worse odor than the fiercest soldier Of
the war.
Eut TO the argument of:the peiee, if there
is any argument in it. He says it is terri.
bic future VIC have in prospect by organizing
under the Military Bill. That. universal sui
frage will enfranchise 10000 blacks, and that
there will be onIr 10000 white voters to op.
pose. That the Convention will be entirely
in the hands of t4e former and that our fate
~! be more terrible that can be told. He
declares the outrageous nconstitutionality
of the Military Bill, and points to the patrio-
tic efforts of Cows. Sharkey and jenkins be-
fore the Supreme Court of tie United States.
Now many Of these statements may be trae,
aud others may prove to be true, but one Of
them is certainly not SO, to wit that there
is any thing to hope from the proceedings be-
fore The Supreme Court of the United States.
| If We thought so, Gov. Perry would have no
| dissenting voice in South Carolina on his pro.
posed action. =.
But i. matters not how black the future
may seem-we must go on with the proposed
State organization or it will go on without
us. 1t IS of as much use to object on the
ground Of the nconstitutional'y of the meg
sures, as it would be for the Poles to argue
with the the Czar of Russia on the Constitu
tion of the ancient Kingdom of Poland. If
all the evil results from such course, that
Gov. Perry predicts, the horrors of the sit
uaton must fail on the heads Of those who
were the originalors, and not on US. The
scheme of voting "No Convention" only
promises division, and offers no hope. Let
us make an earnest endeayor to save some
sembiance of opr former State Government,
and we believe if We make Jealous and con-
scientious attempt, we shall cncceed
Gov. Perry appeals to the honorable ieel-
ings of our old State; to our pride as peo'
ple, to reject with scorn the degrading propo-
stions Of our masters. And it is Just here that
his letter may do. injury. He touches what
is dear to e7fry South CsaroliPiah even broken
as we are. lie says it would DO better lar to
live forever under Military Government. But
there is no such choice given US. If there
was VIC would say let Us have it forever. The
great object we have in view is to get foot
hold in tie Civil Government OF the United
S,ales-so that We may at last manage cur
own aiiiiairs !, is worth an effort, and as Gov
Perry has proved !: very false FFoafet in mat n,
ters of Redistribution in the past We can live
in hope that lie will hot be dePfiFed of this
disi;dSstioitlin tAe fptSle@ Chester Standard.
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